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Jalapeno Watermelon MargaritaSpicy Jalapeno Watermelon Margarita
August 9, 2022 | Laura
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This watermelon margarita is the the perfect summer cocktail. It's made with fresh watermelon, watermelon vodka, freshly squeezed lime juice, and tequila. For the twist, a little bit of homemade jalapeno simple syrup is added to the mix. This sweet and spicy cocktail is great for summer parties, hot days, and taco night.
Spicy and Sweet Margarita
During summertime, I am all about the watermelon cocktails and drinks. I just can't get enough watermelon during these hot summer days!
This spicy watermelon margarita is one of my favorite watermelon drinks. The watermelon vodka and fresh watermelon juice make it sweet and taste just like a watermelon slice. Then I whipped up some easy homemade jalapeno simple syrup to add in to make it have a spicy kick.
The sweet and spicy combo really makes this margarita recipe addicting. It's the perfect margarita for summer parties, those long hot summer days, taco night, or for really any time there's a watermelon laying around.
Spicy Watermelon Margarita Recipe: Ingredients
*Some of these ingredient links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*
✽ Watermelon: Of course, we got to use fresh watermelon for this margarita! For each cocktail, 1 cup of watermelon chunks are used to get all the watermelon flavor. Choose a seedless watermelon if you don't want to worry about picking out all those seeds.
✽ Watermelon Vodka: I added in some watermelon vodka because it's one of my favorite flavored vodkas. It tastes so good and completes a lot of the summer cocktails I make. It really helps to make sure that the watermelon flavor is not overpowered by the tequila and lime juice.
Some good brands are Absolut Watermelon, Veil Watermelon Vodka, Ciroc Vodka Summer Watermelon, and Bishop Arts Watermelon Vodka.
✽ Tequila: For margaritas, I use blanco tequila or silver tequila. The better the tequila quality, the better the margarita. However, the cheap tequila will still taste good for this margarita since there's so many other ingredients mixed into it!
✽ Lime Juice: It wouldn't be a margarita without lime juice. The tangy lime juice, the sweetness of the watermelon, the spiciness of the jalapenos, and the salt all go so well together to make the perfect cocktail. Freshly squeezed lime juice will taste the best!
✽ Sugar + Water + Jalapeño Pepper: Instead of adding the jalapenos directly, I found the best way to deliver the spice is via simple syrup. It adds sweetness and spice, and you don't end up with seeds or actual jalapeno pieces in your drink. It is very simple and quick to make and, to me, the best part of this margarita!
✽ Sea Salt: Tequila and salt go hand-in-hand. I also enjoy a sprinkling of salt on my fresh watermelon slices. So the coarse salt rim on this margarita is a must and makes it even tastier.
✽ Slice of Watermelon + Fresh Jalapeño Slices + Wedge of Lime: When it comes to garnishing this cocktail, choose whichever you like! Or choose all three!
How to Make Spicy Watermelon Jalapeno Margarita
➊ In a small saucepan, stir together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 1 sliced jalapeno. Leave the seeds in to ensure the simple syrup is nice and spicy!
Heat the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Just as soon as the mixture is clear and all the sugar dissolves, remove from heat. Set aside for 15 minutes to cool. The longer the simple syrup sits with the sliced jalapeños, the spicier and more flavorful it will be. When ready to use, strain out the jalapeno slices.
You can use the slices of jalapeño from the spicy simple syrup to garnish the margarita if you like.
➋ In a cocktail shaker, muddle 1 cup of watermelon chunks until well mashed. Add in a handful of ice cubes, 1 ounce silver tequila, 1 ounce watermelon vodka, 1 ounce fresh lime juice, and 0.75 ounces of the jalapeno simple syrup.
Shake until chilled, about 10 seconds.
➌ Run a lime wedge along the edge of a margarita glass. Then dip and roll the rim of your glass into a pile of sea salt. Double strain (through the cocktail shaker strainer + a fine mesh strainer) the margarita into the prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with
Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita Recipe: Questions
✽ Leftover Jalapeno Simple Syrup
If you don't make enough watermelon margaritas to use up all of the homemade jalapeno simple syrup, it can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for
✽ Do I have to use watermelon vodka?
I highly recommend using watermelon vodka in this recipe. It makes the margarita so good and taste more like watermelon so the tequila doesn't overpower the flavors.
I basically took a classic margarita and replaced the triple sec with watermelon vodka. If you don't have watermelon vodka or can't find it, you can use an orange liqueur in its place.
Looking for more delicious cocktail recipes?
→ Check out all of my favorite cocktails!
Spicy Jalapeno Watermelon Margarita
By Laura | Laura the Gastronaut
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 5 minutes | Cool Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 1 cocktail
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This spicy margarita is the the perfect summer cocktail. It's made with fresh watermelon, watermelon vodka, freshly squeezed lime juice, and tequila. For an extra kick, a little bit of homemade jalapeno simple syrup is added to the mix. This sweet, spicy, and fun cocktail is great for summer parties, hot days, and taco night.
*Some of these ingredient links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*
Ingredients
For the Jalapeno Simple Syrup:
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 jalapeno, sliced
For the Cocktail:
• 1 cup watermelon cubes
• 1 ounce silver tequila
• 1 ounce watermelon vodka
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 3/4 ounce jalapeno simple syrup
• Sea salt, for rim
• Garnish: watermelon slice, jalapeno slices, and/or lime wedge
Instructions
➊ Make Jalapeno Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and 1 sliced jalapeno. Place over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Just as soon has the sugar dissolved, remove from heat, and let sit aside for 15 minutes. When ready to use, strain out the jalapeno slices.
➋ Make Cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, muddle chunks of watermelon until well mashed. Add in tequila, watermelon vodka, lime juice, 3/4 ounce jalapeno simple syrup, and a couple of ice cubes. Shake until chilled, about 10 seconds.
➌ Run a lime wedge along the rim of a margarita glass. Then dip and roll the rim of the glass into a pile of sea salt on a small plate. Double strain the margarita into the prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with jalapeno slices and a watermelon slice.
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Category: Cocktails, Summer Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Keywords: jalapeño margaritas, spicy drinks, jalapeno watermelon margarita, summer margarita recipe, fresh watermelon juice margarita
More Great Cocktails & Shots:
✽ Watermelon Tequila Shots (shots filled with delicious watermelon and tequila)
✽ Pickle Juice Tequila Shot (pickle juice and tequila taste so good together in this shot recipe)
✽ Pineapple Coconut Beach Cocktail (a bright blue cocktail recipe that calls for tequila, pineapple juice, and coconut)
→ Check out all of my cocktail recipes and shot recipes!
Bon appétit!
August 9, 2022 by Laura Ehlers
*This Jalapeno Watermelon Margarita blog post and recipe may contain some Amazon affiliate links. These link to products that I personally use and recommend. If you purchase anything using my links, it will not cost you anything. It will though give laurathegastronaut.com some financial support which helps me keep this blog running. Thank you for reading my blogs and your continued support.