Vodka Watermelon Cocktails
Vodka Watermelon Cocktails are the kind of summer sip you’ll want on repeat all season long. Light, refreshing, and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients, they’re cool, crisp, and perfect for everything from backyard BBQs to lazy evenings on the patio.
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A Note from Kim
Summer Sipping Starts Here
Watermelon cocktails made with vodka have been my summer obsession lately, whether I’m sipping one out or just craving that fresh, juicy flavor at home. There’s something about watermelon that just feels like sunshine in a glass.
But honestly, making them yourself is even better. This recipe is so easy to whip up and tastes just as refreshing (if not more) than anything you’d order at a bar.
It’s simple, light, and the kind of drink you’ll find yourself making on repeat all summer long.
With love (and lots of good eats), 
This was such a refreshing summer drink! I had extra watermelon to use up and made these for a backyard cookout. Everyone kept asking for the recipe and I ended up making a second batch.
— Melissa
Ingredients for Watermelon Cocktails
What do you need? Not much, it’s simple!
All measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom.
- Vodka. Use a good quality vodka! I like Prairie Organic Vodka or Titos. Check out this taste test for other options. You can also substitute the liquor with Sprite, Fresca or Topo Chico to make this drink a family-friendly fun mocktail!
- Chilled fresh watermelon or watermelon juice. Fresh watermelon is the star of these cocktails, so juicy, bright, and perfect for summer. But if you want to skip the hassle of blending, they work just as well with store-bought watermelon juice. My personal favorite is Trader Joe’s Sparkling Watermelon Juice, but Simply Watermelon Juice is easy to find at most grocery stores this time of year and works great too.
- Freshly squeezed lime juice. Fresh lime juice is best, but in a pinch bottled works just fine.
- Sprite, Fresca or sparkling water. Adding a little bubbly is optional, but I really love a bit of fizz in my cocktails. If I’m not using the Sparkling Watermelon Juice from Trader Joe’s, I like to top this drink off with Sprite or something similar.
- Fresh mint and fresh watermelon. Totally optional for garnish, but so pretty, especially if you’re entertaining!
- Ice. Don’t skimp on the ice! You want this drink to be plenty cold.
Kim’s Recipe Tips
- Use seedless watermelon: It makes blending and straining much easier and saves you from picking out seeds before making the juice.
- Use chilled watermelon. Cold watermelon blends into a more refreshing juice and helps keep your cocktail extra crisp without watering it down too fast.
- Chill everything first. Vodka, watermelon, and even your glasses make a big difference when everything starts cold.
- Strain for a smoother drink. Straining the blended watermelon with a fine mesh sieve removes pulp and gives you that clean, bar-style texture.
- No cocktail shaker? No problem. A cocktail shaker works great, but a mason jar or any jar with a tight-fitting lid can do the job too. Just shake well and strain before serving.
- Adjust sweetness to taste. Depending on how ripe your watermelon is, you may not need any sweetener at all, taste before adding agave or honey.
How to Make a Cocktail with Watermelon
It’s SO super easy to whip these cocktails up!
You’ll find full printable instructions in the recipe card below.
- Blend. Start by adding fresh cubed watermelon to a blender and blend until completely smooth.
- Strain. Then strain it through a fine mesh strainer (or nut milk bag) to get a silky juice with no pulp.
- Combine. From there, just mix it up in a cocktail shaker with vodka, fresh lime juice, and a little sweetener if you want it a bit sweeter.
- Shake and serve. Give it a good shake with ice, pour over fresh ice, and finish with mint and watermelon for the perfect summer touch.
Serving Suggestions
We enjoyed these vodka watermelon cocktails alongside my seared salmon tacos one night, and the combination was just outstanding. Here are some other great pairing options:
- Pair with grilled foods. These cocktails go so well with burgers, grilled chicken, pulled pork, ribs, and other cookout favorites.
- Add a snack board. Serve with fruit, cheese, crackers, or a light appetizer spread with homemade salsa and guacamole for easy summer entertaining.
- Turn it into a pitcher drink. Double or triple the recipe for parties, BBQs, and pool days. Just wait to add the ice until serving time so the drink stays cold without getting diluted.
- Serve ice cold. Chill the glasses first or use plenty of ice for the most refreshing sip.
