National Watermelon Day turns Bourbon, Rum, Vodka, Tequila and Cachaca Cocktails Refreshingly Pink at The Intoxicologist

National Watermelon Day turns Bourbon, Rum, Vodka, Tequila and Cachaca Cocktails Refreshingly Pink

Watermelons. Farmers tote them and set up stands everywhere to bring them to the consumer fresh; along heavily trafficked country roads, in the corner of convenience store parking lots and farmer’s markets. These heavy summer fruits can’t hide with their enormous size. Yet the tiny single serve size found in the grocery store is quite a bargain for the consumer who doesn’t quite want a watermelon of gigantic proportions.

Although there has not been an act of Congress to set the laws in motion to make National Watermelon Day official, this day has been set aside on some calendars as ‘the’ day to formally taste this summer fruit with all its tasty goodness. Since watermelons contain approximately 90% water with natural sugary sweetness it makes perfect since that this specific fruit would pair beautifully in refreshing summer cocktails.

Red Stag by Jim Beam brings us a delightful base for watermelon rich summer cocktails. Bourbon may have a warming effect on the throat when sipped neat or on the rocks, but when paired with fresh juices in contemporary design the result is revitalizing and thirst quenching.

Red Squeeze – created by Bobby Gleason

1 part Red Stag by Jim Beam

1/2 part DeKuyper Watermelon Squeeze

1 part Fresh Sour

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Shake well. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. To make this cocktail spectacular, muddle in a few cubes of fresh watermelon. Optional garnish: Speared watermelon of course! Three chunks of watermelon give Red Squeeze the ripe watermelon feel this cocktail craves.

Red Punch – created by Bobby Gleason

1 part Red Stag by Jim Beam

1/2 part DeKuyper Watermelon Squeeze

1 part Pineapple Juice

3 parts Lemonade

Spritz with Club Soda

Build over ice in a Collins glass with ice. Add a splash of club soda to the top. Garnish with a spear of watermelon and/or a lemon wedge. Serve with a stir stick or straw to stir.

The Intoxicologist original Red Stag by Jim Beam creation with watermelon may be found here: Red Melon. This cocktail incorporates Jim Beam Bourbon into the cocktail, too!

Possibly you prefer rum. Bacardi Grand Melon creates marvelous melon cocktails with its already juicy aroma and flavor to start. A few additional flavors complement the spirit for an enhanced cocktail experience you can share with friends at any summer social gathering. But you won’t have to save these cocktails for summer only. Bacardi Grand Melon is available year round.

Bacardi Grand Melon Gimlet

2 parts Bacardi Grand Melon

1 part Sweetened Lime Juice

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Bacardi Grand Melon Mellini

1 part Bacardi Grand Melon

3 parts Martini & Rossi Asti

Splash Grenadine

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into a chilled champagne flute. Garnish with fresh watermelon balls.

Bacardi Grand Melon Martini

3 parts Bacardi Grand Melon

Splash Cranberry Juice

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a salt-rimmed martini glass. Garnish with a speared watermelon cube if desired.

Bacardi Grand Melon Juice Cocktail

1 part Bacardi Grand Melon

2 parts Sprite

1/2 part Grenadine

1/2 part Peach Schnapps

Splash Club Soda

Build in a Collins glass over ice. Garnish with fresh watermelon. Insert stir stick or straw.

Watermelon Lemonade – served at The Bell in Hand Tavern, Boston - SKYY Infusions Vodka - National Watermelon Day Cocktail Drink Recipe Maybe vodka is more your style. The Bell in Hand Tavern out of Boston created a wonderful watermelon cocktail using SKYY Infusions Citrus Vodka as the base with muddled watermelon for a blast of flavor. In keeping true to summer spirit, pink lemonade adds the refreshing tart this drink needs to go long on taste.

Watermelon Lemonade – served at The Bell in Hand Tavern, Boston

2 ounces SKYY Infusions Citrus

2 cubes of Watermelon

4 ounces Pink Lemonade

Muddle watermelon in cocktail shaker. Add ice, SKYY Infusions Citrus and lemonade. Shake vigorously. Strain into highball glass and garnish with wedge of watermelon and mint.

Just as the season wouldn’t scream summer without the good clean fun of watermelon seed spitting contests, water balloon fights and splashing through water sprinklers in bikinis, summer just can’t skim by without slipping in something X-Rated. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur brings something sweet, pink and luscious to the cocktail world. This devious little vixen of an elixir is truly just sheer fun with the name alone, but mingles well when paired with flavor harmonizing mixers.

X-Rated Summer

1-1/2 ounce X-RATED Fusion Liqueur

2 ounces Watermelon Juice

4 Basil leaves

1/2 ounce Meyer lemon juice

Muddle fresh basil, lemon and watermelon. Add ice, X-Rated Fusion and shake. Strain into champagne flute and top with Prosecco or dry sparkling wine or soda.

Taking a sip of the Watermelon Smash may turn you on to Cachaca. This cocktail is like taking a bite of the freshest, juiciest, ripest watermelon one could ever hope to find. Leblon Cachaca has mastered the cocktail with its sweet, yet not overly sugary taste. The flavor rolls over the tongue in a way that makes one want to keep sipping and then it’s time to make another…responsibly of course! Watermelon Smash is ideal for summer, but don’t write it off during fall and summer. It is the perfect cocktail to remind us that the spring and summer months are only a cocktail away.

Watermelon Smash

1-1/2 ounce Leblon Cachaca

1/2 ounce Lemoncello

1 Tablespoon Superfine Sugar or 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup

3 Pieces of Watermelon

Muddle watermelon and sugar in a shaker. Add Leblon Cachaca, Lemoncello and ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a rocks glass. Garnish with a slice of watermelon.

You might also like Barefoot Brazilian using Boca Loca Cachaca and Barefoot Bubbly topper in a champagne flute. This cocktail is crafted for two. If tequila is your thing don’t forget about The Intoxicologist original recipe using Azul Tequila and fresh muddled watermelon. The Rosy Melon is the idea summer cocktail to get your next party started.