I truly believe that this Watermelon Lemonade Cooler is the best summer cocktail recipe. It comes together in just minutes, and it is so refreshing! Instead of using store-bought lemonade, I make a quick three ingredient lemonade that replaces water with club soda for an effervescent twist. Then the lemonade gets mixed up with watermelon juice, vodka, fresh watermelon, and some cucumber slices.
I first discovered this drink when we were in New Orleans, it was the first drink I had on the Haunted Pub Crawl, and I ordered this at the Cornet. I got the bartender to explain the recipe so that I could recreate it at home. The bar mixed up individual cocktails, but I decided to make a large format cocktail since cocktails are more fun when you share them with friends.
This Watermelon Lemonade Cooler was the perfect cocktail to bring to my friend’s bachelorette party. It was a hot and humid day, and this drink is light and refreshing, and boozy without tasting too strong. The bachelorette party was just two blocks from my home, and I might have thrown some plastic wrap over the pitcher and walked down the street with it to bring it to the party. I passed a parked cop car, but the police didn’t seem to mind.
The cocktail got rave reviews from the party guests, and the pink color seemed fitting for a girls-only fiesta. The Watermelon Lemonade Cooler was gone in minutes! After rave reviews on the first night of bachelorette celebrations, I made the cocktail again the following night. When I walked through the door with a pitcher of the drink people got excited, and a couple of the ladies rushed to the kitchen to grab a glass full before it was gone. (One friend might have made me hide a glass of Watermelon Lemonade Cooler in the fridge for her).
If you want to prep this ahead of time, combine the sugar, lemon juice, vodka, watermelon juice, watermelon, and cucumber in a pitcher. Then add the club soda just before serving.
Yields 6 servings
15 minPrep Time
15 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 liter Club Soda
- 6 tablespoons Sugar
- 1 cup Fresh Lemon Juice (4 lemons)
- 1 cup of Vodka
- 1 1/2 cups Watermelon Juice (a 12-ounce bottle)
- 1 cup of cubed Watermelon
- 10 slices of Cucumber
- Ice
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the sugar, lemon juice, watermelon juice, and vodka. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the ice, cubed watermelon, and cucumber. Pour the club soda over and stir.
- Serve right away.