More Easy Summer Cocktails to Try
If you try this easy vodka watermelon cocktail recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if you love it as much as I do, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, subscribe to our newsletter to receive more delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Vodka Watermelon Cocktails
Ingredients
- 2 cups cubed, chilled fresh watermelon, or 1 cup watermelon juice
- 3-4 ounces (1/3-1/2 cup) vodka, 2 ounces per drink is pretty standard, use more or less depending on how strong you like your cocktail
- 1 tablespoon (about 1/2 lime) fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar or honey, optional for added sweetness, use more or less depending on the sweetness of your watermelon or juice
- fresh mint, lime wedges and small watermelon wedges, optional for garnish
Equipment
- Jigger or small liquid measuring cup
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Instructions
- If using fresh watermelon, place the 2 cups cubed, chilled fresh watermelon in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer (or use a nut milk bag) until the juice is smooth and mostly free of pulp. You’ll need about 1 cup of watermelon juice total for 2 cocktails.
- For an easier (not quite as delicious) option, skip the blending and use store-bought watermelon juice instead. Just measure out 1 cup and continue with the recipe.
- Add the watermelon juice, 3-4 ounces (1/3-1/2 cup) vodka, 1 tablespoon (about 1/2 lime) fresh lime juice, and 1 tablespoon agave nectar or honey (if desired) to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled, then pour over ice to serve. For a bubbly twist, top each glass with a splash of Fresca, Sprite or club soda. You can then garnish each drink, if you'd like.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I don’t usually make cocktails at home, but this recipe was simple and delicious. Definitely making it again!
This is my new favorite summer cocktail. I added Fresca and it was incredible!
This is so good! Love that it uses fresh watermelon!
Served these in a pitcher for a BBQ and they were gone in no time. Big hit with everyone.
Loved how simple this was. The watermelon and vodka combo was perfect for summer.
I brought this to a backyard get-together and ended up sharing the recipe with half the guests.
This was such a refreshing summer drink! I had extra watermelon to use up and made these for a backyard cookout. Everyone kept asking for the recipe and I ended up making a second batch.
Used watermelon juice to make this and it was so delicious! Can’t wait to try with fresh watermelon.
Love how fresh and delicious this is! Will definitely be making again when watermelon is in season.
I served these at bunco night and they were the favorite drink of the evening.
I love how quick this is to make. No fancy ingredients, just simple and delicious.
Made this last night. It’s so good and fresh tasting!
Made this for a pool day and it instantly became the drink everyone wanted more of. So light and refreshing.
Made these for girls’ night and they disappeared fast! The fresh watermelon flavor really shines and the mint made it taste extra refreshing.
Super easy to throw together and perfect for hot weather. I’ll definitely be making this all summer long.
This was so refreshing and delicious!
I usually skip fruity cocktails because they can be too sweet, but this one was perfect. Fresh, crisp, and really balanced. My husband even asked me to make another round.
Such a fun and refreshing drink recipe! The watermelon makes it taste like summer in a glass.
These were a huge hit at girls’ night! Super easy to make and looked beautiful served over ice.
Very good drink. I used honey and increased to 3 tsp to cut some of the tartness. Will definitely make again.
So glad you enjoyed! Thanks for your feedback!
Made these last night, SO good! I’ll be making these all summer!
This is now my go to summer drink. It is sooo pretty and easy to sip on. I also tried it with the sparkling watermelon juice from Trader Joe’s as you suggested, loved that!
Tried this last night! They were super easy and absolutely delicious. Such a great summer drink!
Loved this! I used fresh watermelon juice and made some simple syrup for sweetener. It was so good and refreshing.
Made these for Memorial Day weekend and they were the star of the party. Next time I’m doubling the recipe because one batch was not enough!
Made this yesterday for a pool party and it was a huge hit! Will be making it all summer long!
Absolutely love these cocktails! They are easy to make and have the best summery flavor!
Tried it with a splash of soda water and it gave it the perfect fizzy finish. Really good twist.
Tried this on a whim and wow—SO good! It tastes like fresh watermelon with just the right amount of booze. Super easy to make too, which is always a win.
These were a hit at our BBQ! I made a pitcher version and garnished with mint and little watermelon wedges. They looked pretty and tasted even better.
I blended fresh watermelon from our garden and this cocktail turned out amazing. Perfect balance of sweet and refreshing.
This cocktail seriously hit the spot. I’m not usually into fruity drinks, but this one was light, crisp, and not overly sweet. I could sip it all day!
Made these for 4th of July and we loved them so much! So fresh and fruity!
The lime really balanced the sweetness. I added a splash of club soda and loved the extra fizz.
I made this for girls’ night and it was a big hit! We all loved how light and refreshing it was. Super easy to make too—I’ll definitely be making it again.
