Watermelon Basil Margarita with Balsamic & Sea Salt

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes Servings: 4 Author: Olivelle

🌴 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fresh, vibrant, and ridiculously refreshing, this Watermelon Basil Margarita is summer in a glass. Juicy watermelon, zesty lime, smooth tequila, and a homemade basil balsamic simple syrup come together for a cocktail that’s light, balanced, and just a little unexpected. Finished with a balsamic-and-sea-salt rim, it’s the kind of drink that turns happy hour into an event.

Perfect for patio nights, lake days, or anytime it’s hot enough to need a cold drink now.

🛒 Ingredients

For the Basil Simple Syrup:

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp Barrel Aged Dark Thick Sweet Balsamic

For the Margarita:

1 personal-sized seedless watermelon (about 2 cups watermelon juice)
4 oz fresh lime juice
6 oz tequila
4 oz basil simple syrup
¼ cup fresh basil, chiffonade
Barrel Aged Dark Thick Sweet Balsamic, for rimming
Lime Fresco Infused Sea Salt, for rimming
Ice, fresh basil sprigs, lime wedges (for garnish)

👩🍳 Directions

Make the basil simple syrup:
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine water, sugar, and Barrel Aged Dark Thick Sweet Balsamic.
Stir until sugar is fully dissolved, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Prepare the watermelon juice:
Dice the watermelon and blend until smooth.
Strain through a fine mesh strainer, pressing gently with a spatula to extract the juice. Set aside.
Mix the margarita:
In a pitcher, combine watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila, basil simple syrup, and chiffonaded basil.
Stir well to combine.
Rim the glasses:
Pour balsamic onto one small plate and Lime Fresco Infused Sea Salt onto another.
Dip the rim of each glass first into the balsamic, then into the sea salt.
Serve:
Fill glasses with ice, pour in the margarita, and garnish with fresh basil and a lime wedge.