Time to step up your summer cocktail game with a Tequila Watermelon Mule – I’m calling it the Jalisco Mule after the state of Mexico where tequila is produced.
When playing with mules, I wanted to add some more interesting summer flavors than just lime and cold ginger beer, so I decided to treat it as I would a sour and add some watermelon simple syrup. In the summer, this simple syrup made from fresh watermelon is as easy as adding sugar to a bag full of fresh cut watermelon and letting it sit in the fridge for a day.
The syrup that comes out is a vibrant pink with delicate flavors of watermelon infused throughout it. It’s a thousand times more delicious than creating a watermelon simple via cooking simple. However, the flavor doesn’t stay fresh nearly as long as with a cooked syrup.
I find vodka to be, well, flavorless and I wanted more of a contribution from the spirit, so I added tequila for two reasons: 1) it works well with the watermelon in terms of salty flavor, and 2) it keeps the color of a cocktail a delicate pink.
I used the last of the fresh watermelon the day before, but I had used the rind to make some watermelon refrigerator pickles, and they bumped up the sour and aromatic elements of the cocktail. And that dash of a scent of mint over the top of the cocktail with the mint garnish tied together the ginger, sweet watermelon syrup and sour watermelon pickles in a beautiful way.
If you enjoy watermelon cocktails you can also try the Meloncholy Watermelon Sour or this kickass Watermelon Gimlet. Both are standing bar orders at our house.
Jalisco Mule – Tequila Watermelon Mule
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila blanco
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 oz watermelon simple syrup**
- 3-4 oz ginger beer
- Garnish: pickled watermelon rind, mint and lime
Instructions
- Combine tequila, lime juice, and simple in a mule mug or large rocks glass. Stir briefly, add ice, then top with ginger beer. Garnish with mint, picked (or fresh) watermelon and a lime wheel.