This vodka watermelon cocktail is a refreshing and vibrant cocktail with a crisp kick of vodka and the juicy sweetness of fresh watermelon. This cocktail is easy to make and bursting with flavor. It's a delicious way to cool down on those hot summer days.

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It's summertime and we can never have too much watermelon! And while it's always a treat to bite into a juicy watermelon slice, it's also perfect for drinking. This watermelon vodka drink is a perfect summer cocktail. It's one of our favorites, along with spiked iced tea.
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Why you'll love this watermelon cocktail
- Simple: All you need is three simple ingredients and it only takes 5 minutes to make this refreshing watermelon drink.
- No refined sugar: No added sugar is needed, so there's no need to make a simple syrup or use any other sweeteners. The watermelon provides all the natural sweetness that's required for this delicious cocktail.
- Cool and refreshing: Make this watermelon cocktail recipe for a perfect refreshing drink to beat the summer heat.
- Use a large watermelon: This watermelon vodka cocktail recipe is a great way to use up some of the fruit when you can't finish a whole watermelon.
Ingredients you'll need
Watermelon: It's best to use a seedless watermelon, since we'll be blending the fruit. You could use store-bought watermelon juice if you want to, but fresh watermelon juice is fresher tasting and it's so easy to make.
Vodka: Any vodka will work, and you can also use a different spirit, like white rum, or tequila.
Lemon juice: Lemons are what I had on hand for these photos, but fresh lime juice is equally good for these watermelon vodka cocktails. Use fresh lemon juice or lime juice if possible, but bottled juice will work in a pinch.
How to make it
There are just a few simple steps to making this refreshing watermelon vodka cocktail.
- Cut the watermelon into slices, remove the rind from each slice and then cut into chunks.
- Put the watermelon chunks into a blender or food processor and process until it's liquified.
- Strain the watermelon puree with a fine mesh strainer to remove any seeds and pulp.
- Half fill a cocktail glass with ice cubes, then add two ounces of vodka and the lemon juice. Fill the remainder of the glass with watermelon juice. Stir.
- Garnish with small watermelon wedges, a lemon or lime wheel, (or a fresh lemon or fresh lime wedge), and fresh mint sprigs. Enjoy!
Tips and Variations
- Chilled ingredients: Start with a chilled watermelon straight from the fridge, and cold vodka. I keep my vodka in the freezer. (Don't worry, it won't freeze.)
- Large batch: Make a big batch of vodka watermelon cocktails for those summer parties and backyard barbecues. For quantities, just toggle the "servings" button at the top of the recipe card.
- Mocktails: Watermelon juice is a perfect summer drink just on its own. But you can make delicious mocktails with it, too. Just leave out the alcohol or substitute it with Sprite, Fresca, or any other lemon lime soda for a refreshing watermelon mocktail that the whole family will love.
- Add bubbles: Add club soda or ginger ale if you want some fizz in your watermelon drink. You can also add ginger beer, and you'll have a watermelon mule.
- Alcohol: Switch the vodka for tequila and add an ounce of triple sec or Cointreau and you'll have watermelon margaritas.
- Cocktail shaker: Instead of blending the watermelon into a puree, you can muddle it in a cocktail shaker and strain the juice into a glass. You will have a weaker tasting watermelon juice, almost like a watermelon aqua fresca.
More summer fruit recipes
You might also love watermelon in a salad, like this delicious halloumi and watermelon salad. Strawberries are also delicious for salads, especially my strawberry kale salad.
Try a mango mojito for another refreshing summer drink. Some other fruity summer favorites are black currant ice cream, strawberry popsicles, peach cobbler, and blackberry apple crumble.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Did you make any changes? We would love for you to share and your feedback is important! Thank you for visiting The Food Blog!
Recipe
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Vodka Watermelon Cocktail
Ingredients
- 6 ounces watermelon juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces lemon juice
- ice
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon into slices, remove the rind from each slice and then cut into chunks.
- Put the watermelon chunks into a blender and process until it's liquified.
- Strain the watermelon puree with a fine mesh strainer to remove any seeds and pulp.
- Add ice to a cocktail glass, then add two ounces of vodka and the lemon juice. Fill the remainder of the glass with watermelon juice. Stir.
- Garnish with a small wedge of watermelon, lemon or lime wheels, and sprigs of fresh mint. Enjoy!
Notes
- Chilled ingredients: Start with a chilled watermelon straight from the fridge, and cold vodka. I keep my vodka in the freezer. (Don't worry, it won't freeze.)
- Large batch: Make a big batch of vodka watermelon cocktails for those summer parties and backyard barbecues. For quantities, just toggle the "servings" button at the top of the recipe card.
- Mocktails: Watermelon juice is a perfect summer drink just on its own. But you can make delicious mocktails with it, too. Just leave out the alcohol or substitute it with Sprite, Fresca, or any other lemon lime soda for a refreshing watermelon mocktail that the whole family will love.
- Add bubbles: Add club soda or ginger ale if you want some fizz in your watermelon drink. You can also add ginger beer, and you'll have a watermelon mule.
- Alcohol: Switch the vodka for tequila and add an ounce of triple sec or Cointreau and you'll have watermelon margaritas.
- Cocktail shaker: Instead of blending the watermelon into a puree, you can muddle it in a cocktail shaker and strain the juice into a glass. You will have a weaker tasting watermelon juice, almost like a watermelon aqua fresca.
Erin
I loved how few ingredients this had, so tried it out. It is perfect! And so refreshing. Thanks!