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Watermelon Mojito Recipe and 3 Mixology Tips

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Mar 17, 2022 • 2 min read

It doesn’t get more refreshing than a juicy Watermelon Mojito, a summer cocktail that’s equal parts sweet, spicy, and cool.

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What Is a Watermelon Mojito?

A Watermelon Mojito is a variation on a classic Mojito, a highball cocktail with origins in Cuba. The drink’s core components are light or dark rum, lime juice, and mint, accented by watermelon juice or muddled fresh watermelon. If you’re new to this drink, learn how to make a Mojito the traditional way.

Like a Watermelon Margarita made with tequila, a Watermelon Mojito is one of the easiest cocktail recipes to assemble in a large pitcher for groups.

3 Tips for Making a Watermelon Mojito

Rum cocktails are perfect summer drinks, easily diluted or transformed with a splash of fizzy soda water. Here’s what else to know.

  1. 1. Choose juice or fresh fruit. Store-bought watermelon juice has a deep, musky flavor and a more concentrated flavor than its fresh counterpart. Depending on your preference, you can gently muddle fresh-cut seedless watermelon or purée the fruit in a food processor first for a slushy consistency. Pass the watermelon purée through a fine-mesh sieve for a more subtle effect.
  2. 2. Use a light rum. Mojitos can feature anything from light to spiced or dark rum. Use a light rum for watermelon mojitos, which won’t overpower the fruit’s more subtle characteristics and mild sweetness. Learn more about the different types of rum.
  3. 3. Add spices. To add dimension and complexity to a basic watermelon mojito, consider a pinch of chili powder or tart sumac—the acidity and heat will accentuate the fruit’s natural sweetness, making the drink taste more intensely of watermelon.

Spiced Watermelon Mojito Recipe

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makes

1 cocktail

prep time

5 min

total time

5 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    Add the watermelon, sumac, and salt to a highball cocktail glass and gently muddle.

  2. 2

    Add the mint leaves, rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, and stir to distribute evenly.

  3. 3

    Add crushed ice or ice cubes until the glass is about halfway full.

  4. 4

    Using a bar spoon, pull some of the mint up from the bottom of the glass while swizzling the liquid and ice. Be careful not to bruise or tear the mint; likewise, don’t agitate the mix too vigorously.

  5. 5

    Top off the highball glass with plenty of crushed ice, and insert a straw.

  6. 6

    Collect the reserved mint sprigs, and place them tightly in your palm. Lightly brush them with your opposite hand until they are upright and uniform. For an extra aromatic effect, slap the mint bouquet against the back end of your opposite hand.

  7. 7

    Insert the sprigs of mint in the ice next to the straw, along with a lime wedge or two.

Learn more about mixology from award-winning bartenders. Refine your palate, explore the world of spirits, and shake up the perfect cocktail for your next gathering with the MasterClass Annual Membership.