Watermelon Martini

Hot Drink, Hot Weather

Take one of the most popular drinks—the martini—one of the favorite fruits of summer—the watermelon—and the answer is obvious: the watermelon martini.

Thanks to Sundia, delicious watermelon juice is available all year around—there’s no need to wait for summer (click here for our review of Sundia). By the same token, there’s no martini more evocative of summer than watermelon. Juice is so much more convenient than making watermelon purée; although purée provides texture, mouthfeel, and more intensity of flavor.

We polled bartenders from coast to coast, whose recipes range from the simple to the complex. We’ve included them below, along with our own recipe, the Frozen Fruit. Mix-and-match garnishes include:

A sprig of mint
A lemon twist
A wedge of watermelon, 2" long by 1/2" thick, with a horizontal notch cut into the red flesh to anchor it onto the rim of the glass
Watermelon balls on a skewer
Pickled watermelon rind

Some bartenders have been tossing sour watermelon candy into the drink. Hmm. Some also toss some sugar or simple syrup into the recipes. We like a sophisticated cocktail and are philosophically against turning cocktails into sugar drinks with alcohol: let the spirits and the watermelon speak for themselves.

Watermelon Martini Recipes

The Basic

Combine one part vodka (or citrus vodka) to 1-1/2 parts watermelon juice or puréed watermelon juice.
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Frozen Fruit

We keep diced watermelon cubes in the freezer—and when there’s no watermelon, or for instant convenience, we cut up a frozen watermelon fruit bar from the supermarket (like Palapa Azul or FrozFruit®).

Cut watermelon into 1/2" cubes and freeze (or, cut frozen fruit bar into cubes).
Shake with vodka and pour into glass.

The MultiMelon

1 part melon liqueur (Midori, Melloni, e.g.)
1 part citrus vodka
1-1/2 parts fresh watermelon juice or puréed watermelon
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass.

The Schnapps

This is handy during the months when fresh watermelon isn’t available

Mix 1 part vodka and 1/2 part Dekuyper Pucker Watermelon Sweet and Sour Schnapps (or other watermelon liqueur).
When watermelon is in season, add crushed fresh fruit to the mix.

The Watermelon au Kurant

This one marries watermelon and black currant. The name is a pun: “au courant” means fashionable in French.

1 cup watermelon, seeded and diced
1-1⁄2 ounces Absolut Kurant
1 tablespoon Triple sec
1 tablespoon Rose’s lime juice
1 tablespoon crème de cassis
(blackcurrant liqueur)
Pickled watermelon rind for garnish

Virgin Watermelontini

For those who aren’t drinking:

Watermelon juice or puréed
watermelon
Lime juice
A splash of cranberry juice
Garnish

Favorite Martini Glasses

With color-coded martini glasses, you’ll be able to find yours!


Crosstown Grande Martini Glasses by Circleware have assorted colorful bubbles in the heavy sham, which gives them style plus the ability to “find their owner.” 10 ounces, set of 4, $17.99. Click here for more information or to purchase.	Bonfire Martini Glasses by Circleware. Each 10-ounce martini glass has a different color ball at the end so that everyone can find his drink. Set of 4, $14.99. Click here for more information or to purchase.	Vina Martini Glasses by Libbey have a 12 ounce capacity, and are dishwasher-safe even though they look like delicate stemware. Set of 4, $14.99. Click here for more information or to purchase.

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