Cocktail & Other Recipes By Spirit Vodka Cocktails

Sparkling Watermelon Punch

By
Liquor.com
Liquor.com

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Updated 02/13/22

Some people look at a watermelon and all they see is a watermelon. Other people look at a watermelon and see a vessel perfect for holding their favorite beverages. The Sparkling Watermelon Punch proves that summer’s superstar fruit is for more than just eating. This fun, seasonal recipe turns the juicy orbs into a boozy punch for two, featuring vodka, fresh mint and sparkling wine.

Merging watermelon with liquor is nothing new, and some go so far as to inject the fruit with a hefty portion of vodka or rum. In this case, you’re starting with a mini watermelon and carving out a portion of its insides. But rather than tossing those pieces, the scooped out fruit goes into a blender with mint leaves, where it’s pureed until smooth. That mixture is then combined with vodka, fresh lime juice and simple syrup and served in the very same watermelon from where it was sourced.

Top the concoction with sparkling wine for a bit of effervescence with each sip, and you get a bubbly cocktail that looks as good as it tastes. Let this recipe be your new party trick.

sparkling watermelon punch cocktail served in a mini watermelon with lime wheels, mint and straws

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

Ingredients

  • 1 mini watermelon

  • 6 mint leaves

  • 4 ounces vodka

  • 2 ounces lime juice, freshly squeezed

  • 1 ounce simple syrup

  • Sparkling wine, chilled, to top

  • Garnish: lime wheels

  • Garnish: mint sprig

Steps

Serves 2.

  1. With a large spoon or ice cream scoop, carve out the inside of half a mini watermelon and set aside.

  2. Add the watermelon chunks and mint leaves to a blender and puree until smooth.

  3. Fine-strain the puree into a container, discarding the solids. (Will produce about 1 cup of juice.)

  4. In the carved watermelon half, add cubed ice, vodka, lime juice, simple syrup and 5 ounces of the watermelon-mint juice.

  5. Top with the sparkling wine.

  6. Garnish with lime wheels and a mint sprig.