In my humble opinion, the best watermelon martini is made with just a few simple ingredients, including naturally sweet and juicy fresh watermelon! Make this cocktail in just a few minutes and enjoy your summer.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my frozen lychee martini or summer peach martini, too!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Quick & Easy - You'll only need five minutes from start to finish to make this watermelon puree martini and no fancy techniques needed!
Fruity Watermelon Flavor - You'll taste ripe watermelon and smooth elderflower balanced out with bright and zesty citrus notes. Sweet, simple, and sophisticated.
Growing up, I was not into watermelon but have more than made up for lost time in my adult years! Peep a few of my favorite watermelon recipes: watermelon lemonade slushes, tequila soaked watermelon, and watermelon granita with rosé.
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Gin or Vodka because I am partial to a good gin martini but this recipe also works nicely with vodka. So do you!
Fresh Watermelon provides sweetness and fresh summery flavor. Use the ripest watermelon you can find--pink or watermelon both work fine--as it will yield the best flavor and a good volume of liquid for this drink. Here's how to pick a good watermelon.
Elderflower Liqueur also adds a bit of sweetness and an extra boozy boost. Use Saint Germain or whichever brand you like.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Sweetener - If you like more of a watermelon sugar martini vibe, feel free to add a drop or two of simple syrup or maple syrup.
Citrus - Don't have lemon available? Instead of making a watermelon lemon martini, try lime or orange (preferably sour orange). Fresh is best but bottled concentrated lemon or lime are suitable substitutes.
Liqueurs - Feel free to experiment with other options like Schnapps, Midori or limoncello in place of the elderflower liqueur.
Other Flavors - Incorporate fresh herbs like mint, basil, cilantro or rosemary to add more layers of flavor to this drink.
How to Make a Watermelon Martini at Home
Step One: Place a martini or coupe glass in the fridge to chill.
Step Two: Add watermelon chunks to cocktail shaker and press them with a muddler.
Pro Tip #1
Chilling your martini glass is key to the signature frosty look of a martini and takes just a few seconds so I always recommend it.
Pro Tip #2
If you don't have a muddling tool, you can use the end of a kitchen spoon to crush the watermelon instead.
Step Three: Add the remaining ingredients to the cocktail shaker.
Step Four: Seal the shaker then shake and strain the drink into your chilled glass.
Pro Tip #3
For the smoothest martini with no watermelon seeds, double strain with a mesh strainer. This is optional but does add a nice finish.
Step Five: Garnish with a couple of pieces of watermelon.
Pro Tip #4
Frozen watermelon chunks are great for garnishing because they'll keep the drink cold!
Frequently Asked Questions
Like most of my other martini recipes, this is a great freezer door cocktail option. Shake it up and store chilled until you're ready to sip. To serve, shake it up again and add any garnishes.
To big batch this drink, muddle four cups of watermelon in a pitcher or carafe then fill halfway with ice. Pour in six ounces gin, three ounces elderflower liqueur, and two ounces lemon juice and stir or shake to combine. Serves four.
Make this cocktail per the recipe card directions then divide the liquid between three shot glasses.
More Favorite Flavored Martini Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
I hope you'll enjoy this ultra refreshing watermelon juice martini soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Easy Fresh Watermelon Martini
Equipment
- 1 muddler or kitchen spoon (see notes)
- 1 jigger or shot glass
- 1 mesh strainer optional
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh watermelon
- ice
- 1 ½ ounce gin or vodka
- ¾ ounce elderflower liqueuer
- ½ ounce lemon juice
Instructions
- Place coupe glass in fridge or freezer to chill.
- Add watermelon to cocktail shaker and muddle to form a puree (press down on the melon with the muddler and turn then repeat about 10 times).
- Add ice to fill the cocktail shaker about halfway, followed by gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Cover cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until thoroughly mixed and chilled to touch (about eight seconds).
- Strain or double strain cocktail into chilled glass. Garnish with fresh or frozen watermelon and enjoy responsibly!
Carole says
I thought it was okay. My husband didn't like it and didn't finish his. Maybe it needed more lemon juice or lime juice....
Jazzmine Woodard says
Thanks for your feedback, Carole. Sorry to hear this wasn't a favorite for you.