Description
A bright, refreshing, and boozy summer cocktail made with fresh watermelon, lemon juice, and vodka. This easy batch drink is perfect for Labor Day BBQs and requires minimal effort for maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–5 cups cubed fresh watermelon (about half a medium melon)
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4–6 lemons)
- 1/2 cup simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1 1/2 cups vodka (12 oz)
- 1–2 cups club soda
- Ice (large cubes recommended)
- Lime wheels, mint leaves, or small watermelon cubes for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cut watermelon into cubes and place them in a blender. Remove any large seeds if necessary.
- Blend the watermelon on high until completely smooth, about 30-60 seconds.
- Set up a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth-lined sieve over a large bowl or jug. Pour the blended watermelon through the strainer.
- Use a spoon to press the pulp against the mesh to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the pulp. You should have about 4-5 cups of juice.
- In a large 1-gallon glass pitcher, combine the watermelon juice and fresh lemon juice. Stir well.
- Taste the mixture. If it is too tart, add simple syrup. If it is too sweet, add more lemon juice to balance.
- Pour in the vodka and stir again. Adjust strength to preference.
- Place the pitcher in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill and allow flavors to meld.
- To serve, fill glasses with ice. Pour the chilled lemonade over the ice.
- Top with a splash of club soda for fizz and garnish with lime or mint.
Notes
For best results, use fresh watermelon and fresh lemon juice. If the watermelon is very sweet, you may not need the simple syrup. For a non-alcoholic version, skip the vodka and club soda. The drink can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. For a slushy texture, freeze watermelon cubes before blending.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Cocktails / Drinks
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10
- Carbohydrates: 12
Keywords: Labor Day cocktail, watermelon lemonade, spiked lemonade, summer drinks, easy cocktail, vodka recipe, batch cocktail, gluten-free cocktail