Fresh Watermelon Mint Fizz

This Fresh Watermelon Mint Fizz 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 today? The fact that I found watermelon front and center of my grocery store last week made for a very happy day. Besides being perfect on its own, I’ve found that watermelon also makes a great addition to a summer cocktail/mocktail. It takes a little bit of extra time to make the watermelon juice from scratch but the result is so worth it.

Tips for Healthyish 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” that you’ll find at the liquor store. 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.
• Ditch the straw. Not just for the turtles, but because typically straws lead to faster drinking. This is totally one of those mental things that is such a simple change to make.
• Go easy on the added alcohol. Sorry, but none of these other tips will really matter if you overdo it on the booze. In another post, I wrote about alcohol and health so be sure to check that out for more on this topic.
• Make it a mocktail. This is a great example of a drink that can easily be made NA. It still feels fancy and special and you’ll reap the health benefits of the watermelon.

Inspiration

Jacob made a grilled watermelon drink last summer that turned out really great and I’ve been thinking about it ever since (yes, I’m weird). Then, earlier this month I tried an agua fresca for the first time. It reminded me how delicious fresh fruit blended into a drink can be. Why am I not doing this more often?

I started thinking about how I could recreate something similar at home and my mind went back to watermelon. Basically I wanted to make a hybrid of the two. After doing some research on how to make agua fresca, I read that watermelon works really well because it’s so juicy!

How to Make a Watermelon Cocktail

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 super 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, I had about 12 oz of syrup so I’ll be getting creative with the leftovers. Initial ideas: iced coffee, matcha lattes or maybe even a dressing? If you have other thoughts, let me know!

Another thing I remembered from our previous watermelon cocktail attempt was that the pulp and seeds made the texture a little odd. Straining the watermelon puree takes care of that and only adds one simple step. Just pour it through a fine mesh strainer into a large jar or pitcher and you’re left with this insanely beautiful bright pink juice.

If you decide to drink it straight up at this point, I won’t judge. Another thought: how delicious would it be to add some fresh jalapeno for kick?

This recipe calls for 6 cups of watermelon cubes which yielded 2 cups of juice once strained. Basically half of a smallish watermelon was enough to make at least 4 cocktails. Plus I still had the other half to snack on throughout the week.

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.

Watch me make this on Facebook Live!

I hope you enjoy this refreshing summer cocktail as much as we did. Cheers to the start of June and many patio nights ahead!

Fresh Watermelon Mint Fizz

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

A refreshing healthyish summer cocktail that will impress! Make a big batch for your next backyard party.

• Author: Leanne Ray, MS, RDN
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Drinks

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup cane sugar or granulated sugar
• 6 cups watermelon, cubed (dice size cubes)
• 5 sprigs fresh mint
• 2 limes 
• 6 oz vodka
• 12 oz sparkling mineral water (like Topo Chico)

Instructions

1. 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. 
2. 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!
3. Make the cocktail: Combine the watermelon juice, 1/4-1/2 cup simple syrup (depending on how ripe your watermelon is), juice from 2 limes, and 4 shots of vodka to a pitcher, stirring well to combine. Chill.
4. 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

• 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, 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. 

Keywords: watermelon cocktail, watermelon vodka drink, watermelon puree, watermelon juice