Tart, sweet and refreshing, the Watermelon Vodka cocktail is a perfect midday pick-up.
The beach is packed for the middle of the week, right before lunch. And why not? The weather is beautiful, the sky is a vibrant blue, the clouds are fluffy and the temperature is not too hot, but just right. People are splashing in the waves while sunbathers are soaking in the rays, slathered from head to toe in sunscreen. Everything smells like barbecue grills, SPF 50 and the beautiful briny.
A group of muscle-bound and greased-up surfers surround a volleyball net, scratching their heads instead of playing the game. One took notice of me strolling across the sand and flagged me down. Turns out, they were short one player for a most epic game. They took one look at my nondescript body, hidden under layers of billowy linen and said “this is a person who must be good at sports.” I’m not sure why I said yes. Maybe I wanted to be cool, maybe I was feeling goofy or maybe, just maybe, I actually felt that I could bring an Olympic level of athleticism and gusto to the proceedings.
Teams were divided up, everyone taking their positions. The ball was tossed my way… I was to serve. Sweat begins to trickle down my temple as I realize all eyes are on me. Everything happens in slow motion: I toss the ball into the air. It hangs for a moment before starting its fall back down. At the perfect moment, I throw my arm and closed fist toward it, visualizing the satisfying pang of my hand connecting with the ball as it zings over the net, bringing my side closer to victory. My hand instead missed its mark by a good two feet. My body followed, spinning around and down into the sand, hitting the ground before the ball landed and bounced off my head with a dull and hollow thud.
After the dust clears, I look up to see the surfers, all glowering at me with their hands planted angrily at their hips.
“You don’t know how to play, do you!” One of them spat these words out with so much venom I was afraid I might start crying like a preschooler.
All I could do was just sheepishly answer. “Umm… no.”
Another surfer ran towards me, pointing their finger in my face. I felt like I was in an 80s movie all of a sudden. “Well, what can you do?!”
The light bulb went off over my head. “Who’s got vodka, seedless watermelon chunks and a blender?”, I asked.
Someone from the back piped up. “I do!”
To make a long story short, we ended up at one of the surfer’s cozy beachside shacks, blending up massive amounts of watermelon purée and mixing it with lime juice, agave and vodka… the crisp and refreshing Watermelon Vodka cocktail.
The next time I’m moseying down the beach and want to make friends, I’ll skip the embarrassing stuff and skip straight to making drinks.
What is the Best Vodka to Use in a Watermelon Vodka Cocktail?
I like using unflavored vodka when mixing a drink that features robust ingredients, like the watermelon in this recipe. You can experiment and play around with some of the fruity varieties of the spirit, see how they work in this cocktail. I find that what I’m making can sometimes be too sweet if I use a flavored vodka, so I tend to stick to the plain liquor. These have their own tastes and notes too, so you don’t want to mask them.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh watermelon cubes
- 3 ounces vodka
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup optional
Instructions
- Combine the watermelon cubes in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Strain the watermelon through a fine mesh sieve to remove any pulp.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the strained watermelon juice, vodka, and lime juice. Add agave syrup for a sweeter drink.
- Shake well with ice until chilled.
- Pour the mixture into glasses filled with ice and serve immediately.
Nutrition
FAQs & Tips
Pour your cocktail over ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a juicy and plump wedge of watermelon or a lime wheel.
This recipe can be upscaled, prepared and stored ahead of time if you’re going to be serving a large group. Keep your combined ingredients in an airtight container and store in the fridge for a few days. Shake individual servings over ice.
At 178 calories, this fresh and sweet-tasting treat isn’t too heavy. Have two!
If you prefer a more neutral flavor with your drink’s sweetness, you can use simple syrup in place of the agave. Agave will have an earthier, caramel and molasses-forward taste.
Similar Cocktails to the Watermelon Vodka
Some of my favorite mixed drinks are the ones that taste so refreshing and invigorating that you can almost slurp them down in one gulp. But then you’d miss out on all the flavors and textures that make cocktails like the Watermelon Vodka so enjoyable. If you’re looking for refreshment that packs a little something extra, look no further than right here at Twist & Toast. Check out some of the recipes we have on the site to get you started.
- Gin Fizz – Smooth, fresh and frothy, the Gin Fizz is one of my favorite tipples.
- Vodka Lemonade – Simple and crisp, the Vodka Lemonade is good company on a hot day.
- Watermelon Mojito – The refreshing taste of mint plays beautifully with the watermelon in this mojito recipe.
- Mezcalita – Smoky, spicy and sweet, this mezcal-based cocktail will cool you down while heating things up.
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