The recipe
for your table
Purée the watermelon in the blender and strain the juice; leave the fibres behind.
Add the watermelon juice, vodka, lime juice and sugar syrup with ice to the shaker.
Shake for 10 seconds and strain into a longdrink glass filled with ice cubes.
Slap the mint once between your hands and place it on top. Garnish with a small triangle of watermelon.
The story
Watermelon in cocktails isn’t a classic tradition but a fairly recent discovery, and the reason is practical: it only became easy to turn it into juice with the arrival of good blenders. Before that, you had to press or grate the fruit, which no one does for a single glass. By now, watermelon is on almost every summer menu — as a margarita, a spritz, or a frozen version. The fruit itself goes much further back: watermelon has been cultivated in Northeast Africa for four thousand years, originally not for its flavour but because the fruit contains drinking water that remained usable for months.
The right glass
This cocktail is meant to be sipped slowly over a long time on a hot day, so you want a large glass with plenty of ice: a 40 to 47 cl longdrink glass. The tall, narrow shape keeps the pink colour intense — in a wide glass, watermelon juice quickly looks pale. Clear, colourless glass is a must here. Serving it outdoors? Choose a sturdy, thick-walled model; it will survive the garden table better than thin crystal.
Bormioli Rocco Diamond Longdrink Glass 47 cl (6 pieces)
Duralex Picardie Highball Glass 36 Cl (6 pieces)
€38.90 together, free shipping from €50.
Variations & twists
Replace the vodka with tequila and add a salt rim: watermelon margarita. With white rum and extra mint, you get a watermelon mojito; with prosecco, a light spritz. A few cubes of feta or a pinch of salt in the shaker may sound strange, but they enhance the melon's sweetness—salt and watermelon are a tried-and-tested pairing. Looking for more inspiration? Browse all cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Freeze the watermelon in cubes and use them instead of ice: your cocktail won't be diluted but will become more concentrated as they melt. Always strain the juice—the fibers make the drink cloudy and thick. Making a large pitcher? Strain and mix it in advance, but add the lime juice at the last moment; otherwise, the color will turn orange within an hour.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a watermelon cocktail?
A 40 to 47 cl highball glass. View our highball glasses.
How much juice do you get from a watermelon?
About 6 to 7 cl of juice per 100 grams of flesh. So you need a generous wedge for one cocktail; allow for half a melon for a pitcher serving four glasses.
Can I use ready-made watermelon juice?
You can, but fresh is far better. Watermelon quickly loses its fresh flavor after juicing; pasteurized juice tastes noticeably flatter and sweeter.
Can you make it alcohol-free?
Yes—and this is one of the best mocktails out there. Leave out the vodka, top up with sparkling water, and keep the lime juice and mint.
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