Watermelon, Straight Up

Summertime and watermelon have always gone hand in hand, but this year the watermelon trend is in full swing. Watermelon juices, watermelon beers, cold-pressed watermelon water – this quintessentially refreshing fruit is definitely front and center this season.
 
Why not lean into the watermelon craze by adding a few new cocktail recipes to your summer line-up? We’ve rounded up five of our favorites. Cheers!

1. Watermelon Basil Gimlet Fizz

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• Seedless watermelon
• 8 basil leaves, torn, plus more for garnish
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 ounce vodka
• 3 ounces seltzer

Directions:

• Cut watermelon into one-inch cubes and freeze in a single layer for at least one hour
• Muddle basil leaves with sugar in the bottom of a glass
• Stir in lime juice and vodka
• Add watermelon cubes
• Top with seltzer
• Garnish with basil

 (Recipe by Martha Stewart)

2. Watermelon Mojito

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 20 mint leaves, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons superfine sugar
• ½ cup fresh lime juice
• Crushed ice
• ¾ cup light rum
• 6 ounces seedless watermelon, puréed

Directions:

• In the bottom of a large shaker, muddle the mint, sugar, and ¼ cup of the lime juice
• Fill the shaker with ice
• Add the rum, watermelon, and the remaining ¼ cup of lime juice
• Shake well
• Strain into old-fashioned glasses over ice

 (Recipe by Food & Wine)

3. Fresh Watermelon Sangria

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cubed ripe seedless watermelon
• 1 ½ cups white wine
• 1 ounce anejo rum
• 2 ounces Cointreau
• 2 ounces simple syrup
• 2 limes
• Ice
• Additional watermelon and mint sprigs for garnish

Directions:

• In a blender, purée watermelon cubes
• Strain into a large pitcher
• Add white wine, rum, Cointreau, and simple syrup and stir
• Juice one lime and add juice to the pitcher
• Slice the other lime lengthwise and then cut into thin slices
• Add lime slices to pitcher, cover, and refrigerate for two to four hours
• Pour into ice-filled serving glasses and garnish with additional watermelon and mint sprigs

(Recipe by Serious Eats) 

4. Watermelon Bellinis

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cubed seeded watermelon, frozen
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups chilled prosecco
• Julienne-cut lemon rind

Directions:

• Place watermelon, sugar, lemon juice, and 1 cup wine into a blender
• Blend until smooth
• Pour about 1/3 cup watermelon mixture into each of eight glasses
• Pour ¼ cup remaining wine into each glass
• Garnish with lemon rind

 (Recipe by My Recipes)

5. Watermelon Bloody Mary

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 2 cups watermelon cubes
• ¼ cup sugar
• 2 Tablespoons lime juice
• 1 jalapeño, stem removed
• 3 ounces vodka
• Pinch of salt
• Garnish ideas: grape tomato, fresh basil, jalapeño slice 

Directions:

• Purée watermelon, sugar, lime juice, and jalapeño in a blender
• Strain through mesh strainer and save the juice
• Add ice to cocktail shaker and pour watermelon juice, vodka, and a pinch of salt
• Shake well
• Pour into two Collins glasses
• Garnish as desired

(Recipe by Lauren Kelp)