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Refreshing Watermelon Cocktail with mint and lime garnished in a glass.

Watermelon Cocktail

A refreshing and flavorful cocktail made with fresh watermelon juice, lime, and your choice of spirit, perfect for summer gatherings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Cocktail, Drink
Cuisine: American, Summer
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cocktail
  • 3 cup Fresh watermelon (cubed) Seedless is easiest, but any watermelon works.
  • 1 to 1.5 ounce Vodka or tequila Choose based on preference.
  • 0.5 ounce Fresh lime juice Fresh is best, bottled works in a pinch.
  • 0.5 ounce Simple syrup or honey Only if the watermelon isn’t sweet.
  • 1 pinch Salt Enhances the flavor.
  • 1 cup Ice Use lots of it.
Optional Garnishes
  • Mint or basil For garnish.
  • Club soda To top off for a sparkling version.
  • Tajin or sugar For rimming the glass, particularly with tequila.
  • Cucumber Another optional garnish.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cut about 3 to 4 cups of watermelon into cubes and blend until smooth.
  2. Decide if you want it silky or pulpy. For smooth, pour through a fine strainer into a bowl; for texture, skip straining.
Mixing the Cocktail
  1. In a shaker, add the watermelon juice, vodka or tequila, lime juice, simple syrup (if needed), and a pinch of salt.
  2. Add ice and shake for about 10 seconds, or stir well with a spoon if you don’t have a shaker.
Serving
  1. Taste and adjust flavors if needed, by adding more lime juice or syrup.
  2. Pour into a glass filled with fresh ice and garnish with a lime wheel, mint, or a watermelon wedge.
  3. Optionally, rim the glass with tajin or sugar for a fancier touch.

Notes

You can prepare watermelon juice up to 2 days ahead and store in a sealed jar. Mix the drink components just before serving to maintain freshness.