The 8 Watermelon Coolers For Your Weekend Party

Beyond eating it fresh, watermelon also stars in agua frescas, sorbets, fruit salads, and cocktails. Its versatility and thirst-quenching abilities make watermelon a staple of summertime.   

To keep guests refreshed at a weekend summer party, whip up a variety of watermelon coolers. Infuse water with fresh watermelon chunks and mint for a refreshing Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca. For a cocktail, mix watermelon juice with vodka and a splash of lime for a fun watermelon mimosa. Make a pitcher of Watermelon Lemonade, or for an alcohol-free option, combine watermelon, ginger beer, and lime in a Watermelon Moscow Mule Mocktail. With so many refreshing watermelon coolers, you'll keep your guests happy and hydrated all weekend.  

Here are eight watermelon cocktails and mocktails to refresh your guests at the party this hot summer season.  

Watermelon Lemonade  

Watermelon lemonade is a perfect drink, you'll need to cool down on a hot summer's evening.     

Ingredients  

1. ½ cup white sugar  
2. ½ cup water  
3. 4 cups of cubed watermelon  
4. 3 cups of cold water  
5. ½ cup fresh lemon juice  
6. 6 cups of ice cubes  

Image credit: Freepik

Method  

1. Cut a ripe watermelon into chunks, place them in a blender and blend. Pour the puree through a strainer.  
2. In a saucepan, combine sugar with water and heat for about 5 minutes. Remove the sugar syrup and stir in 3 cups of cold water along with fresh lemon juice.   
3. To serve, pour the lemon sugar syrup over the watermelon puree. Gently stir to combine and add ice.  

In-Sandíary  

The name of this cocktail cleverly combines the Spanish word for watermelon, sandía, with "incendiary" to hint at its spicy ingredients.   

Ingredients  

1. 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder  
2. 1 teaspoon of kosher salt  
3. 1 teaspoon of sugar  
4. 1 lime wedge  
5. Ice  
6. 60 ml tequila  
7. 60 ml watermelon juice  
8. 15 ml ounce of fresh lime juice  
9. 8 ml simple syrup  

Image credit: Freepik

Method  

1. In a small bowl, combine kosher salt, sugar, and ancho chile powder. Cut a fresh lime into wedges. Take one of the wedges and rub the outer rim of a glass.   
2. Then, holding the glass upside down, dip the rim into the chile salt to lightly coat it.   
3. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, tequila, watermelon juice, and lime juice.   
4. Shake these ingredients for 10–15 seconds.  
5. Fill a glass with fresh ice. Strain the shaken margarita into the glass.   

Watermelon Iced Tea  

A pitcher of fresh watermelon-iced tea is a delightful summertime treat. When the weather heats up, iced watermelon tea is a cool way to find relief.  

Ingredients  

1. 1 small watermelon, about 2 lbs  
2. 5 black tea bags  
3. 4 cups of water  
4. 1 cup granulated sugar  
5. Mint leaves  

Image credit: Freepik

Method  

1. Boil 4 cups of water and add in tea bags to steep for 20 minutes.  
2. Carefully cut off the green rind from the top of a fresh watermelon and scoop out the watermelon flesh. Place the watermelon flesh into a blender and puree until smooth.  
3. Pour the pureed watermelon into a saucepan and heat until fully dissolved.   
4. Pour the tea into the watermelon juice and stir together. Dice up the leftover watermelon.   
5. Fill a pitcher with ice, watermelon cubes, and mint leaves. Pour the chilled watermelon tea over top and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.  

Watermelon-Tequila Cocktail 

When summer begins, this is a refreshing cocktail to make, and enjoy on a warm evening.  

