Delicious and Refreshing Watermelon Gin Cocktail

This post is going to show you exactly how to make the BEST watermelon gin cocktail!

There’s nothing better than biting into a fresh, ripe, juicy watermelon while the sun is beaming down on you!

I wanted to take that same refreshing experience and turn it into something you can sip on. This cocktail uses gin, fresh watermelon juice, lemon juice, cucumber bitters, sugar, basil, and soda water! The combination of these ingredients is magical!!

This is an original Sweet Recipe of mine that I would serve seasonally at the old bar I used to work at. This one is a crowd pleaser and one you can now add into your own recipe line up! Let’s get right into it. I call this:

“Oh My Days”

What You Will Need:

Alcohol:

The gin we will be using for this watermelon gin cocktail is Venus Gin No. 1! This gin is locally distilled in Santa Cruz, California. I used to live in Santa Cruz for a bit and that’s where I discovered this amazing spirit! Venus gin is seriously one of my favorites. I love how smooth it is and how it accentuates fruit and floral notes. This gin has notes of citrus, lavender, ginger, lemon, and juniper. If you’re interested in learning more about Venus Spirits you can read more about the distillery HERE.  If you ever find yourself up in Santa Cruz be sure to check out the two Venus restaurants they have! They serve delicious food to compliment their unique and original cocktails. Amazingly this gin is available at most Total Wine and More stores throughout California. I have also been able to find it at Whole Foods!

The next item you will need to give this cocktail a cucumber bite is Cucumber Bitters by The Bitter Truth! Bitters are concoctions of alcohol that is infused with various herbs, spices, botanicals, roots, and more. Originally, bitters were used for medicinal purposes. Overtime they found their ways into cocktails! Certain cocktails definitely depend on the flavor profile that bitters adds. Some examples are the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac, Champagne Cocktail, and more! Bitters come out in small dashes as they are very potent and can alter a drink extremely if too much is used. I highly recommend experimenting with different flavored bitters! I got this bottle at a local bartending shop in San Diego. If you’re in the area DEFINITELY check out Collins and Coupe. This store literally has it all! If not, you can also find this bottle of bitters online RIGHT HERE! Cheers!

Citrus and Other Fresh Ingredients:

The citrus that is going into this watermelon gin cocktail will be Fresh Lemon Juice! At Sweet Nectar we only use FRESH fruit juice! For the simple reason that it is leagues better than anything you will buy from a shelf. Using fresh juices in your cocktails immediately elevates them to the next level! Trust me, once you taste the difference there will be no turning back! Luckily, making your own citrus juice is beyond easy! The tool I am using in the photo above is my stainless steel hand-pressed citrus juicer. This thing is probably my favorite purchase I’ve made for my home bar! There’s an ease with the squeeze, a pour spout, and so much space for multiple pieces of fruit! You can get one identical to mine RIGHT HERE!

Speaking of fresh ingredients, let me show you how to make your own Fresh Watermelon Juice! This is actually quite an easy process! I love how a watermelon actually yields a lot of juice compared to other fruits. One large watermelon should be all you need for a round of cocktails! You will want to start by cutting the skin off of a watermelon. You will then want to chop it up into cubes like in the photo above.

Next you will need a blender of your choice! I use my Ninja Blender for this step in the process. This thing is small, efficient, and can be used for an array of things! This blender blends watermelon in a matter of seconds. They have these Ninja’s at Target, Walmart, and online RIGHT HERE! If you already have a nice blender then feel free to use that.

After your watermelon is blended, it will likely still have some pulp that needs to be discarded. I like my juice silky smooth! That’s where a Nut Milk Bag comes in hand! I pour the blended watermelon through the bag over a large bowl. This assures that I don’t lose any precious juice. You can find nut milk bags at Walmart or online RIGHT HERE!

Be sure to give the nut milk bag a squeeze so that you release all of the juice!!! We won’t be wasting any of that Sweet Nectar!

After the watermelon juice has been sifted through the nut milk bag you are good to go!! I love to store my fresh juices and syrups in olive oil bottles like shown in the photo above! They are easy to store, easy to pour, and add a professional aspect to your home bar! I actually found a really cool set on Amazon that comes with bottles, labels, pour spouts and more! I will link it RIGHT HERE!

Watermelon juice will last in the fridge for about 4-5 days! Always make sure you label and date your product. Another tip I have is to always taste your juice before mixing with it! Even if the date hasn’t passed yet. Since you are dealing with fresh ingredients, things can change quickly. You always want to make sure you are serving yourself and friends the best!

