Watermelon Recipes for Your Drink Menus

It can be argued that watermelon is the fruit of the summer, but whether or not you agree, it should definitely be featured on your summer food and cocktail menus as it offers a refreshing, colorful, and sweet option to guests. And with National Watermelon Day coming up on Sunday, August 3, there's even more reason to highlight this fruit on your menus!

We've rounded up some watermelon cocktail recipes to get you started.

 

watermelon cocktail recipe
Photo & recipe: NOLET'S

Watermelon Sparkler Punch

Ingredients:

750 ml. (1 bottle) NOLET’S Silver Gin

750 ml. (1 bottle) Sparkling Sake

24 oz. Watermelon Juice & Fresh Watermelon Cubes

10 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

5 oz. Agave Nectar

Directions:

  1. Stir all contents well in a punchbowl (or use hollowed-out watermelon).
  2. Add watermelon cubes and ice five minutes before serving.
  3. For less dilution, make an ice block ahead.
  4. Garnish with edible flowers, citrus wheels, and watermelon slices.


 

watermelon recipes
Photo & recipe: Monin

Watermelon Hibiscus Boost (Non-Alc)

Ingredients:

oz mL

1/2 oz. Hydration Boost

1/2 oz. Monin Watermelon Purée

1/2 oz. Monin Hibiscus Syrup

1 oz. fresh lemon juice

Top with:

3 oz. ginger ale

Garnish: Mint, Watermelon, Lemon

Directions:

  1. Fill serving glass full of ice.
  2. Pour ingredients into serving glass in order listed.
  3. Pour mixture into mixing tin and back into serving glass to mix.
  4. Add garnish and serve.

 

watermelon cocktail recipe
Recipe: Southwick's Gin

Firewater

Ingredients:

1oz Southwick’s Gin

1oz Veritable Limoncello

1/2oz lime

1/4oz hot honey

3 dashes orange bitters

4 cubes of fresh cut watermelon

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin.
  2. Shake vigorously to emulsify the watermelon.
  3. Double strain into a flute or tulip glass.
  4. Garnish with watermelon wedges.

 

watermelon recipes
Photo & recipe: UNA Vodka

Watermelon Blossom

Ingredients:

2 oz UNA Vodka

3 oz Fresh Watermelon Juice (strained to remove pulp)

.5 oz Lime Juice

.5 oz Elderflower Liqueur

2 dash Rose Water

Top Club Soda

1 Thin Watermelon Slice (garnish)

1 Hibiscus or Rose Petal (garnish)

Directions:

  1. Add the first five ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake well.
  2. Strain into a chilled Highball glass over ice.
  3. Top it off with a splash of club soda for a refreshing fizz, and gently stir to combine.
  4. Garnish with a watermelon slice and a hibiscus or rose petal, and enjoy!

 

watermelon cocktail
Recipe: Nicholas DiCristina, Morgan MFG, Chicago, IL

The Watermelon Whyne

Ingredients:

4 large cubes of fresh watermelon muddled

3 squeezes of fresh lime
1.5 ounces coconut Malibu rum
3 ounces Pineapple Juice
1 ounce cherry juice

Directions:

  1. Add all ingredients up in a shaker and doing a partial muddle.
  2. Shake HARD and long while adding some hip action into the mix to go along with the Jamaican/ Islander vibes of the dance called
    the Whyne.
  3. Double strain ingredients into a tall glass.
  4. Garnish with a sleek slice of shaved watermelon and a lime wheel.

 

watermelon cocktail recipe
Recipe: Yolanda Gregg, The Kimpton Tryon Park, Charlotte, NC

Eddy Loves Ruby

Ingredients:

2 oz of Deep Eddy's Ruby Red Grapefruit
1 oz Jalapeno Rosemary Watermelon syrup
.5 oz Pierre Fernandez Dry Curacao
.5 oz Acidic Adjusted Grapefruit
Splash of Topo Chico Lime Mineral Water
Garnish: Citrus Salt Rim
 

Directions:

For the rosemary syrup: 

2:1 Simple Syrup, 1 Jalapeno, half of a small seedless
watermelon juiced, 3 sprigs of
Juice: 100ml of grapefruit, 2.7g citric acid, 1.7g malic acid

For the cocktail:

  1. Put all measured ingredients except for the mineral water into a shaker with ice, and shake for 15 seconds.
  2. Make sure the glass chilled and rinse with a mezcal.
  3. Strain over ice of your choosing.

 

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