Watermelon is the ultimate summertime treat - it's cool, sweet and synonymous with fun in the sun. This melon makes a refreshing seasonal snack and doubles as a delicious cocktail mix-in.
In Florida, we have the ideal climate to grow several watermelon varieties, including Jubilee, Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby and Moons & Stars. Due to Florida’s lengthy growing season, watermelon is available nearly year-round with peak watermelon season running through the summer months. Fun fact: Florida is the only state to harvest watermelons from December through April because producers can plant seeds twice - once in the spring for a summer harvest and once in the fall.
Florida watermelons are widely available, feed the crowd and store easily. Plus, there are countless ways to enjoy this juicy, red fruit. You can add it to salads, pickle it, grill it and – most importantly – sip it! Check out our top Florida watermelon cocktails that are perfect for summertime sipping below.
Watermelon is the ultimate summertime treat - it's cool, sweet and synonymous with fun in the sun. This melon makes a refreshing seasonal snack and doubles as a delicious cocktail mix-in.
In Florida, we have the ideal climate to grow several watermelon varieties, including Jubilee, Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby and Moons & Stars. Due to Florida’s lengthy growing season, watermelon is available nearly year-round with peak watermelon season running through the summer months. Fun fact: Florida is the only state to harvest watermelons from December through April because producers can plant seeds twice - once in the spring for a summer harvest and once in the fall.
Florida watermelons are widely available, feed the crowd and store easily. Plus, there are countless ways to enjoy this juicy, red fruit. You can add it to salads, pickle it, grill it and – most importantly – sip it! Check out our top Florida watermelon cocktails that are perfect for summertime sipping below.
For a fresh watermelon drink that entices a response and likely a fierce cocktail selfie, shake together this original cocktail from our Farm to Cocktail series. We hit the road to source fresh ingredients from local farms and have some of Florida’s most popular bars craft new cocktails. This herbaceous and lightly sweet concoction is the genius of our Gainesville episode. Straight from the heart of Gator Country, Cry Baby’s (a self-proclaimed high class dive bar) hand-crafted the Thirst Trap for ABC showcasing fresh watermelon from Bass Farms to create a one-of-a-kind Florida-grown cocktail that is a must try.
The Recipe:
1 ½ ounces Don Q Cristal Rum
1 ½ ounces Thai basil watermelon shrub*
½ ounce fresh lime juice
Thai basil
*Thai Basil Watermelon Shrub:
4 cups fresh watermelon, cubed
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
5-6 Thai basil leaves
½ tablespoon green Sichuan peppercorn
For Thai basil watermelon shrub: Cut watermelon up into cubes and add to a large container. Add sugar and mash watermelon until it reaches roughly the consistency of puree and there are no large chunks remaining. Add the water, vinegar, Thai basil and peppercorns. Stir until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate in a covered container for 24-48 hours. Then, strain with a fine mesh strainer or through a cheese cloth. The shrub will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
For cocktail: Add rum, shrub and lime juice to a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Top with soda water and garnish with Thai basil.
Watch our full Farm to Cocktail: Watermelon adventure below.
Take advantage of a limited release, infused vodka from Cîroc to mix up this delightful watermelon bubbler. The Cîroc Watermelon Refresh uses freshly sliced or cubed watermelon to add natural sweetness. This cocktail is tasty and guilt-free with no sugary syrups, making it the perfect drink to sip on all summer long.
The Recipe:
2 ounces Cîroc Summer Watermelon Vodka
5 ounces soda water
Watermelon slice
Mint sprig
Add vodka to a glass with ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a watermelon slice and mint sprig.
Who doesn’t love a punny drink? For a tropical watermelon cocktail with a clever name, try this rum-based drink featuring Palms Watermelon Rum. With fresh watermelon juice, sweet agave, mint and Barbados rum, this cocktail will transport you to an island oasis. Try it shaken on your next beach day, boat day or pool day.
The Recipe:
1 ½ ounces Palms Watermelon Rum
¼ ounce agave nectar
5 ounces fresh watermelon juice*
Watermelon
Mint sprig
*Watermelon Juice:
2 cups watermelon chunks
1 lime, juiced
4-5 fresh mint leaves
For the watermelon juice: Combine watermelon chunks, lime juice and mint leaves in a blender. Blend until smooth and double strain into a container.
For the cocktail: Add rum, agave and watermelon juice to a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a glass with fresh ice. Top with club soda and garnish with watermelon, a mint sprig and lime wheels.
This crowd-pleasing batch watermelon cocktail will be the highlight of all your seasonal parties and BBQs. Your guests can beat the summer heat with a chilled Whiskey Watermelon Smash made memorable with a hint of cilantro. If you are feeling extra ambitious, you can even turn your watermelon shell into a drink dispenser after scooping out the contents for your cocktails.
The Recipe:
1, 750mL bottle Crown Royal Deluxe Whisky
4, 12-ounce cans orange flavored sparkling water
6 ounces simple syrup
1 small watermelon, cubed
Juice of 4 lemons
1 handful cilantro, finely chopped
Add whiskey, sparkling water, simple syrup, watermelon cubes, lemon juice and cilantro to a pitcher. Refrigerate until ready to serve. When ready to serve, stir to combine and serve over ice.
This summer spritzer is both refreshing and refined with subtle citrus and watermelon flavors. It’s shaken with fragrant, French rosé and 100% blue agave tequila to create a premium summertime drink that would elevate any seasonal event, dinner party or cocktail hour.
The Recipe:
2 watermelon chunks
2 rosemary sprigs
2 ounces Milagro Silver Tequila
1 ounce Lillet Rosé Aperitif De France
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
In a cocktail shaker, muddle watermelon and 1 rosemary sprig. Add the remaining ingredients and shake well. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with a rosemary sprig.
This colorful watermelon cocktail is simple, yet delivers sophisticated flavors. Fresh fruit juices and gin are combined to create an easy-sipping summertime favorite that is bright and beautiful. This is the perfect drink to level up your leftover watermelon.
The Recipe:
1 ½ ounces Tanqueray No. Ten Gin
2 ounces grapefruit juice
2 ounces fresh watermelon juice
Watermelon slice
Add gin and both juices to a glass over fresh ice. Stir to combine and garnish with a watermelon slice.
This Watermelon Frosé is the ultimate summer slushy and one of our personal favorites. You just can’t beat frozen rosé blended with homemade watermelon syrup on hot summer days. This cocktail takes a little prep work, but we promise it’s worth it! Plus, the watermelon syrup doubles as a delicious treat to drizzle over ice cream or other desserts.
The Recipe:
1, 750mL bottle Chateau Trians Provence Rosé
Watermelon simple syrup*
½ lime, juiced
Basil leaf
*Watermelon Simple Syrup:
2 cups watermelon, cubed
⅓ cup sugar
For the watermelon simple syrup: Put two cups of watermelon cubes in a blender, reserving a few pieces for garnish. Blend until smooth and strain juice into a cup, discarding all the pulp. Put ¾ of the watermelon juice (reserve remaining juice for cocktail) in a saucepan and heat on low. Stir in the sugar until it is fully dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.
For the cocktail: Freeze rosé in two ice cube trays. Once frozen, place rosé ice cubes, watermelon-sugar mixture and lime juice into the blender. Blend until slushy. Add small amounts of remaining watermelon juice if the slush is too thick to blend. Scoop into a glass and garnish with a watermelon cube and basil leaf.
