Last summer was pretty idyllic for me. I did some traveling, was in a new relationship and had a new social circle. The latter two inspired me to finally take advantage of a backyard that was perfect for entertaining. I got some tiki-torches, strung some lights and organized it for BBQs and meals outside. Then I discovered our official drink of summer.
The watermelon-elderflower margarita was inspired by a Caipirinha I saw online. That one used muddled watermelon with sugar and lime. I wanted something I could make in a giant pitcher so I could spend more time drinking and socializing and less time mixing drinks one at a time.
It is a little labor intensive between dicing up the watermelon, puréeing it and squeezing the limes. But, the beauty of this drink is it’s made by the pitcher, so you can do all the work before guests arrive and then have time to sit and socialize between pouring refills.
And refills you will pour.
I use the NutriBullet to purée the watermelon. It does the job quicker and smoother than any blender I’ve ever owned. I prefer to keep the thicker liquid with the pulp but straining it is definitely an option.
I’m not a big drinker so I love the fact that this drink is very light and refreshing. If you left out the booze, it would make a fantastic agua fresca. But then you would be missing the flowery sweetness that the St. Germain brings to the mix. We started with a few squirts of agave nectar but quickly realized it was better without the added sweetness. Whether it’s hamburgers & hot dogs or a fat bone-in ribeye, the watermelon-elderflower margarita goes with everthing.
I made it a few times in a row last summer and thought I needed to mix it up for the next cookout. It caused an insurrection to the point that someone was sent to the store for a watermelon and a bag of limes and I had to make an emergency pitcher.
I’ve already made a batch or two this summer and look forward to quite a few more.
Cheers.
Watermelon-Elderflower Margarita
Ingredients
- 8 cup seedless watermelon, diced
- 2 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1 cup blanco tequila
- 1 cup St. Germain elderflower liqueur
- Watermelon & lime wedges for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, puree the watermelon until smooth. If you prefer a thinner liquid, set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and strain the watermelon juice, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the pulp.
- In a large pitcher, combine the lime juice, watermelon juice, St. Germain and tequila. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
- Pour the cocktail into tall ice-filled glasses. Garnish with the watermelon and/or lime wedges and serve.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!