10/10 cocktail. It tasted like something you’d order at a restaurant or poolside bar. I used sparkling water and loved how light it was.
This will definitely be my go-to summer cocktail. Bright, fruity, and really refreshing.
This is exactly what I want to sip on in the summer heat, cool, crisp, and super refreshing. My whole family really loved these cocktails!
Made these for our backyard cookout and they disappeared fast. Light, fruity, and so easy to make!
Made a pitcher version for our BBQ and it was gone before dinner even started.
I made this for our Fourth of July pool party/bbq and it was a HUGE hit!!! It literally went within 20 minutes. Everyone has asked me to make it again! Headed to another BBQ tomorrow and plan on making an even bigger batch.
That makes me SO happy to hear! I really appreciate you taking time to leave a comment!
This will become a 4th of July staple at our house going forward! I didn’t have any mint on-hand and I used cucumber vodka instead of regular. Hit it out of the park! So simple and so refreshing.
That makes me so happy! Thanks so much for your feedback!
This tastes so clean and fresh compared to other fruity cocktails I’ve made. Not too sweet at all.
This is like summer in a glass—juicy, cold, and perfectly balanced. Will 100% be making it again.
I wasn’t sure how watermelon and vodka would work together, but wow… these are SO good. Light, fresh, and not overly sweet. Definitely adding this to our summer drink rotation.
I had half a watermelon sitting in the fridge and found this recipe at the perfect time. Super easy to make and honestly one of the best summer cocktails I’ve tried.
I made this for a backyard BBQ and it was gone in minutes. So refreshing, not too sweet, and the watermelon flavor really shines through. Definitely adding this to my summer drink rotation!
I used store-bought watermelon juice to save time and they still turned out great. Definitely making again this summer.
This was a great starting point! I like “fizz” in my drinks also – so I topped it off with prosecco!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed! Sounds perfect!
This watermelon cocktail was so refreshing and perfect for a hot summer evening! I made a batch for friends and everyone asked for the recipe.
This recipe feels fancy but was surprisingly easy. I made it for a patio dinner and everyone thought it came from a cocktail bar.
I made this as directed and it was delicious! I had watermelon on hand I didn’t want to waste so I blended that up to make the juice then used club soda as suggested, and honey (because I didn’t have agave syrup on hand). Later on I wanted to try adding a bit of a twist on this and added a few drops of orange bitters and muddle some mint. It was fantastic either way! Thank you for this recipe.
So happy you enjoyed! Thanks for taking time to leave feedback!
Love this drink. So refreshing!
Me too! So happy you’re enjoying it!
Absolutely loved this drink! The watermelon flavor tastes fresh and natural, and it’s not overly sweet.
I swapped in store-bought watermelon juice and it still tasted amazing. Great shortcut option.
Made these for a cookout and they disappeared so fast. The watermelon flavor was super fresh and not overly sweet!
Very nice; I like the freshness and simplicity.
I used a vodka that I flavor with cacao, which worked well.
My only note to myself is that I’ll probably halve the lime juice next time.
Thank you for sharing!
Andy
I am going to try this on the 4th of July…..I blended my watermelon, and then froze it into an ice cube tray….so excited to see if this is good. Thanks for the recipe….
Love that idea! Be sure to come back and let me know what you think!
Absolutely love this cocktail…so delicious and refreshing! I used watermelon vodka, a little honey as the sweetener, but didn’t have fresh limes so used bottled lime juice and it was still soooo good!
Yay! So glad you love it as much as I do! I need to find that watermelon vodka!
This is such an amazing vodka recipe! I loved it!
This is – most definitely – one of the most refreshing and delicious drinks that I have ever had! I love the lime and watermelon together and I can’t wait to have my friends over for a fun and cooling summer party!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed!
it is incredibly annoying when people give a recipe 5 stars just because it looks pretty or sounds good. i actually just made these with fresh watermelon and used our backyard honey and mint. we drink tito’s vodka. delicious cocktail well chilled over ice.
So glad you enjoyed!
This drink was perfect! Light and refreshing for the summer! Thank you.
Just made these for the pool today!! They were so refreshing and delicious. Thank you for another fabulous recipe!!
Made these last night and my friends and I loved them! My new go-to summer cocktail!
Not only was this recipe easy to make and delicious, but it was so pretty! Perfect for hosting guests! We all loved!
My new favorite summer cocktail. We used the Trader Joe’s sparkling watermelon juice and this came out so refreshing and delicious. Will definitely be making again!