Enjoy the perfect summer cocktail with our Watermelon Smash!
Made with fresh watermelon, citrus, and melon flavors, it’s perfectly balanced with tart lime juice and subtle floral notes.
You’ll find this cocktail recipe below.
Watermelon Smash Cocktail
Our Watermelon Smash cocktail is a sweet and refreshing summer drink.
It is made with notes of fresh watermelon, citrus, and melon flavors.
Not to worry, the tartness of the lime juice balances the sweetness of this drink, and the melon liqueur adds a pleasant and subtle floral note to the drink.
The vodka provides a delicate alcohol kick, but it plays well with the other ingredients, making this cocktail smooth and easy to drink.
Overall, our unforgettable Watermelon Smash is a perfect summertime cocktail that is fruity, light, and very delicious.
What You Need
Vodka. Grab a good vodka for this cocktail. You won’t need the high-shelf bottle, but you don’t want to go the harsh and cheap route either. Also, for a home bar, I always suggest buying half-gallons of your favorite vodka. For one, it’s more affordable, and two, you aren’t running out of vodka anytime soon.
Watermelon. Fresh and juicy watermelons are critical to making this instantly delicious, fun, and refreshing summertime drink. You can also prepare the melon by cutting it up the day or hours before and storing it in the fridge to chill.
Lime Juice. Like the watermelon, creating this summer sipper using fresh lime juice makes a big difference. One hack to getting more juice out of your lime is rolling them beneath the palm of your hand back and forth on a hard surface, cutting the lime in half, and using a citrus press.
Melon Liqueur Simple Syrup. Place a saucepan over medium heat, and combine equal parts filtered water and granulated sugar to make a simple syrup; after cooling, add a single cup of melon liqueur. Dassit!
Fresh Watermelon & Lime. For garnish, add a small triangular wedge of watermelon and a wedge of fresh lime. Fresh mint and herbs like rosemary, French tarragon, and marjoram also work well. A lemon garnish is another option.
How to Make a Watermelon Smash Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 serving
- 1 1/2 or 2 ounces of vodka
- 4 chunks of watermelon
- 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1-ounce melon liqueur simple syrup
Directions:
- Mix equal parts of water and simple syrup in a small saucepan to make the melon liqueur simple syrup. Over medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a low boil and whisk until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove the pan from direct heat and let the syrup cool and thicken. Pour into a mason jar, secure the lid, and cool in the fridge. When the syrup is cool, remove the cover, add one cup of melon liqueur, and mix thoroughly. When stored in a sterile air-tight container, the mixture will last up to six (6) months.
- To prepare the cocktail, muddle the watermelon chunks in a cocktail shaker until they are broken down into small pieces. Add the vodka, lime juice, and melon liqueur simple syrup to the shaker, and fill it with ice. Shake the ingredients or stir using a long-handled bar spoon vigorously for about 30 seconds until the mixture is well chilled.
- Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice, and garnish with a small wedge of watermelon and a wedge of fresh lime. Cheers!
Pro-tip: To cut down on this drink’s sweetness, add a little bit of club soda.
Can I make this Watermelon Smash ahead of time?
A rule of thumb when making drinks in large quantities is to use 1 ounce as a cup and 1/2 ounce measurements as half a cup.
So, for the drink, let’s multiply the ingredients using this method.
- 6 cups of vodka
- 1 1/2 cups of lime juice
- 1 1/2 cups of melon liqueur simple syrup
- 1/3 cup of chilled watermelon juice
Watermelon smash cocktails are perfect for hot summer days and outdoor gatherings.
Here are some additional tips to help you take your cocktail game to the next level:
- For an extra burst of flavor, try adding a few fresh mint leaves to the shaker before you muddle the watermelon chunks.
- If you prefer your cocktails on the sweeter side, increase the amount of simple syrup you use. Conversely, if you like your drinks tarter, reduce the amount of simple syrup and increase the lime juice.
- To make a virgin version of this cocktail, simply omit the vodka and add a splash of soda water or lemon-lime soda for some extra fizz.
- Don’t have a cocktail shaker? No problem! You can still make a delicious watermelon smash by blending the ingredients together in a blender and then straining the mixture into a glass.
- If you’re feeling adventurous, try experimenting with different types of liquor. Tequila or rum would both be great substitutes for vodka in this recipe.
What are the best vodkas for this drink?
I recommend Vodkas, which won’t break the bank. Here are my top picks:
- Tito’s
- Reyka
- Tenure
- Grey Goose
- Stolichnaya Elit
Check out these vodka cocktails:
Club Quarantine Cocktail Made With Ciroc Vodka
Watermelon Pink Lemonade Vodka Cocktail
Can you use rum to make this vodka Watermelon Smash cocktail?
Yes, you can use rum to make a watermelon smash cocktail.
Muddle some fresh watermelon in a shaker, add rum, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice, and shake well.
Strain into a glass and enjoy!
Using Captain Morgan Watermelon Smash
Another option to save time on prep and ingredients is to purchase a bottle of Captain Morgan’s Watermelon Smash.
Captain Morgan’s Watermelon Smash is a flavored rum that combines Caribbean rum with juicy watermelon flavor.
It is best enjoyed over ice or mixed with your favorite beverage.
What’s the best rum to use in this cocktail?
For a watermelon smash cocktail, it is recommended to use light-bodied rum such as silver or white rum.
You could also use Caribbean rum like Bacardi, Appleton Estate, and Mount Gay.
Some popular options include Bacardi Superior, Captain Morgan White Rum, or Havana Club Blanco.
I don’t drink alcohol; what is a good vodka substitute?
My wife doesn’t drink either, so I keep these spiritless mixers on hand:
- Seedlip Garden 108
- Monday Zero Alcohol Gin
- Spiritless Jalisco 55
Now that you have the recipe grab all of the ingredients for your home bar and mix yourself a drink or two.
If you have any questions drop us a line in the comments section.
Cheers, and drink responsibly!
Find more summer cocktails:
Watermelon Strawberry Basil Cocktail
34 Refreshing + Summery Mason Jar Drinks
Watermelon Smash Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 or 2 ounces of vodka
- 4 chunks of watermelon
- 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1- ounce melon liqueur simple syrup
Instructions
- Mix equal parts of water and simple syrup in a small saucepan to make the melon liqueur simple syrup. Over medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a low boil and whisk until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove the pan from direct heat and let the syrup cool and thicken. Pour into a mason jar, secure the lid, and cool in the fridge. When the syrup is cool, remove the cover, add one cup of melon liqueur, and mix thoroughly. When stored in a sterile air-tight container, the mixture will last up to six (6) months.
To prepare the cocktail, muddle the watermelon chunks in a cocktail shaker until they are broken down into small pieces. Add the vodka, lime juice, and melon liqueur simple syrup to the shaker, and fill it with ice. Shake the ingredients or stir using a long-handled bar spoon vigorously for about 30 seconds until the mixture is well chilled.
Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice, and garnish with a small wedge of watermelon and a wedge of fresh lime. Cheers!
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