Prepare the casing.

Soak the casing in cold water for 30 minutes to soften, then run water through it to remove excess salt and check for leaks. (You can buy casings from most butchers.)

Blend the chiles.

Remove the seeds from the chipotles, and finely chop in a food processor with the garlic, vinegar and tequila.

Chop the pork.

Cut any silver skin off the pork butt, then cut it into 3-inch chunks.

Grind the meat.

Grind the pork in a meat grinder (or mixer with a grinder attachment) with a 316-inch die. Use the feed tube to push the meat through gently.

Season the meat.

First, "de-bling" (take off your rings!); you'll be mixing with your hands. Combine the dry spices-cumin, salt, chili powders, onion, paprika, oregano and white pepper-in a small bowl. Then season the pork in layers: Place half the ground meat in a large bowl, cover with half the spice mixture and half the garlic-vinegar mixture, then add the rest of the meat, spices and garlic mixture. Combine everything with your hands; it's the best way to make sure all the meat gets seasoned.

Thread the casing.

Remove the die from the grinder and attach the sausage-stuffing tube, then slide the whole casing onto the tube, leaving enough at the end to tie into a tight knot.

Stuff the casing.

With the mixer on low, gently feed the sausage mixture into the tube, using one hand to guide the casing out at the right speed; be careful not to overstuff or tear the casing.

Form the links.

Turn off the mixer after you get about 3 to 4 feet of sausage and cut and tie off the casing. Retie the casing on the stuffing tube and continue making the remaining sausage. Pinch and then twist the long pieces of sausage about every 8 inches to form links. Place the linked sausages on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate overnight to dry.

Grill the sausage.

Preheat one side of a grill to medium-high and the other to low. Lightly brush the grill with oil, then grill the sausages until they're browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Move to low heat and continue grilling until they're cooked through, 5 to 7 more minutes.

Photograph by James Baigrie