The Easy Addition That Gives Watermelon Margaritas A Spicy Edge

Watermelon margaritas are a truly spectacular beverage. The fruity flavor is refreshing and fun, and the texture of the melon lends itself to a variety of iterations including simple frozen versions like a creamy frozen watermelon cocktail recipe and more. If you're looking to infuse more boldness into your fruity and potent treat, try upping your game with a hint of spice. Tasting Table spoke to food and lifestyle blogger, Jessie-Sierra Ross, author of "Seasons Around the Table: Effortless Entertaining with Floral Tablescapes & Seasonal Recipes", to get her advice about the perfect way to bring the heat to your next batch of watermelon margaritas using spicy peppers.

Per Ross, "The naturally sweet profile of fresh watermelon is a perfect foil for the heat of jalapeño peppers or the mellow heat of ancho chilis." She also notes that sweetness is the "best way to temper the heat level in a cocktail." This gives you a lot of room to play with ratios and balance of flavors for your next frozen watermelon mezcal margarita recipe. Ross also mentions, "A well-mixed watermelon margarita should have a spicy kick, with a cool finish from the melon.

There is a lot to be said for the type of spirit you choose to use to accent your watermelon margaritas. Ross advises, "Choosing tequila will bring a clean fruit & spice profile to the drink, while mezcal lets you explore a more smoky & sweet cocktail."

Ross mentions that, though tequila and mezcal are both made from Mexican Agave, they are very different.The smokiness of a mezcal is complementary to the spiciness of the peppers you'll be using, while tequila creates a more straightforward sweetness in the drink. Using fresh fruit, thoughtfully portioned peppers, and a playful spirit all come together for an unforgettable batch of watermelon margaritas.

As far as the spice factor, Ross says "it's important to incorporate the chilis in a restrained manner." There are a few options, depending on the level of heat you want. Per Ross, "If you're out for a more assertive flavor, you could let the chilis steep in the base liquor." Alternatively, try infusing the fresh peppers into a basic simple syrup recipe. This will give you more control of the level of heat and sweet you're adding into the mix.

Ross advises, "If you prefer to keep things more balanced, muddle fresh slices of chili pepper in your cocktail shaker. This creates a brighter and fresher flavor and limits the contact time when you strain the drink into your glass." Ross also recommends using the sweetness of such ingredients as simple syrup, agave, or honey to "counteract the heat from the pepper's capsaicin." As always, taste as you go and adjust your ratios as needed, and remember to enjoy your drinks responsibly.