Another cocktail day? No, it’s actually National Watermelon Day on Aug. 3. Which means it’s a good day—and month—to offer some special watermelon cocktails as the summer draws to a close. Here are the top 10 watermelon drink recipes that we came across this year—in no particular order. (If you need more, here’s the watermelon roundup from 2020— and a bonus cocktail made with rye.
Noah’s Ark
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ oz. Zachlawi Dry Arak
- ¼ oz. Omhpiko Mastiha liquor
- 2 oz. Fresh homemade watermelon juice
- ½ oz. Lime
- Cucumber strip
- Watermelon cube
- Mint
- Zaatar salt rim
Instructions
- Mix equal amounts of zaatar and salt in a shallow bowl.
- Rub a watermelon cube around half the rim of a tall glass.
- Dip one side of the watermelon cube in the zaatar mix; leave watermelon cube to the side.
- Combine arak, mastiha liquor, watermelon juice, lime juice and a cup of ice in a shaker.
- Shake vigorously.
- Strain over fresh ice into glass.
- Garnish with a cucumber strip, fresh mint and the watermelon cube.
Notes
Ginger Spiced Watermelon Mojito
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. White rum
- 3 oz. Fresh-pressed watermelon juice
- Splash of simple syrup
- Ginger beer
Instructions
- Muddle the lime and mint together.
- Add in the white rum and a splash of simple syrup.
- Strain over a glass of fresh ice.
- Top with a splash of ginger beer.
- Garnish with a watermelon slice, fresh mint sprig and a lime wedge.
Notes
Kentucky Devil
Ingredients
- 6 parts Wild Turkey Bourbon
- 1 part Simple syrup
- 3 parts Ancho Reyes chile liqueur
- 2 parts Fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 4 parts Fresh-squeezed watermelon juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into pitcher.
- Add ice and stir.
- Garnish individual servings with small watermelon slices.
Notes
Watermelon Piquín
Ingredients
- 1 ½ parts Tequila Cazadores Blanco
- 3 parts Watermelon juice
- 1 part Fresh lime juice
- ½ part St. Germain liqueur
- Chile Piquín rim
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake.
- Pour into glass with piquín rim.
- Garnish with watermelon slice.
Notes
Summer Watermelon Cooler
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Bacardí Superior rum
- ¾ oz. Watermelon juice
- 2 oz. Grapefruit soda
- Blueberries and lime wheel as a garnish
Instructions
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Add all ingredients.
- Give a quick stir to combine.
- Garnish with blueberries on a cocktail pick and a lime wheel or wedge.
Notes
Basil Watermelon Cooler
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Grey Goose vodka
- 4 Basil leaves
- 1 Ginger slice peeled
- 2 chunks of Watermelon
- ½ oz. Fresh lime juice
- ½ oz. Simple syrup
- Ginger ale
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle three basil leaves with a ginger slice, one watermelon chunk and simple syrup.
- Add ice, vodka and lime juice.
- Shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Top with ginger ale.
- Garnish with the remaining watermelon chunk and basil leaves.
Notes
French Twist with Watermelon
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ parts Courvoisier V.S.O.P. Cognac
- ½ parts Aperol
- ½ parts Monin hibiscus syrup
- ¼ parts Fresh lime juice
- ¾ parts Watermelon juice
- 4 Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Lightly muddle basil in a mixing tin.
- Build the rest of the cocktail and add ice.
- Lightly shake and strain over fresh ice in a double Old Fashioned glass.
- Garnish with a fresh basil leaf.
Notes
Campfire Cookout Cooler
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
- 1 ¼ oz. Fresh-pressed watermelon
- ½ oz. Fresh ginger syrup
- ½ oz. Fresh lime juice
- 3 dashes Rhubarb bitters
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake.
- Pour all ingredients into glass over fresh rocks.
- Top with soda water.
- Garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel and blue cornflowers.
Notes
Pastel Piña Colada
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Koloa Kauai white rum
- 3 oz. Pineapple juice
- 1 oz. Cream of coconut
- 1 cup Fresh watermelon cubed
- 1 cup Ice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender.
- Blend until liquid.
- Pour into tall glass.
- Garnish with fresh fruit.