Watermelon Mojito

When bins of big, juicy watermelons start popping up in your local grocery store, it can only mean one thing: summer is finally here. You take one home and meticulously cut the watermelon into slices, cubes, or sticks. Now you have a lot of watermelon to snack on.  So what do you do with the rest? Make a watermelon mojito, of course!

This watermelon mojito recipe gives the classic cocktail a summery spin. The muddled watermelon is so good and refreshing that you’ll buy one of these juicy fruits every time you hit the store.

Ingredients for Watermelon Mojitos

• Limes: A core ingredient in the mojito, lime wedges are squeezed and then thrown into the glass to amplify the citrus flavor of this drink.
• Watermelon: This recipe calls for using fresh watermelon cubes that have been seeded and cut into the size of ice cubes. The watermelon is freshly muddled in the glass instead of juiced.
• Sugar: Mojitos aren’t meant to be sweet cocktails, but a sprinkling of sugar is added to this beverage to sweeten the watermelon and tart citrus of the lime.
• Mint: Another core ingredient of the mojito, sprigs of mint are added to the glass instead of as a simple garnish on top. The herb oils are “activated” when pressed or slapped (like a high five) with a hand before being placed in the glass to help release the flavor.
• Rum: Mojito recipes typically use a white rum, known as a “light” rum. This keeps the drink light and refreshing instead of having a heavy, boozy finish.
• Club soda: Chilled club soda is used to top off this cocktail.

Directions

Step 1: Squeeze the lime and muddle the watermelon

Christine Ma for Taste of Home

Squeeze the lime wedges into a highball glass, then drop the limes in the glass. Add the cubes of watermelon to the glass with the sugar. Muddle everything together, then add the ice.

Step 2: Add mint and pour in the rum and soda

Christine Ma for Taste of Home

Gently press or slap the mint, then add it to the glass. Pour the rum and club soda into the glass, then stir it with a cocktail spoon to combine everything.

Christine Ma for Taste of Home

Watermelon Mojito Variations

Christine Ma for Taste of Home

• Add a mint or lime garnish: While the mint and lime mixed into the glass are aesthetically pleasing already, give your glass an extra garnish by sticking a sprig of lime into the glass at the top, and placing a lime wedge on the rim. Adding a garnish looks pretty and adds to the smell and tasting experience of the cocktail.
• Swap with simple syrup: This recipe calls for sugar but most classic mojito recipes use simple syrup. You can purchase a pre-made bottle or attempt to make simple syrup yourself. Swap out a teaspoon of sugar with one teaspoon of simple syrup.
• Try a flavored seltzer: If you’re daring enough to play around with the flavor of this watermelon mojito recipe, test out different flavored seltzers instead of a plain club soda. Some of the best combinations could be strawberry, coconut, blackberry and peach.

Can I make watermelon mojitos ahead of time?

If you want to make a batch of watermelon mojitos ahead of time for a party, it is possible to do so with a few tweaks to the recipe. Prepare the mix following the same directions above, but multiply the number of ingredients by eight. Skip adding the ice and the club soda for now. The ice would melt in the fridge, and the club soda would fall flat. Instead, wait until right before you serve the drinks to add the ice and club soda. Make sure to give it a good stir, too.

This mix will last in the fridge for up to four hours before that final step. However, if you’re only making a glass for one, it’s best to make the cocktail fresh and enjoy it immediately.

Watermelon Mojito Tips

Can I make a mojito without mint?

While mint is an essential ingredient for a mojito, you could also experiment with different herbs in your watermelon mojito if it’s unavailable or you don’t like it. Basil would probably pair best given that it already pairs nicely with watermelon.

How many times should I stir a mojito?

Cocktail experts recommend stirring a mojito for at least 50 strokes, which should come to around 30 to 40 seconds in time. This ensures that the drink is thoroughly mixed. If a drink isn’t stirred well, it won’t taste balanced and will likely be on the boozier side.

Can I make this watermelon mojito into a mocktail?

Yes! Turn this watermelon mojito recipe into a non-alcoholic drink by removing the rum and relying on the seltzer and watermelon. Some mocktail mixologists like to use a zero-proof rum in their mocktails, while others play around with other beverages like ginger beer.