Watermelon Cosmo Cocktail

There is something so refreshing about this watermelon cosmo recipe, which doesn’t stop at just quenching your thirst. It is pretty and delicious, too. But you’ll want to plan ahead to make this cosmo because it calls for homemade watermelon infused vodka.

Once you sip this delightful watermelon cosmo, you will want it to have a starring role in your cocktail rotation! So, take advantage of watermelon season and make a big batch of watermelon infused vodka. That way you can have this delicious cocktail even when watermelon season is over.

Although nowadays you can get watermelon almost year round, nothing is as good as vodka infused with fresh watermelon.

If you are having a party and plan to serve this drink, know that watermelon vodka takes a week to infuse properly. Don’t be intimidated by alcohol infusions. They are super easy to make and taste so much better than the flavored versions you buy in the liquor store.

Infusing your own also allows you to control the ingredients, which is a great thing.

The cosmopolitan grows up

I remember the day when a cosmopolitan was made one way and one way only. Vodka, triple sec, lime and a splash of cranberry.  Today, we have so many variations of the classic drink, it’s mind boggling. But in a good and delicious way.

What type of cosmo do you like? Do you like the original or do you like the ‘newfangled’ ones?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

I’ll freely claim that my favorite cosmo is the blueberry mint.

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Helpful tips

• Originally, I made this cocktail with a popular, pre-sweetened brand of cranberry juice, BUT… now I use a natural non-sweetened juice, so if you use the popular brand, your drink will not be as dark as the one I make here. It is because the juice I use is a more robust, purer juice. I’ll keep the photo of my original watermelon cosmo at the bottom of this post so you can see what to expect.
• If you opt to use pre-sweetened cranberry juice, OMIT the simple syrup as it would make it too sweet.
• If you don’t want to infuse your own vodka, you can usually find different brands that make a watermelon vodka like Veil, Skyy and Smirnoff in the liquor store.
• Although the vodka in the old photo below is pinkish, if you infuse your own vodka, you won’t always get that result. The vodka I infused for the new photos has a different tinge. Don’t be alarmed, it all tastes delicious.
• If you are just washing a few limes, use a natural, unscented hand soap and rub your hands with the soap over the fruit. Run cold water over the limes as you use a vegetable brush on the skin.
• Make your own simple syrup as it is easy. Here’s how:  measure equal parts of water and white sugar and place in a sauce pan, turn the heat on medium and bring the mixture to a boil, stir, then lower to a simmer for 5 minutes. Cool completely before using.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Watermelon infused vodka – I really recommend infusing your own, but if you don’t want to go to the trouble, there are brands that are acceptable in this cocktail. (See helpful tips above.)
• Cointreau – It is a delightfully delicious orange liquor. I’m very vocal about using mid-level to premium ingredients in cocktails.  I use Cointreau because the taste is superior to triple sec. I suggest you buy Cointreau because once you do, you’ll never go back to a cheaper brand. Since most cocktails take just a small amount of Cointreau, it’s a great investment and one bottle goes quite far. But if you are budget conscious, triple sec will do.
• Lime juice – Always squeeze your own limes.  There is no substitute to freshly squeezed juice.
• Cranberry juice – I stated in the notes that I use an unsweetened juice. I prefer to control the sweetness in cocktails and not leave it up these brands to determine how much sugar goes into my creations.
• Simple syrup – Use only if you use unsweetened cranberry juice, otherwise it will be too sweet. See helpful tip above on how to make your own.
• Fresh watermelon – Perfect for garnish.

How to make the watermelon cosmo

Pre-step

Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice and get two martini glasses. Divide six watermelon chunks between two martini picks and set aside.

After measuring out each ingredient, pour into the cocktail shaker.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – watermelon infused vodka, Cointreau, lime, cranberry juice and simple syrup.

As you can see, the watermelon chunks are still in the vodka. I wanted to show you what it looks like after a week spent infusing in the refrigerator. (But don’t eat these chunks or use them as garnish! They taste terrible.)

Step two

Measure 4 ounces of watermelon infused vodka.

Step three

Measure 1.5 ounces of Cointreau.

Step four

Measure 1.5 ounces of lime juice.

Step five

Measure 3/4 ounce simple syrup.

Step six

Measure 1.5 ounces of cranberry juice.

Step seven

Cap the shaker and shake for 15 seconds.

Strain and divide between the two glasses and place a skewer of watermelon in each cocktail.

See how robust and dark it is?  That’s what I was talking about earlier. Here is the old photo where I used sweetened cranberry juice.

Shall we see the vertical view?

Yum, right?

It is so delicious!

I hope you enjoyed this watermelon cosmo recipe!

Other popular cosmos

• Blueberry Mint Cosmo
• Ruby Red Grapefruit Cosmo

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Originally published in June of 2017.