Get ready to celebrate summer with a refreshing twist on a classic favorite – the watermelon martini! This delightful cocktail, perfect for kicking off the season, is a must-try for National Martini Day on June 19th.
Plus, with July being National Watermelon Month, there’s no better time to whip up this tasty treat.
If you haven't already made a batch of my homemade watermelon syrup, now's the perfect time to check out the simple recipe. Grab your cocktail shaker, and let’s mix up some summer magic with this irresistible watermelon martini!
🥘 Ingredients
- Vodka: Opt for a high-quality, smooth vodka like Grey Goose or Tito’s; these brands enhance the drink's flavor without overpowering the delicate watermelon notes.
- Watermelon Syrup: Homemade watermelon syrup is ideal for the freshest taste, but if you're in a pinch, choose a natural, high-quality store-bought option to avoid artificial flavors.
- Dry Vermouth: Choose a premium dry vermouth like Dolin or Noilly Prat; their balanced herbal notes complement the sweetness of the watermelon syrup beautifully.
- Garnish - A watermelon slice on a cocktail pick: Fresh watermelon slices add a vibrant touch and infuse the drink with an extra burst of flavor as they soak in the cocktail.
See the recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Instructions
A Martini is prepared similarly to an Old-Fashioned or Martinez using a stirring glass. Even if James Bond 007 has a different opinion, I prefer to stir my Martini rather than shake it.
Pour all the ingredients into a well-chilled stirring glass, add ice, and stir smoothly with a bar spoon.
Place a Julep or Hawthorn strainer on top of the stirring glass and fine strain the drink into a chilled Martini glass.
Garnish with a melon slice.
The technique is crucial here.
Stirring properly ensures your drink doesn’t become too diluted, maintaining the perfect taste.
Remember: you can mix all the ingredients in the glass and let them sit without any issues, but once you add the ice, dilution starts.
Smooth stirring is key—it keeps the ice rotating in place, preventing extra air from entering the drink. When straining, hold the stirring glass low and close to the serving glass to avoid adding air or bubbles.
🍸 Substitutions
Vodka Substitutes:
- Gin: Adds a botanical twist to the martini, complementing the fruity watermelon.
- White Rum: Provides a slightly sweeter and more tropical flavor.
Watermelon Syrup Substitutes:
- Store-Bought Watermelon Juice: For a quicker alternative, use high-quality watermelon juice and add simple syrup to taste.
- Strawberry Syrup: Offers a different fruity profile while maintaining the sweetness.
- Raspberry Syrup: Adds a tart and tangy twist to the cocktail.
Dry Vermouth Substitutes:
- Lillet Blanc: A fortified wine with a slightly sweeter and citrusy profile, which pairs well with watermelon.
- Cocchi Americano: Another fortified wine that offers a balanced sweetness and slight bitterness.
Garnish Substitutes:
- Cucumber Slice: Adds a refreshing, crisp element to the drink.
- Mint Sprig: Enhances the drink with a fresh, aromatic touch.
- Lime Wheel: Provides a citrusy garnish that complements the cocktail's flavors.
💕 Delightful Pairing
No-Bake Lotus Biscoff Cake Pops: These cake pops combine the rich flavors of Biscoff cookies and mascarpone, coated in milk chocolate, making them a sweet and easy treat to pair with your refreshing martini.
Cranberry Bundt Cake: This moist and flavorful cake, studded with cranberries and dark chocolate chips, offers a delightful balance of tart and sweet, perfectly complementing the fruity notes of the watermelon martini.
Six Egg White Chocolate Cake: Light and rich, this chocolate cake uses leftover egg whites for a fluffy texture, making it an elegant and less dense dessert to enjoy with your cocktail.
Walnut Meringue Cookies: These light, gluten-free cookies made from ground walnuts and meringue are a perfect bite-sized treat to serve alongside your watermelon martini, offering a crunchy and nutty contrast to the drink.
