At The Thistle Inn in Boothbay Harbor, owners Anya and Dick Reid are having a lot of fun with a great bar staff and a new cocktail repertoire. One of the creations has that fantastic sweet-spicy thing happening that’s become super popular. It’s the Habanero Watermelon Margarita. Before your first sip, the aroma fresh-cut watermelon entices you, followed by the mint and lime. The mint is a lovely unexpected treat. And the homemade hot sauce is killer. It’s a blend of hot peppers that offers just enough spice on the tip of your tongue, but doesn’t linger. For those spice junkies, ask the bartender to muddle some hot peppers.
Makes
1 drinkIngredients
For the cocktail
- 2 ounces fresh watermelon
- 1 ounce watermelon simple syrup made from sugar and strained watermelon purée
- Splash of fresh lemon juice
- 1 lime wedge
- 1 teaspoon habanero hot sauce they use a house-made sauce with roasted habaneros, jalapeños, Thai chilis, red peppers, garlic, and scallions blended with a touch of raw apple cider vinegar
- 3 ounces of silver tequila we like Espolòn Blanco
- ½ –1 ounce Cointreau
- ½ –1 ounce The Thistle Inn House Sour Mix
- Sprig of mint
For The Thistle Inn House Sour Mix
- 1½ cups lime juice
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 2 cups sugar
Instructions
For the cocktail
- Muddle the watermelon, simple syrup, lemon juice, lime wedge, and hot sauce then add ice, tequila, Cointreau and sour mix. Garnish with mint and serve.
For The Thistle Inn House Sour Mix
- Combine in a gallon container and fill to the gallon line with water.
