Frozen Watermelon Margarita cocktail recipe

Who doesn’t love a Margarita, right? Hailing from Mexico, this refreshing, tequila-based cocktail has long been a darling of the global bar scene thanks to its mouthwatering – and surprisingly simple – combination of tequila, triple sec, lime juice, salt and sugar. You'd be forgiven for thinking the original Margarita is as good as it gets, but just wait until you try this summer-ready spin that features the addition of frozen watermelon.

This may come as a surprise, but frozen cocktails have actually been served since the first half of the 20th century. One of the early adopters was none other than Ernest Hemingway, who was a regular at El Floridita, a famous Cuban bar serving frozen Daiquiris, but it was in 1937 that the frozen cocktail really took off thanks to the invention of the Waring blender.

From Piña Coladas to Margaritas, frozen cocktails became hugely popular through the ’60s and ’70s before succumbing to low-quality premixes. Fortunately, they’re back in fashion and it’s really no wonder why. When done well, using quality ingredients, frozen cocktails are a fantastic addition to any gathering and this Frozen Watermelon Margarita is no exception. Sweet, sour, salty and cold as ice (literally), this is a crowd-pleasing cocktail that’s deceptively easy to make.

This is important – be sure to chop your watermelon cubes BEFORE you freeze them. Otherwise, you'll end up with a huge frozen watermelon that's better off being used as a bowling ball. You'll also want to start blending the frozen fruit (with your other ingredients) on a low setting and work your way to high. The key to a good frozen cocktail is nailing the perfect consistency, so go step by step, gradually increasing the power, easing off, then increasing again. If the mixture is still a little watery, you can thicken it up by adding more frozen watermelon or even regular crushed ice.

Remember that the world is your oyster here, as far as frozen cocktails are concerned. You can mix up a Frozen Margarita simply by substituting this recipe’s frozen watermelon for crushed ice, or try your hand at a Strawberry Daiquiri, a Frosé or even a frozen Piña Colada. 

Oh, and remember, it’s really important to use quality ingredients, like a good tequila. This cocktail may be frozen, but its success still relies on a solid foundation.