Simple Syrup is called for in this watermelon gin cocktail! We will just need a bit, but the great thing about simple syrup is that it will last in the fridge for up to a month! Just like in the name, simple syrup is extremely simple to make. We will be using a 1:1 ratio which means equal parts white sugar to hot water.

• In a pot on the stove, bring desired amount of water to a slight boil.
• Once you see bubbles start to form, add in equal parts of white sugar.
• Lower the heat a bit as you do not want the sugar to burn.
• Stir consistently until the sugar has dissolved and you are left with a syrup like consistency.
• Pull off of the heat and let cool.
• Store in a bottle of choice in the fridge.
• You did it!

Lastly you will want one large leaf of Basil! We will be muddling this into our tins before we shake! Basil is a delicious herb that adds so much flavor! Basil compliments gin, cucumber, and watermelon! It is a perfect fresh ingredient to add into this delicious watermelon gin cocktail. You can find basil at any local Grocery Store!

Fill:

After strained, this cocktail will get a splash of Club Soda. I have chosen to use Q-mixers Club Soda for this step! This soda is always crisp and it gives this cocktail an additional little sparkle! I love my cocktails to have a little bite when the sun is out! Something about that carbonation just really hits the spot! You can pick up these mixers at Total Wine and More, Bevmo, Walmart, Target, and more!

Bar Supplies:

The first thing you want to have in your home bar is a shaker of sorts! I love to use the Boston Shaker. This shaker is my comfort zone and it is all I have ever used in the bars I have worked at ! This shaker comes with two tins. You seal them together at an angle before you shake, and unseal them when it is time to strain! When you are shaking a cocktail you are diluting it and building it in volume at the same time. If you want a set of shakers just like mine you can check some out RIGHT HERE!

Next you will most definitely need a Jigger! Jiggers are how you measure the liquid ingredients that will be going into a cocktail! You always want your final product to be consistent, balanced, and beautiful. Using a jigger can help you attain that easily! My jigger in the photo above ranges in measurements of 1/4 oz to 2 oz! If you want to check out one identical to mine you can do so RIGHT HERE!

I must admit, when I was just starting to learn how to bartend, I used a much more simplified jigger. It had only one side, very clear measurements, and a pour spout! It really helped me build my skills and confidence behind the bar! I will link the exact jigger I used to use in the early days for you RIGHT HERE. Cheers to learning new skills!

Since we are using the fresh herb of basil in this watermelon gin cocktail we will need a Muddler! A muddler is a tool that you use to press down on an ingredient and twist. This releases oils, aromas, and flavors! I love muddling herbs in syrups in the tin before I shake. I like to believe it adds that extra secret pop of flavor! I will link the exact muddler I used to use in bars RIGHT HERE!

Of course to strain this beautiful watermelon gin cocktail we will be needing a Hawthorne Strainer! This strainer is pretty much built for a Boston Shaker. It fits right into the opening and allows for a clean strain. A hawthorne strainer is used to stop any ice and other large ingredients from entering the final cocktail. You can check out one for yourself RIGHT HERE!

Lastly, for the iconic cucumber ribbon garnish you will want to have a Y-Peeler! Y-peelers are a great bar tool to have because they give you that nice wide cut you are looking for when making garnishes! Whether you are slicing a cucumber, a lemon, or even a grapefruit, you will always get a nice thick cut! Always be CAREFUL when using these bad boys because they are VERY sharp. To get the ribbons shown in the photo above just peel down the side of the cucumber vertically! Spiral your ribbon inside you glassware and add ice to hold it in place. It’s simple and looks great! You can check out he y-peeler I have RIGHT HERE!

I also must mention that you will need ICE. Lots of people have fridges with an ice dispenser which is perfect for you to use. Alas, if you do not have accessible fridge ice, AKA ME, you will have to freeze your own! As you can see in the photo above I use a silicone perfect ice cube tray. You can find an identical one that comes with a LID right HERE! I am lucky enough to have a cocktail store near me as well that  carries perfect ice in every size but that is not always the most affordable option. I would still suggest you check if any such stores exist near your location! Although a little more pricey, definitely worth it in quality!!!

I do recommend that if you are starting to create multiple cocktails at home, you should invest in your own personal Bartending Kit. Most come with everything you will need as a beginner while others provide several items for more complex creations. I will put links to both a beginners set, and a more advanced set on Amazon below!

Beginners Kit : HERE

Advanced Kit : HERE

Let’s Build!