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)