Six Easy Watermelon Cocktails to Make Right Now

I’ve always been a sucker for watermelon. I like the artificial flavor but fresh watermelon is best. It takes a little work to juice a watermelon but it’s so worth it. Summer isn’t official in my book until I am sipping on some watermelon cocktails. The juice is complementary with so many spirits. It can be hard to choose. Here are six easy watermelon cocktails featuring tequila, mezcal, rum, vodka, and gin. And a quick tutorial on how to juice a watermelon.

How to juice a watermelon

For the recipes I am going to share, you need to have some watermelon juice. You can buy it if you want, especially if you want to make these drinks out of season, but fresh juice is more affordable. There are three basic steps to making watermelon juice.

1. Cut off the rind and chop fruit into good sized chunks. Make sure not to leave too much of the white rind as it can make the juice bitter.
2. Blend the watermelon chunks in a blender until smooth.
3. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh, metal strainer. This removes the fibrous pulp and leaves a smooth juice ready to be mixed into a cocktail. You can also use a brewer bag to easily strain a large amount of watermelon juice.

1. Watermelon Gimlet

We’ll start off with a really easy and refreshing cocktail. I was honestly just wanting to make something with gin and this worked out so well. A gimlet is already great, but adding watermelon takes it to an even more delicious place. If you like a little lime pulp, just single strain and serve. (If you love this, you might also enjoy a lavender gin gimlet as well.)

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Watermelon Gimlet

Keyword: gimlet, gin, watermelon

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin
• 2 oz watermelon juice
• 0.75 oz lime juice
• 0.5 oz agave

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
• Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

2. Watermelon Basil Mojito

As some of you might know, I’ve been working on a cocktail herb garden this summer. With that comes so many fresh herbs for my drinks. So far, my basil and sage have been the best growers, so I have been experimenting with them. This take on a mojito swaps out the mint for basil. Depending on your rum preference, you can take this in different directions flavor-wise. I used a slightly funky rum, but I think it would work even better with something basic like Flor de Caña. (Also, if you are in need of some help stocking your home bar, I have a post for that.)

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Watermelon Basil Mojito

Keyword: basil, mojito, rum, watermelon

Ingredients

• 2 oz rum
• 2 oz watermelon juice
• 4 leaves fresh basil
• 2 oz tonic water

Instructions

• Add rum, watermelon juice, and basil to a shaker. Muddle the basil well.
• Add ice to the shaker and shake well.
• Strain into a highball glass with ice and add tonic water. Pouring down a spiral-handled bar spoon works well to distribute the bubbles throughout the drink.
• Garnish with a fresh basil leaf. You can clap it between your hands to release more aromas.

3. Summer Margarita

There are so many great flavors of summer, it can be hard to pare them down. However, this drink lets you add in a few big flavors that result in an enjoyable summer sip. With a hint of fire and spice from the ginger syrup, you’ll find a balanced profile in this refreshing twist on a classic margarita.

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Summer Margarita

Keyword: ginger syrup, pineapple, watermelon

Ingredients

• 2 oz tequila blanco
• 2 oz watermelon juice
• 1 oz grilled pineapple syrup
• 1 oz ginger syrup

Instructions

• Add ingredients to a shaker with ice.
• Shake well and strain into a glass with ice.

Notes

Recipe for the grilled pineapple syrup can be found here.

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Ginger Syrup

Keyword: cocktail syrup, ginger syrup

Author: Death & Co.

Ingredients

• 0.5 pound ginger root
• 170 grams raw sugar
• 170 grams white sugar

Instructions

• Juice ginger root (a juicer works best).
• Strain juice through a metal mesh strainer.
• Blend juice with sugars until smooth. Store refrigerated for 4-6 weeks.

4. Watermelon Mezcal Margarita

Don’t worry, I wouldn’t leave out a mezcal cocktail option. If mezcal on its own seems too smoky for your tastebuds, feel free to use a split with tequila. (If you’re new to making your own cocktails, check out this post for more on splits and creating your own drinks.) I love the sweet and smoky flavor this drink provides. It’s really the best way to showcase both flavor profiles as they are strong enough to stand up to one another.

Print Recipe

Watermelon Mezcal Margarita

Keyword: margarita, mezcal, watermelon

Ingredients

• 2 oz mezcal
• 2 oz watermelon juice
• 0.75 oz lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup (or jalapeño basil simple syrup if you like some kick)

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
• Shake well and double strain over a block of ice, or cubes.

Notes

Recipe for the Jalapeño Basil Simple Syrup

5. Watermelon Mint Lemonade

This recipe has been popping into my summer cocktail rotation frequently, so I wanted to share it. It takes a little prep time for the mint simple syrup, but it’s still very easy. You can make it with gin or vodka, or use sparkling water in place of booze. However you make it, I think you’ll find this refreshing watermelon cocktail to be a real crowd pleaser. Since I’ve only made this for friends, I will share it with you as a batch recipe for 8 drinks. You can divide it if you want to make less.

6. Watermelon Daiquiri

Although it’s not pictured, as it looks identical to the Watermelon Gimlet, this drink is delicious. The recipe is easy and merely swaps out the gin for rum.

And there you have it, six easy watermelon cocktails you can make right now. I’d love to hear what you make. Cheers!

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