Watermelon Cucumber Sipper Cocktail Recipe
Here’s how I usually make it: I blend up ripe watermelon with fresh cucumber, then mix that with a bit of lime juice, simple syrup, and gin. It’s best served ice-cold in a chilled glass, with a sprig of mint or a cucumber slice for garnish.
Equipment
- Blender To blend fruits and cucumber
- Fine mesh strainer To strain juice
- Cocktail shaker To chill and combine ingredients
- Jigger: To measure liquids.
- Knife and cutting board To slice fruits and cucumber
- Highball glass for serving.
Ingredients
Here’s what I use for one cocktail:
- 1 cup diced seedless watermelon
- 3-4 thin cucumber slices plus more for garnish
- 1.5 ounces gin
- 0.75 ounce fresh lime juice about ½ lime
- 0.5 ounce simple syrup adjust for sweetness
- Ice cubes
- Fresh mint sprig optional, for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Juice:
- I toss watermelon cubes and cucumber slices into the blender and let it run until everything’s smooth. Then I strain it through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing to get out as much juice as I can.
Combine Ingredients:
- I fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add 2 ounces of that strained juice, the gin, lime juice, and simple syrup. I shake it all up for about 15 seconds—just enough to chill and mix everything together.
Serve:
- I strain the cocktail into a highball glass loaded with fresh ice. For garnish, I’ll use a cucumber slice or a mint sprig if I’m feeling it. The drink should be frosty cold and a little frothy on top—best way to enjoy it, if you ask me.
Notes
Sometimes I’ll swap gin for vodka if I’m after a milder flavor. If I want it booze-free, I just skip the gin and pour in more watermelon juice.
Too sweet or too tart? I tweak the simple syrup or lime juice until it tastes right. I like to chill the glass ahead for an extra-cold drink, and any leftover juice keeps in the fridge for about a day.
Seedless watermelon saves time, but if I’ve only got regular, I just pick out the seeds first. Fresh is always best, so I try to make and serve it right away.