This watermelon smash cocktail is made with whiskey and fresh summer melon and very simple to create. I love it because it's surprisingly light for a whiskey drink and evokes all the fun and flavor of summer--for the grown folks, of course! Let's get into it.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my margarita watermelon and fresh watermelon martini, too!
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What is a watermelon smash?
A smash drink combines crushed mint and citrus, seasonal fruit, ice and liquor. You can use whichever spirit you like and rotate out the fruit based on availability and ripeness. A watermelon smash, also called the watermelon crush, muddles juicy fresh watermelon and mint together with whiskey, lemon, lots of ice, and a little sweetener.
More bomb smash recipes from my archives: cherry smash with gin, mixed berry smash with bourbon, and the blood orange smash with whiskey + champagne.
❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Quick and Easy - If you have five minutes to spare, this melon smash cocktail is all yours. No fancy technique required.
Sparkling and Refreshing - Whiskey drinks have a reputation for being to heavy and putting hair on your chest. But this watermelon and whiskey cocktail is light and effervescent thanks to sparkling water and the high water content in watermelon.
We LOVE whiskey drinks around here, like my sweet tea mint julep for porch sipping or pineapple whiskey sour for backyard gathering. The hibiscus old fashioned is fabulous for homemade happy hours. And you should definitely pencil my champagne whiskey cocktails into your celebratory moments!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Watermelon is the color and flavor star so be sure to use the ripest, sweetest, and juiciest watermelon you can find. Here are my tips for picking a good watermelon from the store!
Whiskey of pretty much any kind will do. Use your favorite brand and expression, including scotch and bourbon. I prefer Uncle Nearest 1856 in this recipe.
Fresh Mint is non-negotiable but can be whichever variety you prefer--peppermint and spearmint are fabulous in this recipe. Don't use dried mint or mint extract because it won't hit the same.
Lemon or lime or even sour orange will add zesty and tart flavor notes to balance out the sweetness of the watermelon. Fresh juice will provide the best flavor but you can certainly use bottled from concentrate instead.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Sparkling Water - You can swap out for club soda or mineral water or even get extra boozy with sparkling wine. And I'm not brand loyal so have found that this drink works with everything from Topo Chico to store brand fizzy water.
Sweetener - I like maple syrup in this recipe but you can also use simple syrup, agave nectar or even plain ol' cane sugar--all vegan friendly. Or my honey ginger syrup would be amazing, too--just saying!
Virgin - Omit the whiskey for a solid zero proof watermelon mint smash.
If you want another non-alcoholic option with similar taste, check out my frozen watermelon mint lemonade. It's a true treat!
How to Make an Easy Watermelon Smash
- Step One: Muddle together the watermelon, mint, lemon, and maple syrup then remove the lemon peels.
- Step Two: Add in ice and whiskey then stir until chilled.
Pro Tip #1
If you don't have a cocktail muddler, use the end of a kitchen spoon for similar action. And a standard shot glass can work for measuring the liquids if you don't have a jigger available.
- Step Three: Strain liquid into a glass with fresh ice then top up with sparkling water.
- Step Four: Garnish with fresh mint and watermelon, if desired.
Pro Tip #2
You can serve this drink as-is for a pretty ombre effect or give it another stir after adding the sparkling water for a more consistent look (and taste) from top to bottom!
Frequently Asked Questions
Because this recipe calls for sparkling water, I don't recommend making it in advance or else the bubbles will go flat.
To make for a crowd, muddle 1 ⅓ cup watermelon chunks, two lemons (cut into quarters), 12 mint leaves, and three ounces maple syrup in a pitcher then remove the lemon pieces. Fill halfway with ice then stir in eight ounces of whiskey. Serves four.
More Favorite Summer Cocktail Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
I hope you enjoy this watermelon crush alcoholic drink 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
Whiskey Watermelon Smash Cocktail
Equipment
- 1 jigger or shot glass
- 1 muddler or kitchen spoon
- 1 mixing glass or rocks glass
- 1 bar spoon or tea spoon
- 1 highball glass
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup watermelon chunks plus more for garnish
- 4 mint leaves plus more for garnish
- ½ lemon cut in half
- ¾ ounce maple syrup
- ice
- 2 ounces whiskey
- sparkling water
Instructions
- Add watermelon, mint leaves, lemon, and maple syrup to mixing glass and press with muddler to puree the watermelon and release flavor oils and juices from mint and lemon.⅓ cup watermelon chunks, 4 mint leaves, ½ lemon, ¾ ounce maple syrup
- Fill glass halfway with ice then pour in whiskey and stir vigorously until glass is chilled to the touch (about 10 seconds).2 ounces whiskey, ice
- Strain the mixture into a highball glass over fresh ice then top up with sparkling water.sparkling water
- Garnish cocktail with fresh watermelon and a stem or two of fresh mint.
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