This watermelon mint cocktail combines watermelon juice with mint and lime for a refreshing and healthyish summer cocktail that will impress! It can easily be served as a mocktail too.
Can I just say that I am super pumped to be sharing this recipe? Besides being perfect on its own, I’ve found that watermelon also makes a great addition to summer drinks. It takes a little bit of extra time to make the watermelon juice from scratch but the result is SO worth it.
How to Make Healthy(ish) Cocktails
While I get that the words “healthy” and cocktail” don’t really belong in the same sentence, I can get down with adding some fruit and antioxidants when it makes sense. Here are a few of my favorite tips for making a “healthyish” cocktail:
- Use 100% fruit/vegetable juice over the pre-made “mixers”. This way you can add sweetener per your personal preference.
- Try club soda, seltzer water, or sparkling mineral water in place of sugary soft drinks for bubbles.
- Go easy on the added alcohol.
- Make it a mocktail. This is a great example of a drink that can easily be made non-alcoholic and still feel fancy and special.
Steps to Make a Watermelon Mint Cocktail
Make the Mint Simple Syrup
When you make cocktails at home, a simple syrup is key to added sweetness that mixes in beautifully with your other ingredients. And as the name implies, it is very simple to make! Use a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar and combine in a saucepan, heating until dissolved. There’s no need to even bring it to a boil.
Another cool thing about simple syrup: you can infuse it with other flavors that pair well with your drink. In this case I thought mint would be a nice compliment, so I added that in when the mixture was still hot and let it stand for 15 minutes. Any herb would work just as well and add a special touch.
Once cooled and ready to use, you’ll have about 12 ounces of syrup so I’ll be getting creative with the leftovers.
Make the Watermelon Juice
The last thing you want is seeds and pulp in this (“chew” in your drink). Straining the watermelon puree takes care of that and only adds one simple step. To make it:
- Blend the watermelon cubes
- Pour the juice through a fine mesh strainer into a large jar or pitcher
If you decide to drink it straight up at this point, I won’t judge. You can also mix it with some sparkling water for a super hydrating alcohol-free drink!
This recipe calls for 6 cups of watermelon cubes which yields 2 cups of juice once strained. Basically half of a smallish watermelon is enough to make at least four cocktails.
Assembly and Presentation
Once you have the syrup and juice prepped and ready to go, the assembly is easy whether you’re making one big batch or individual servings. Make it easy on yourself for a party and “batch it” so all you really have to do is pour and top with bubbles/garnish.
If you want to keep the components separate and make the cocktails on demand, add everything to a shaker or mason jar to combine just before serving.
I hope you enjoy this refreshing summer cocktail as much as I do. Cheers!
More refreshing drink recipes:
PrintFresh Watermelon Mint Fizz
A refreshing watermelon mint summer cocktail that will impress! Make a big batch for your next backyard party.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Drinks
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup cane sugar or granulated sugar
- 6 cups watermelon, cubed (dice size cubes)
- 5 sprigs fresh mint
- 2 limes, juiced
- 6 oz vodka (4 shots)
- 12 oz sparkling mineral water (like Topo Chico)
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup: Heat 1 cup of water in a medium saucepan and add the sugar, whisking until completely dissolved. Remove from heat and add the mint, let stand at least 15 minutes. Note: you won’t use it all.
- Make the watermelon juice: Add the watermelon cubes to a blender and puree until smooth, a minute or so. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a large mason jar or pitcher. You’ll be left with a beautiful and bright pink juice!
- Make the cocktail: Combine the watermelon juice, 1/4-1/2 cup simple syrup (depending on how ripe your watermelon is), lime juice and vodka to a pitcher, stirring well to combine. Chill.
- To serve: Add a few ice cubes to a tumbler or stemless wine glass, fill about 3/4 of the way with cocktail, top with mineral water and garnish with additional lime slice and mint.
Notes
- The equipment section above includes affiliate links to things I use often in my kitchen and recommend.
- If you don’t want to make a large batch of the cocktail, it’s simple to make one at a time too. Just add 4 oz of the watermelon juice, 1-2 Tbsp syrup, juice from 1/2 lime and one shot of vodka to a shaker or mason jar. Top with mineral water before serving.
- If you have leftover watermelon juice, refrigerate and drink within 1-2 days
- Lastly, feel free to leave out the alcohol if you want to make this a watermelon mocktail. It’s just as delicious and this version would also be a great kid-friendly option.
This post was originally published in June 2019 and was updated in June 2021.
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Heather says
Made this with some friends! Used club soda & the mint simple syrup was great. Very refreshing!
Leanne says
That’s awesome Heather! I’m so glad you liked this one. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and star rating too. Cheers!
Jacqueline Roberts says
We made a huge batch of this mocktail for my baby shower. Everyone loved the taste and that it wasn’t overly sugary.
Leanne says
Thank you so much for your review! Glad you enjoyed this one.