When the heat of summer hits, there is nothing quite like this Fresh Watermelon Martini to help you through the dog days of summer. Cold, light and so refreshing, it’s one of my favorite summer sippers.
Although this recipe for a Fresh Watermelon Martini Cocktail calls for orange liqueur, I’ve included a bit of Limoncello in this cocktail. Traditionally I use the orange liqueur but when you’ve made your own Limoncello…well, can you blame me? The watermelon I got was so tiny and so ripe that any addition of simple syrup would have been overkill.
Still, use your own judgement, if you need a bit more sweetener go ahead and add some simple syrup (boil equal amounts of sugar and water until the sugar dissolves and then cool). I like all of my drinks a bit on the tart side but I have friends who go sweeter; a quick dose or two of simple syrup makes those variances easy to prepare.
Like many cocktails that include a seasonal fruit, this one requires patience. Patience as in, don’t be fooled by watermelons that are in the market in May. Getting a fresh local fruit in July can make all the difference.
I’m posting this early so that planners can put it on their calendar but I strongly suggest you hold off actually making it until watermelon month in July; when fresh, juicy, sweet watermelons are at their peak.
How to determine if you have found a great watermelon? These are some good indicators:
- Find the field spot, it should be a yellowish creamy color on the outside where the watermelon was resting on the ground.
- Pick a dull looking watermelon; shiny melons are not yet ripe.
- Knock on it with your knuckles; the surface should be hard/firm. A dull thud indicates the flesh inside is getting soft…put that one back!
- Get the heaviest one for its size; water is heavy and a lot of water in a watermelon is a good indicator!
- Check for uniform shape – round or oval is fine…but irregular edges might indicate an inconsistent water source
If you saw my recent post for a Lemon Drop Martini (if not, go there…the best I’ve ever had!) than you know I’m enamored with these sugar crystals I used on the rim. They’re typically used for decorating cake and cookies but I just love them for this purpose. They not only look pretty but I enjoy the tactile nature of them, something a bit crunchy and sweet is nice.
You can find Sparkling Sugars in several colors at Michael’s and on Amazon; they are great for cocktails and cookies! Combining them with some kosher salt makes for a nice mix with the watermelon (and what I ALWAYS do with Margaritas) and made this one a real winner!
By the way; if you are a ‘Martini’ purist and think it blasphemy to call this a martini…that’s fine, it’s your right. But popular culture changes a lot of things and today, drinks served in a martini glass are often called martinis with nary a drop of gin in them. You call a ground beef patty a hamburger don’t you? Where’s the ham? 🙂
I’ve made lots of dishes and drinks with watermelon over the years; maybe one of these would interest you too? While I love them all, I have to say the Watermelon Salsa is surprising and a fantastic summer appetizer.
More Watermelon!
PIN IT! ‘Fresh Watermelon Martini’
A perfect cocktail for summer with fresh, juicy watermelon. Seedless are best for making this cocktail! The nutritional information is computer-generated and only an estimate. If you need to use nutrition information we suggest you confirm these totals with your own program.Watermelon Martini Cocktail
Ingredients
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 425Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7635mgCarbohydrates: 82gFiber: 2gSugar: 75gProtein: 2g
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