What better way to celebrate summertime than with some easy and refreshing watermelon vodka cocktails!? From tangy spritzes to fruity adult slushies, these drinks all feature the combination of juicy watermelon and crisp, smooth vodka, making them the ultimate cocktails for a hot summer day!
I’m always looking for summertime cocktail inspiration, and these watermelon vodka cocktails are as easy to make as they are tasty! By easy, I mean they only require six ingredients or less, and by tasty, I mean they will make your tastebuds SING. Seriously, ya’ll — prepare yourselves for some of the best summertime sippers of all time! Whether you’re lounging by the pool or firing up the grill, these cocktails will take any summer get together to new a whole new level of deliciousness. The recipes range from light and fruity to elegant and spirit-forward, so I’m confident everyone can find a summery drink they’ll fall in love with in this roundup!
With all that said, grab a bottle of vodka and a watermelon, and let’s check out these delicious, thirst-quenching drinks!
20 Easy Watermelon Vodka Cocktails for Summer
Watermelon Lime Spritzers
To kick us off, we have a simple cocktail that tastes just like summertime in a glass! It has a base of vodka, which allows the flavor of the fresh watermelon juice to really shine through. The drink is then balanced out with lime juice for acidity and seltzer water for effervescence, giving you a light, crisp, and beyond refreshing spritzer!
Ingredients: vodka, chopped watermelon, lime juice, seltzer water, lime slices (for garnish)
Watermelon Vodka Tonic
Who doesn't love a good vodka tonic when it's 80+ degrees outside!? There are few drinks more refreshing, and this recipe takes the classic cocktail to the next level by adding in fresh watermelon juice. It's just as revitalizing as the original, but extra sweet and fruity thanks to the watermelon. You can also use lemon vodka if you have a bottle lying around to give it a citrusy twist!
Ingredients: vodka (lemon or plain), tonic, watermelon juice
Watermelon Moscow Mule
Here's a delightfully summery spin on a Moscow Mule! If you're unfamiliar with the classic cocktail, it's made with vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. This fun recipe swaps the lime juice out for lemon juice and adds in watermelon juice for a fruitier, brighter take on the beloved classic cocktail!
Ingredients: vodka, watermelon juice, lemon juice, ginger beer, raspberries (for garnish), watermelon slice (for garnish), mint sprig (for garnish)
Watermelon Vodka Slushies
That's right -- slushies are for adults too! And this one always hits the spot and is guaranteed to cool you off on a hot day. It's a simple vodka-based frozen cocktail that blends watermelon with lime juice and simple syrup for the ultimate summertime treat. Although some associate frozen drinks with being cloyingly sweet, this one is perfectly balanced and not overly sugary!
Ingredients: vodka, frozen watermelon, lime juice, simple syrup, ice
Watermelon Martini
This cocktail has similar ingredients to the above recipe, but is served in the form of a martini! While it's a big departure from the dry and potent classic cocktail, it's an undeniably delicious martini variation that's perfect for those who gravitate toward drinks that are balanced between tart, citrusy, and sweet.
Ingredients: vodka, chopped watermelon, Cointreau, lime juice, simple syrup, mint leaves, watermelon wedge (for garnish)
Watermelon Vodka Aperol Spritz
This recipe doesn't use fresh watermelon, but it does use watermelon vodka and is incredibly yummy, so I couldn't bring myself leave it out of this roundup! A classic Aperol spritz is made with Aperol (an Italian bitter apéritif), dry Prosecco, and soda water. This spin on the classic stays pretty true to the original recipe, but adds in a splash of lemon juice and watermelon vodka to give the drink a delightfully fruity, tangy flavor that complements the bitter Aperol wonderfully.
Ingredients: watermelon vodka, Aperol, Prosecco, lemon juice, soda water
Watermelon Basil Vodka Cooler
Here's a great warm weather cocktail to make when you have a bunch of fresh basil you need to use up! It leverages the refreshing flavor combination of watermelon, lime juice, and basil for a fresh, flavorful cocktail that's not too sweet. It's also one of the easiest drinks to make since all you have to do is throw the ingredients in a blender and blend until it's perfectly frothy!
Ingredients: vodka, chopped watermelon, basil, lime juice, ice
Watermelon Sangria
Sangria is my go-to drink whenever I need a big batch cocktail that I know everyone will go crazy for, and this one is summertime staple in my house! It's super easy to make and filled with fresh, summery flavors of watermelon, lime, and orange. While it tastes super light, it's actually a fairly potent drink since the only non-alcoholic ingredient is pureed watermelon, so be careful with this one folks! (Or don't, I'm not your mom).
Ingredients: vodka, white wine, triple sec, chopped watermelon, limes, oranges
Sparkling Watermelon Punch
Here's another recipe that's perfect for any party that calls for a big batch cocktail! The base of this punch is a fresh and fruity watermelon and mint puree, which is combined with tart lime juice and simple syrup for a touch of sweetness. Top it all off with sparkling wine for a fizzy, flavorful, and delicious punch you can serve right out of a hollowed out watermelon!
Ingredients: vodka, sparkling wine, chopped watermelon, lime juice, simple syrup, mint leaves, lime wheels (for garnish), mint sprig (for garnish)
Simple Watermelon Cosmo
If you're a fan of Cosmos, you'll love this summery riff on the classic cocktail! The original Cosmo is made with cranberry juice, vodka, orange liqueur, and lime juice, and in this recipe you simply swap out the cranberry juice for watermelon juice. Compared to a regular Cosmo, it'll be a little bit sweeter and lighter, but equally refreshing and delish! As a bonus, it's only four ingredients and takes just a few minutes to make!
