Is there anything more refreshing than an ice cold cocktail on a 90 degree day? This Watermelon Sugar High, clearly inspired by Harry Styles, is like drinking summer. Sweet and juicy, this is the cocktail you’re going to want to drink all summer long.
We spent the long weekend redecorating our back patio. It was a lot of work but the feeling of finally having an outdoor space we enjoy was the best feeling. We got new furniture, plants and a new screen door. It was nice ending to the weekend to finally sit back and enjoy it, and a cold summer cocktail was necessary to celebrate.
The Watermelon Sugar High is great as a punch or as individual drinks. The recipe below yields 8 cocktails. If you are making this for a very small socially distanced group this works out great. If corona virus ever goes away and we can have parties again, double the recipe and use the whole watermelon.
For individual drinks you can cut the syrup recipe in half. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice (I love this pineapple one!) add 1 oz of vodka, 1oz of sherry, 1 oz of watermelon syrup and a big squeeze of half a lemon. Shake and pour into a sugar rimmed cocktail glass. The extra syrup will stay good in the fridge for 4-5 days. The mint garnish in this cocktail makes it extra refreshing, so don’t skip it! Serve in the sunshine and enjoy!
Ingredients
Watermelon Syrup
- ½ a watermelon
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- juice from 2 lemons
- peels from 2 lemons
Watermelon Sugar High
- 2 cups vodka (I used Titos)
- 2 cups dry sherry
- watermelon syrup (you should have around 2 cups)
- 8 watermelon slices, for garnish
- 8 mint springs, for garnish
- sugar, for the rim
Instructions
Watermelon Syrup
- Cut a watermelon in half and scoop out the flesh. Place the watermelon in a blender and blend until smooth. If your blender is smaller you may have to do this in batches. Place a fine mesh sieve over a medium sized bowl and strain the juice. Discard the leftover pulp so you just have the juice. Set aside.
- Place a large pot over medium high heat. Add the watermelon juice, brown sugar, lemon peels and lemon juice. Bring to a slight boil and and then reduce to medium low heat. Continue to simmer for 40 minutes until the syrup has thickened. Remove from the heat and chill completely.
Watermelon Sugar High
- In a punch bowl, add the watermelon syrup, vodka and sherry. I left my lemon peels in the mixture, but you can strain and remove them if you like. Rim the cocktail glasses with sugar and fill them with ice. Add the cocktail to the glass. Add a watermelon slice and mint sprig for garnish. Serve cold.
Looking for more refreshing cocktail ideas? Try the Verdita Margarita or a Mint Triple Shot Margarita.