7 Watermelon Cocktails for Summer
Summer isn't complete without watermelon — on its own, in a salad, or in a refreshing beverage. Enter these irresistible cocktail recipes — including spiked aguas frescas and watermelon sangria — which are perfectly suited for a long afternoon of lounging. Make a pitcher and take it to the beach or set up a drinks dispenser at your next party. Whichever way you slice it, watermelon is the ultimate summer treat, so give that fruit you probably devoured as a kid the adult upgrade it deserves.
Watermelon Daiquiri
Preparing fresh watermelon juice gives this blend-and-sip cocktail a burst of cool melon flavor, though fresh, high-quality store-bought juice will work here, too. It's a rum drink for margarita lovers, with a salted rim that balances tart lime juice with sweet agave syrup and just as easily makes one drink with leftover juice as it does eight for a crowd.
Watermelon-Lime Frozen Agua Fresca
Fanny Singer, daughter of legendary chef Alice Waters, has always had an infatuation with frozen fruit. (The pastry cooks at Chez Panisse used to freeze raspberries for her; she stuck one on each finger and then ate them.) So it's only natural that she makes an icy drink with one of her favorite fruits, watermelon. This agua fresca has the consistency of a frozen margarita.
Watermelon Sangria
Sangria, a Spanish variation on traditional punch composed of wine, fruit, and brandy, was formally introduced to America at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. Del Toro Café in Chicago features classic Spanish sangria alongside seasonal versions such as this recipe, which chef Andrew Zimmerman created for the summer with vodka instead of brandy.
Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails
When watermelon is in abundance, this is a great way to use it. Chef Bobby Flay purees seedless watermelon chunks, then strains the juice through a sieve and mixes it with silver tequila, sugar syrup, blueberries, mint, and fresh lime juice.
Tequila-Watermelon Aguas Frescas with Prosecco
In this refreshing cocktail, Prosecco adds a lively spritz to a light, watermelon-forward margarita.
Watermelon-Strawberry Agua Fresca
Here, watermelon and strawberries are pureed and sweetened with a mint-ginger syrup, then served over ice with a touch of chilled sparkling water and fresh mint garnish.
In-Sandíary
This cocktail's name is a play on both the Spanish word for watermelon, sandía, and "incendiary," referring to the peppery tequila and the spicy ancho chile rim.
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