Ingredients: vodka, triple sec, watermelon juice, lime juice
Sour Watermelon Vodka Slush
If you told me when I was younger I'd be able to drink Sour Patch Watermelons, it would've sounded too good to be true. But guess what -- it is true and it is incredibly good! In the recipe, you soak Sour Patch Watermelons in vodka overnight, then combine the infused vodka with fresh watermelon, sprite, and lemonade. Finish it off with a pink sprinkled rim for a fun sweet and sour cocktail!
Ingredients: vodka, chopped watermelon, Sour Patch Watermelons, Sprite, lemonade, ice, lime slice (for the rim), pink sprinkles (for the rim)
Watermelon Vodka Frosé
Here's another frozen cocktail to help you beat the summer heat! This is one of my favorite beach drinks because it's easy to make, won't make you feel bloated if you have a glass (or four...), and is SO refreshing. Watermelon and dry rosé go together like a summer dream, and the vodka gives it an extra boozy kick. The recipe also calls for a half cup of lime simple syrup, but I just add in fresh lime juice instead because it's sweet enough for me without any added sugar. But feel free to follow the recipe to a T if you like your drinks on the sweeter side!
Ingredients: vodka, rosé, chopped watermelon, lime simple syrup (or substitute lime juice), ice, mint sprig (for garnish)
Cucumber Watermelon Sunrise Cocktail
I can't imagine a more refreshing flavor combination than watermelon and cucumber! This tasty drink is light-hearted and easy-drinking, making it wonderful for happy hour on a hot day with friends. The stars of the drink are muddled watermelon and cucumber, which are mixed with citrus juices, vodka, and a dash of simple syrup for a delightfully crisp, cooling summertime sipper.
Ingredients: vodka, watermelon, cucumber, orange juice, lime juice, simple syrup (optional)
Pitcher Watermelon Blueberry Vodka Smash
If I walked into a party and saw this big, icy pitcher of deliciousness, it would be hard to get me to leave! Seriously though, this cocktail is BEYOND beyond. That's not a typo. I'm just making up phrases now because this drink is transcendentally tasty. It marries fresh blended watermelon with muddled blueberries and thyme for a fruity, aromatic drink filled with fresh summertime produce. YUM.
Ingredients: vodka, chopped watermelon, lime juice, honey, thyme leaves, blueberries
Watermelon Smash
If it's not clear by now, watermelon, citrus, and mint are a truly magical flavor combination! This take on a smash pairs vodka with these ingredients since its smooth, neutral taste allows for their fresh, fruity, tart flavors to shine through. It's easy, surprisingly elegant, and looks gorgeous in a glass!
Ingredients: vodka, chopped watermelon, lime juice, mint, simple syrup
Watermelon Crush Cocktail
It's impossible not to have a crush on this Watermelon Crush cocktail! Terrible jokes aside, this drink contains both chopped watermelon and watermelon vodka, so it's packed with mouthwatering watermelon flavor and totally refreshing on a hot day! Top it all off with Sprite for a little bit of carbonation and you have an incredibly crushable cocktail that's ideal for day drinking.
Ingredients: watermelon vodka, chopped watermelon, Sprite, watermelon slice (for garnish)
Watermelon Limoncello Collins
Get transported to midsummer in Italy with this tangy, fruity riff on a Tom Collins! The classic Tom Collins is a simple drink comprised of gin, sugar, lemon juice, and soda water. This recipe swaps out the gin for vodka and adds in fresh watermelon and sweet limoncello to make it more fruity and boozy. If you haven't had limoncello before, it's basically like drinkable lemon candy, so it goes fantastically well with watermelon in this creative, delish variation!
Ingredients: vodka, limoncello, watermelon, lemon juice, simple syrup, soda water, lemon wheel (for garnish)
Cucumber & Watermelon Mojito
If you asked me my favorite flavors to pair with watermelon, I would direct you right to this recipe! It not only has citrus and mint, but also fresh cucumber, so you know it's going to be next level refreshing! It's a spin on a classic mojito that involves making a watermelon and cucumber puree and subs out white rum for vodka. Compared to a typical mojito, it'll be just as fresh and crisp, but with a delightful fruity flair and pretty pink color thanks to the watermelon.
Ingredients: vodka, watermelon, cucumber, lime juice, mint, sparkling water
Sparkling Savannah Vodka Watermelon Cocktail
This recipe puts a watermelon spin on the French 77, a classic cocktail made with St Germain elderflower liqueur, sparkling wine, lemon juice, and sometimes vodka. In this version of the drink, you add in fresh watermelon juice, which pairs beautifully with the floral, sweet elderflower liqueur, tart lemon juice, and bubbly sparkling wine. To take the presentation up a notch, the recipe also suggests making frozen watermelon balls to keep the drink cold and give it extra watermelon flavor without diluting it!
Ingredients: vodka, St Germain elderflower liqueur, sparkling wine, watermelon, lemon juice, basil (for garnish)
Watermelon Vodka Fizz
I love a good fizz in the summertime, and this one is as easy to make as it is to drink! In this four ingredient recipe, the vodka's neutral tastes lets the flavors of the freshly pureed watermelon, sweet simple syrup, and fizzy club soda take center stage. Garnish with a sprig of mint for a light, refreshing, and perfectly sweet cocktail!
Ingredients: vodka, watermelon puree, simple syrup, club soda, mint (for garnish)