Cocktail & Other Recipes By Spirit Tequila & Mezcal Cocktails

Watermelon Margarita

By
Matt Armato
Matt Armato
Matt Armato is a blogger, recipe developer and co-founder of the LGBTQ home-and-lifestyle blog Probably This. He covers food, drinks, travel and design.
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Updated 12/6/21
A dark pink cocktail on ice in a thick, clear rocks glass with a blue rim; the drink is garnished with a watermelon slice and mint leaves and is placed on a distressed wood surface
Image:

Matt Armato

No matter the season, watermelon and mint always seem to make sense together, and this simple riff on the classic Margarita is no exception. According to bartender Gabe Sanchez at Midnight Rambler in Dallas, a Watermelon Margarita’s grassy, citrusy punch is enough to transport its drinker just about anywhere. “[It] feels like sitting on the beach under the bright sun with a cool breeze,” he says (or like a cold, wet bandana on the back of your neck after a hard day’s work, if that’s more your style). Once you’ve settled on your choice of scenery, grab your go-to Margarita supplies along with a muddler, watermelon juice (fresh, ideally) and a few sprigs of mint.

When it comes to muddling the mint leaves, Sanchez offers a few wise words for best results: “Take your time and press the muddler down gently while slowly spinning the mixing tin with your other hand—you aren’t using a hammer, so just take your time. The muddler will do the work for you.” Seems unfair to the muddler, but we’ll leave that between the two of you.

Ingredients

  • 4 mint leaves
  • 1/2 ounce light agave nectar
  • 1 1/2 ounces blanco tequila
  • 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1/2 ounce watermelon juice
  • Garnish: mint sprig
  • Garnish: watermelon slice

Steps

  1. Add the mint leaves and agave into a shaker and gently muddle.

  2. Add the tequila, lime juice and watermelon juice to the muddled mint leaves, then add ice and shake until well-chilled.

  3. Double-strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

  4. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and a watermelon slice.