I have seen many watermelon-inspired drinks this summer. It’s not quite at the pumpkin spice level, but certainly more than I remember in summers past. I have enjoyed a refreshing non-alcoholic watermelon lemonade and a watermelon Bellini (with Prosecco) perfectly suited for brunch.
I found a small seedless watermelon that looked perfect at Sunny Acres at Growing Roots Farmers Market in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Seedless watermelons are better suited for drinks, but you can always remove the seeds before using. I picked it up to make a watermelon libation of my own. I also have a plethora of fresh mint at home. Watermelon and mint make a great combination which led me to a mojito.
A traditional mojito is rum, lime juice, mint, simple syrup and bubbly water. Silver (also called clear or white) rum is the rum of choice for mojitos so I stuck with that. If you want a more pronounced rum flavor, try a gold rum. The key to this cocktail is ensuring you have a ripe and full of flavor watermelon as you want to be able to taste it.
Using the basic mojito recipe as a guide, I used agave syrup in place of simple syrup. I muddled the watermelon chunks with the agave syrup and a pinch of sea salt in a cocktail shaker. Adding a bit of salt enhances the natural sweetness of the watermelon. Then I added rum, lime juice and fresh mint. I’ve learned that it’s best not to muddle the mint so as to avoid bruising it. I strained it into a glass leaving any larger pieces of watermelon or mint behind. Finish it off with seltzer water. For a garnish, add a small piece of watermelon and a fresh sprig of mint. Place the mint at the top of the glass as you want to be able to smell the mint with each sip.
The finished cocktail is a perfect snapshot of summer.
Gluten-Free/Wheat-Free Note: Rum is naturally gluten-free/wheat free as it’s derived from sugarcane.
| Watermelon Mojito | | Print |
- 3 ounces watermelon (~ ¾ cup), cut into small cubes (see Notes)
- 2 teaspoons agave syrup
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1-1/2 ounces silver (clear or white) rum
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice (~ 1 lime) (see Notes)
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- Seltzer water
- Garnish: small watermelon slice and a sprig of fresh mint
- Place watermelon, agave syrup and sea salt in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Muddle with a muddler or back of a spoon to mix ingredients.
- Add rum, lime juice and mint to shaker. Fill with ice halfway. Shake for 10 seconds.
- Fill a highball or stemless wine glass with fresh ice (crushed, if you have it) and strain mixture into the glass (either through the top of the cocktail shaker or a small strainer).
- Top with seltzer water.
- Garnish with a small watermelon slice and a sprig of mint. Place the min at the top of the drink as you want to be able to smell the mint with each sip.
* Before squeezing the lime, heat it in a microwave for about 20 seconds and then rub it back and forth on the counter top. This easy two-step process results in more juice per piece of fruit.
Ohhhh, this sounds so incredibly refreshing. A perfect compliment to waning summer nights. Cheers, Nicole!
Spenser – You summed it up perfectly!