Watermelon Margarita (Sandía en Fuego): Spicy Summer Cocktail Recipe

I’m excited to partner again with Princess Cruises to share this refreshing Watermelon Margarita, known on Caribbean Princess as Sandia En Fuego. This subtly spicy watermelon margarita is the perfect thirst quencher on hot days. Princess Cruises provided the Caribbean cruise; all photos and opinions are my own.

Late in March, my girlfriends and I flew from different parts of the country to Ft. Lauderdale for a girls’ week on Caribbean Princess. We were beyond excited.

Back home my husband kept things running—literally, since it was 30 degrees and snowing and we heat with wood—while the girls and I made memories we’ll always cherish.

Christi and I shared a room while Mary and her sister Jenny shared a stateroom. A few days into the cruise we found the Good Spirits Bar on the Plaza Deck, where a talented bartender introduced us to a bright pink Watermelon Margarita called Sandia En Fuego—Watermelon on Fire.

After our fifth trip to the Good Spirits Bar for those vibrant margaritas, our bartender would start shaking before we even ordered. He kindly shared the recipe so we could recreate the drink at home and remember the trip.

Before I share the recipe, a quick note about the ship’s internet—something that mattered a lot to me during this trip.

Cruise Ship Internet

Six days before sailing my eldest son, who lives in Germany, had emergency surgery for abscessed tonsils. I nearly cancelled the trip, but the promise of reliable internet convinced me to go. In past cruises the connection was slow and intermittent, which wouldn’t have worked while I waited for updates about my son.

The ship’s internet exceeded expectations: unlimited, fast, and affordable. For $139 for the whole trip I connected four devices—my phone, laptop, tablet, plus one spare—and had truly fast internet, comparable to my home connection. That access made the difference between staying home and taking the vacation I’d planned. I could FaceTime and text as often as needed, which let me relax once I knew my son was okay.

My girlfriends also appreciated the strong connection. We streamed two full seasons of our favorite show in the evenings while enjoying pizza, pudding, spa treatments, and, of course, Watermelon Margaritas. Using our wearable Ocean Medallions made paying for drinks and snacks effortless, and we didn’t have to fiddle with room cards every time we left the stateroom.

Watermelon Margarita Recipe

This Watermelon Margarita is easy and uses simple, fresh ingredients: watermelon, reposado tequila, fresh lime juice, a hot pepper, and coarse salt. If you want a taste closest to Caribbean Princess’s Sandia En Fuego, rim the glass with black lava salt. Coarse sea salt or kosher salt also works well—avoid iodized table salt, which can taste overly harsh.

The recipe calls for light agave syrup; simple syrup or mild honey can substitute if needed, though the flavor will be slightly different. The original uses serrano peppers for heat, but jalapenos make a fine substitute if serranos aren’t available. If you prefer no heat, omit the pepper altogether, but the hint of spice balances the sweet watermelon nicely.

I prefer old-fashioned seeded watermelon for its extra sweetness, but seedless watermelon works perfectly for this cocktail. Do not substitute bottled lime juice—fresh lime juice is essential for a vibrant margarita.

How to Make a Margarita?

All you need is a muddler and any cocktail shaker. If you don’t have a shaker, a quart canning jar with a tight lid works well. If your shaker lacks a strainer, use a separate strainer. I prefer serving these in a sturdy rocks glass rather than a classic margarita glass, which can be top-heavy.

What to Serve with Your Watermelon Margaritas

Ropa Vieja

Cilantro Lime Rice

Tequila Lime Pork Tenderloin

Watermelon Margarita

– Muddle 1 1/2 cups watermelon cubes and thin slices of one jalapeno (stem removed) in a cocktail shaker for about 1 minute, until the watermelon is pulverized and liquid.

– Add 3 ounces reposado tequila, 1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice, 1 1/2 ounces light agave syrup and a handful of ice.

– Firmly close the shaker and shake vigorously until cold to the touch, about 1 minute.

– Dip the rims of two rocks glasses in fresh lime juice, then in volcanic black salt or kosher salt.

– Fill the glasses with fresh ice and strain the cocktail into the glasses.

– Garnish each glass with a skewer holding a cube of watermelon and a slice of jalapeno.