Beat the heat with the most refreshing, summertime sipper of all -- an ice-cold Watermelon Martini! This vodka cocktail is light and fruity, with a lovely burst of acidity thanks to a fresh squeeze of lime juice.
You'll find it comes equipped with just the right amount of sweet and great, big watermelon flavor. Watermelon Martinis are perfect for al fresco dinner parties, sipping on poolside, BBQs, and everything in between. Whether you're making a single martini or a big batch for a party, we've got you covered below!
Love watermelon cocktails? Bookmark our Watermelon Margaritas for next time!
HOW TO MAKE A WATERMELON MARTINI
- Mix Ingredients | Add citrus vodka, orange liqueur, watermelon juice, simple syrup (or use our Watermelon Syrup!), and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Seal and Shake | Seal the shaker tightly and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. The sign of a well-shaken martini is ice crystals floating across the top!
- Pour | Strain the martini into a chilled martini glass. Garnish your cocktail with a mini watermelon wedge, if desired, and serve right away!
We love an easy cocktail around here! Try our White Wine Sangria next!
WATERMELON MARTINI INGREDIENTS
- Citrus Vodka
- Orange Liqueur
- Simple Syrup
- Fresh Watermelon Juice
- Fresh Lime Juice
This Watermelon Martini calls for citrus vodka. We used Kettle One Citron, but you can use any citrus vodka you like...or even regular, unflavored vodka.
Citrus vodkas come equipped with a little more sweetness than your standard unflavored vodka. If you like your cocktails less sweet, go with regular vodka instead!
Orange liqueur is flavored with orange peels and will round out the flavor profile of your Watermelon Martini nicely. Our liqueur of choice is Grand Marnier, which is actually an orange-flavored brandy.
Grand Marnier isn't as pungently tart and sweet as Triple Sec is, and it's a great option if it's in your price range!
For another fresh and fruity cocktail, try our Pimm's Cup!
ABOUT SIMPLE SYRUP
Simple syrup is made up of water and sugar it's used in cocktails to add sweetness. The two are boiled together until the sugar has dissolved.
HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP
These days you can buy simple syrup from the grocery or liquor store. However, making it at home is very easy, not to mention, very budget-friendly!
To make a simple syrup for your Watermelon Martini:
- Combine 2 cups of water with 1 cup of granulated sugar. I also like to add a ¼ teaspoon of salt to the mix. The salt does not make the mixture taste salty, but rather brings out all of the other flavors in the cocktail!
- Bring the sugar and water to a boil and as soon as the sugar has dissolved, remove it from the heat.
- Set it aside to cool and then it's ready to use!
FRESH WATERMELON JUICE MATTERS!
Don't let that whole "fresh watermelon juice" thing discourage you from making Watermelon Martinis! The fresh watermelon is what makes this cocktail so extremely refreshing and perfect for the summertime weather!
You can make a big batch in the blender or muddle it right in the shaker!
HOW TO MAKE WATERMELON JUICE IN A BLENDER
To make fresh watermelon juice, you'll first cube the watermelon. Then, puree the watermelon cubes in a blender. Once you have everything liquified, run it through a fine-mesh sieve and you'll be left with smooth-sipping watermelon juice!
For another easy cocktail, be sure you try our Black Manhattan!
HOW TO MUDDLE WATERMELON JUICE
Muddling watermelon in the shaker is going to more labor-intensive and time-consuming, especially if you're making multiple Watermelon Martinis. However, if you're only making one martini (or you don't have the proper equipment to blend and strain the juice) this route makes sense.
To make a martini with muddled watermelon juice, add two-thirds cup of cubed watermelon to the shaker. Then, use a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon to release the juices.
HOW MUCH WATERMELON JUICE DO I NEED?
One personal-sized watermelon goes a long way when it comes to cocktails. How much watermelon juice you need depends entirely on how many Watermelon Martinis you're making.
A personal-sized watermelon typically weighs about 4 to 6 pounds and will yield about 4 cups of fresh watermelon juice. You'll need a ⅓ cup of juice per martini. So if you plan to make anywhere from 4 to 6 martinis, you'll need only half of a personal-sized watermelon.
If you're making a bigger batch for a crowd, puree the whole thing! And, be sure you go for seedless melons.
LIME AND WATERMELON
And last but not least in our list of ingredients -- the lime juice! Never underestimate the power of fresh citrus in a cocktail. It mellows out the harshness of the alcohol and provides a much-needed acidity so many cocktails are lacking.
Fresh lime and watermelon are a match made in heaven in this Watermelon Martini!
THE WATERMELON MARTINI FORMULA
You can use this recipe as a base for lots of different cocktails, so feel free to get creative! Here's the formula:
- 1 ounce of liquor
- ½ ounce of liqueur
- ⅓ cup to ½ cup of watermelon juice
- 1 ounce of simple syrup
- 1 ounce of fresh lime juice
Rum and tequila also pair nicely with watermelon, as do liqueurs like St. Germaine, Creme de Cassis, Limoncello, or Chambord!
If this is your kind of drink, be sure you check out our Vodka Sour!
MAKING WATERMELON MARTINIS FOR A CROWD?
If you're entertaining and making cocktails for a large crowd, consider whipping up this Watermelon Simple Syrup and serving from a pitcher instead of a shaker!
Here's what you'll need:
- 4 cups of watermelon simple syrup
- 1 ½ cup of citrus vodka
- 1 ½ cup fresh squeezed lime juice
- ⅔ cup of orange liqueur
The recipe above will make 10 to 12 Watermelon Martinis (depending on the glassware you pour them into)!
If you are making a big batch, stir all of the ingredients together in a pitcher a couple of hours in advance. Then, transfer the whole shebang to the refrigerator to chill.
When it comes time to serve, pour the mix into a rocks glass filled with ice rather than a martini glass. It's a great recipe for casual entertaining!
6 MORE COCKTAIL RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Cranberry Mimosa | Bookmark this holiday cocktail for Christmastime! It's as festive (and tasty) as a champagne cocktail can get!
- Pomegranate Martini | Tart and just the right amount of sweet, this cocktail makes every occasion extra special!
- Peach Daiquiri | Bring the beach home with frosty daiquiris made with real peaches!
- Chocolate Martini | Chocolate lovers, this one is for you! This dessert martini is the perfect ending to any meal.
- French Martini | Creme de Cassis, vodka, and fresh-squeezed lemon are the perfect trio in this martini!
- Frozen Strawberry Margarita | These margaritas are thick, frosty, and perfect for the summertime!
Cranberry Mimosa
Pomegranate Martini
Peach Daiquiri
Chocolate Martini Recipe
French Martini
Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
Watermelon Martinis
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup fresh watermelon juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice (from about 1 whole lime)
- 1 ounce citrus vodka
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
Instructions
- Add watermelon juice, simple syrup, lime juice, vodka, and orange liqueur to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Add the lid and shake vigorously for 30-45 seconds.
- Strain into a martini glass, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
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