🍽 Equipment
- Stiring glass
- Bar spoon
- Jigger / Measuring tools
- Fine strainer
- Julep/Hawthorne Strainer: To keep excess ice out of the finished cocktail.
- Cutting board / sharp knife - for the garnish
- Serving glass (Martini glass)
💭 Top tips
Fine-straining a Martini is important for several reasons:
- It removes small ice shards and pulp, resulting in a smoother, more refined texture.
- A clear, particle-free drink looks more appealing.
- Straining out any solids ensures a consistent and clean flavor.
- A well-strained martini feels better on the palate, enhancing the overall drinking experience.
How to Stir your Drink Properly using a Stirring Glass?
Proper stirring is crucial to prevent the drink from becoming overly diluted. Insert the bar spoon into the side of the stirring glass filled with ice cubes and the drink, and guide it along the inside edge. This technique moves the ice in a circular motion, effectively cooling the drink while keeping the ice stable.
🙋🏻 FAQ
A watermelon martini offers a refreshing and balanced flavor profile. It combines the natural sweetness and juiciness of fresh watermelon with the clean, crisp notes of vodka. The addition of dry vermouth adds a subtle herbal undertone, while the homemade watermelon syrup intensifies the fruity essence. The result is a light, slightly sweet, and refreshing cocktail with a smooth finish, perfect for summer enjoyment.
Other Recipes for You to Try
- Watermelon Spritz {prosecco}
- Watermelon Spritzer {white wine}
- Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini
- Limoncello Martini with Elderflower Syrup
- Limoncello Vodka Martini
- Limoncello Martini with Lemon Juice {coming soon}
If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. This would be awesome! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @combinegoodflavors and hashtag #combinegoodflavors, so I don't miss it.
📖 Recipe
Melon Martini Recipe with Homemade Watermelon Syrup
Equipment
- Stiring glass
- Julep/Hawthorne Strainer
- Sharp knife
- Serving Glass (Martini glass)
Ingredients
- Cubed ice for the stirring glass
- 2 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Watermelon syrup
- ½ oz Dry vermouth
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- Pour 2 oz Vodka, 1 oz Watermelon syrup, and ½ oz Dry vermouth into a well-chilled stirring glass.2 oz Vodka, 1 oz Watermelon syrup, ½ oz Dry vermouth
- Add Cubed ice to the mixture.Cubed ice
- Stir thoroughly with a bar spoon.
- When straining the drink, place a jule or hawthorn strainer on top of the stirring glass and fine-strain the drink into a serving glass.
- Keep the mixing glass low and close to the serving glass to minimize air bubbles.
- Garnish with a Lemon slice.Lemon slice
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
⛑️ Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For further information, check Safe Food Handling - FDA.
Amy says
This was so delicious! I made your watermelon syrup too which the kids loved for their virgin martinis!
Nora says
That is awesome! Thank you, Amy! Glad you all enjoyed it!
Amy Liu Dong says
Wow! This looks amazingly delicious and very tasty! A mouth quenching drinks that everyone will gonna love and enjoy!
Nora says
Thank you, Amy! Let me know how you liked it!
Juyali says
Vermouth is one of my favorite liquors, but I never considered mixing it with a watermelon flavor. Oh my, was I pleasantly surprised when I tried this cocktail!
The result was outstanding. Thanks for this easy and delicious martini! I'll be adding it to my go-to list of summer cocktails. 🙂
Nora says
That is awesome, Juyali! I am glad you liked the mix! 🙂
Jeri says
Everyone loved this watermelon martini! The fresh watermelon syrup and smooth vodka are a perfect combo. This will definitely be my go-to summer drink!
Nora says
That is wonderful, Jeri! Thank you! Enjoy! 🙂
Swathi says
Melon Matrini looks delicious i have tried it. Love that homemade watermelon syrup.
Nora says
Thank you, Swathi!