Go Back
–+ servings
Close-up of a watermelon vodka cocktail in a glass rimmed with Tajin, garnished with mint and watermelon.

Watermelon Vodka Cocktail

No ratings yet
This fresh watermelon vodka cocktail is light, refreshing, and perfect for summer. Made with real watermelon, lime, vodka, and bubbles, it’s an easy make-ahead drink for parties or patio happy hours. Easily turns into a mocktail with one simple swap!
PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Servings: 2 drinks
Author: Molly Thompson

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 cups cubed fresh watermelon (yields about 3/4 cup, or 6oz, juice)
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice 2 Tbsp, (about 1 lime)
  • 3 oz vodka 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp, I used Tito's
  • 1 oz agave or simple syrup, 1 oz
  • 4-8 oz cold seltzer water 1/2 -1 cup (plain or lime-flavored)
  • Tajin or sea salt for serving
  • Garnish: fresh lime wedge, fresh mint, or watermelon slice
Standard - Metric

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Blend the watermelon (3 minutes): Remove the rind and cut watermelon into cubes. Add 1 1/2 cups of cubes to a blender and puree on high until smooth and frothy.
    1 1/2 cups cubed fresh watermelon
  • Strain the juice (2 minutes): Pour the blended mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large measuring cup to remove pulp. You should end up with about 3/4 cups of fresh juice for 2 drinks.
  • Mix the cocktail base (2 minutes): In a large pitcher, combine the watermelon juice, lime juice, vodka, and agave. Stir well. You can refrigerate this mixture for up to 24 hours before serving.
    1 oz fresh lime juice, 3 oz vodka, 1 oz agave
  • Add bubbles and taste (1 minute): Right before serving, stir in cold seltzer water. Taste and add more seltzer or agave to adjust sweetness and strength to your liking.
    4-8 oz cold seltzer water
  • Rim the glasses, optional (2 minutes): Rub a lime wedge around the rim of each glass. Dip into a shallow dish of Tajin or sea salt for a zesty, savory touch.
    Tajin
  • Assemble and serve (1 minute): Fill glasses with crushed ice. Pour the cocktail over the ice and garnish with a lime wedge, mint sprig, or watermelon wedge.

Notes

Use ripe watermelon for the sweetest, most flavorful cocktail. If it's not super sweet, you may want to add a bit more agave or simple syrup.
Make it ahead: Mix the fresh watermelon juice, lime, vodka, and sweetener up to 1 day in advance. Add seltzer just before serving to keep it fizzy.
Mocktail option: Replace the vodka with a splash of apple cider vinegar. It mimics the sharp bite of alcohol and balances the sweetness beautifully. Start with 1 teaspoon and adjust to taste—it's strong, so go slow.
Serving for a crowd: Double or triple the base and refrigerate in a pitcher. Stir in seltzer right before serving.
Garnish ideas: Add a slice of cucumber or fresh basil for a fun twist. Crushed ice makes it extra refreshing!
Don’t skip the straining: It gives the cocktail a smooth, sippable texture without pulp.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.05g | Sodium: 15mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 659IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @What_mollymade or tag #WhatMollyMade so I can see it and feature you!