Ingredients  

1. 1/4 cup of water  
2. 1/4 cup granulated sugar  
3. 8 cups diced seedless watermelon  
4. 1/4 cup fresh lime juice  
5. 1 3/4 cups blueberries  
6. 3/4 cup of fresh mint leaves  
7. 8 sprigs for garnish  
8. 1 1/4 cups tequila  
9. Ice  

Image credit: Freepik

Method  

1. Prepare a simple sugar syrup. Blend chunks of watermelon in a blender and strain this juice through a strainer.  
2. In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with lime juice, blueberries, and mint leaves. Muddle and crush the blueberries and mint, then add the watermelon juice and tequila and stir to combine.  
3. Refrigerate this mixture for at least 2 hours. When ready to serve, pour the cocktail over ice into tall glasses. Garnish each drink with a fresh mint sprig.  

Watermelon And Lime Mocktail  

On a hot summer day, nothing satisfies like the sweet juiciness of watermelon blended with the tart zing of lime.   

Ingredients  

1. 1 watermelon  
2. 2 limes  
3. 1 tablespoon of white sugar  
4. 500 ml of chilled soda water  
5. 10 mint leaves  
6. about 10–15 ice cubes  

Image credit: Freepik

Method  

1. Start by cutting a watermelon in half lengthwise and cutting the flesh away, discarding the rind. Chop the watermelon into bite-sized chunks.  
2. Transfer the chopped watermelon pieces to an airtight container and place them in the freezer for 1 hour.    
3. Slice 2 slices from each lime and set aside. Juice the remaining lime halves into a blender.    
4. Remove the frozen watermelon from the freezer. Add them to a blender along with sugar, soda water, and mint leaves, and blend.   
5. Pour the blended watermelon mixture into a large pitcher filled with ice cubes to chill further. Garnish with the sliced limes.   

Watermelon Sangria  

Ingredients  

1. 2 cups of seedless watermelon  
2. 1/2 cup watermelon, cut into balls  
3. 1 bottle of dry white wine  
4. 180 ml vodka  
5. 120 ml of Cointreau or other triple sec  
6. 120 ml of citrus syrup  
7. Ice  

Image credit: Freepik

Method  

1. Place the watermelon into a blender and blend until completely smooth.   
2. Add white wine, vodka, Cointreau, and citrus syrup to the watermelon juice in the pitcher. Chill the mixture for about 2 hours.   
3. When ready to serve, fill your glasses with ice. Garnish each glass with watermelon balls.   

Watermelon Mint Mojito  

On a scorching hot summer day, there's nothing more refreshing than a chilled watermelon mojito mocktail. Ingredients  

1. 2 cups of watermelon  
2. 2 limes, juice  
3. 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup  
4. 15–20 leaves of fresh mint  
5. Sparkling water  
6. Ice cubes  

Image credit: Freepik

Method  

1. Blend together watermelon with lime juice, mint leaves, and maple syrup.   
2. Transfer the mixture into a jar or pitcher and chill in the refrigerator.   
3. When ready to serve, add half cup of the chilled watermelon mixture to each glass and lime. Add a few ice cubes to each glass to keep the drink chilled.   
4. Finally, top off each mocktail with some sparkling water, about half to three-quarters of a cup per glass. 

Also read: Expert Tips For Storing Watermelon To Perfection

Watermelon Daiquiri  

Sipping these watermelon margaritas on a hot summer day makes for a cooling cocktail experience.  

Ingredients  

1. 4 cups of chopped watermelon  
2. Kosher salt  
3. 5 tablespoons of white rum  
4. 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice  
5. ½ tablespoon agave nectar  
6. Ice cubes  
7. Watermelon slice  

Image credit: Freepik

Method

1. Cut a watermelon into chunks and place them in a blender. Pour the puree through a strainer.  
2. When ready to make the cocktail, start by coating half the rim of a chilled glass with salt.  
3. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine white rum, lime juice, agave nectar, and 3 tablespoons of chilled watermelon juice. Cover and vigorously shake for 10 seconds.  
4. Strain the cocktail into the prepared salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with a slice of fresh watermelon and serve.