There’s a moment every summer where someone shows up with a whole watermelon and suddenly the afternoon has a theme. Watermelon is the rare ingredient that works in almost every cocktail format — it’s sweet without being cloying, it blends effortlessly with citrus and mint, and it makes everything it touches look like it belongs on a beach somewhere. Even in Bend, where the beach is a few hours away but the sunshine is right here.
These eight recipes run the full range — from a quick, two-ingredient highball to a slow-sipped mezcal number that’ll make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about summer drinks. Every spirit and ingredient is either in stock or something our team can help you source at 3rd Street Beverage. Stop in at 740 NE 3rd St and we’ll point you in the right direction.
First, a note on the fruit itself: fresh watermelon makes a real difference. To juice it at home, cube the flesh, blend briefly, and strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. One small seedless watermelon yields roughly four cups of juice — enough for a full evening of cocktails or a big pitcher situation. It keeps refrigerated for two days.
1. Watermelon Vodka Smash
This is the entry point — the one you make when you want something cold, refreshing, and done in under two minutes. Clean vodka lets the watermelon lead, and the lime keeps it from going too sweet. Make a pitcher of this for a backyard crowd and you’ll be everyone’s favorite person.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 3 oz fresh watermelon juice
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz simple syrup (adjust to taste — ripe watermelon may need none)
- Fresh mint leaves and a watermelon wedge, to garnish
- Ice
Instructions
Combine vodka, watermelon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Smack a few mint leaves in your palm to release the oils and press them against the inside of the glass. Garnish with a small watermelon wedge on the rim.
2. Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita
Sweet and heat is one of the great combinations in cocktail history, and watermelon is a natural partner for jalapeño’s slow, building burn. A good blanco tequila — clean, agave-forward — is the backbone here. The spice level is easy to control: fewer jalapeño slices, less heat. More slices and a longer muddle, and you’ll feel it.
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 2½ oz fresh watermelon juice
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz triple sec or Cointreau
- 2–4 fresh jalapeño slices (seeds in for more heat, out for less)
- Tajín or chili-lime salt, for rimming
- Lime wheel and a thin jalapeño slice, to garnish
- Ice
Instructions
Run a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass and press into Tajín. Set aside. In a shaker, muddle jalapeño slices with lime juice — 5 to 8 seconds, firm pressure. Add tequila, watermelon juice, triple sec, and ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds. Double-strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel and jalapeño slice.
3. Watermelon Basil Gin Fizz
Botanical gin and fresh basil is a pairing that deserves more attention than it gets. Add watermelon and a hit of lemon, top it with soda, and you have one of the most elegant summer drinks imaginable. This one is particularly well-suited to a floral or herbal gin — something with a bit of complexity that can hold its own against the fruit.
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin (floral or botanical style)
- 2 oz fresh watermelon juice
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 6–8 fresh basil leaves, plus more to garnish
- 2 oz club soda
- Ice
Instructions
In a shaker, gently muddle basil leaves with lemon juice. Add gin, watermelon juice, simple syrup, and ice. Shake well and double-strain into a chilled Collins glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and stir once gently. Garnish with a fresh basil sprig.
4. Watermelon Frosé
Frosé became a thing for good reason — it’s frozen rosé, and it is outstanding on a hot afternoon. The watermelon version adds a layer of fruit sweetness and turns the whole thing a color that looks almost too good to drink. Almost. Use a dry, fruit-forward rosé — our wine staff can point you to a solid bottle that won’t break the bank.
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
- 1 bottle dry rosé wine
- 2 cups fresh watermelon juice
- 2 oz vodka (keeps it from freezing solid)
- 1½ oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 oz simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Fresh mint and watermelon cubes, to garnish
Instructions
The day before: pour the entire bottle of rosé into a large, shallow baking dish or ziplock bag and freeze until solid, at least six hours. When ready to serve, break the frozen rosé into chunks and add to a blender with the watermelon juice, vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Blend until smooth and slushy. Pour into wine glasses or stemless glasses immediately. Garnish with a skewer of watermelon cubes and a fresh mint sprig. Serve fast — it melts quickly and that’s fine, it’s still delicious.
5. Watermelon Mezcal Mule
The Moscow Mule gets a summer overhaul here, swapping vodka for mezcal and adding watermelon for sweetness and color. Mezcal’s smokiness plays beautifully against the fruit in a way that surprises people who think they don’t like mezcal — this is a great gateway drink. Use a ginger beer with some actual heat to it; the spice is part of what makes it work.
Ingredients
- 1½ oz mezcal (a joven or espadin — approachable smokiness)
- 2½ oz fresh watermelon juice
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- 3 oz spicy ginger beer
- Fresh mint and a lime wedge, to garnish
- Crushed ice
Instructions
Fill a copper mule mug or highball glass with crushed ice. Add mezcal, watermelon juice, and lime juice. Stir briefly. Top slowly with ginger beer to preserve the fizz. Garnish with a bundle of fresh mint and a lime wedge. Add a pinch of Tajín on top if you want an extra kick.
6. Sparkling Watermelon Aperol Spritz
The spritz is already one of the most crowd-pleasing cocktails in existence. Watermelon makes it even better — adding a fruity sweetness that softens Aperol’s bittersweet orange character without wiping it out. This one scales beautifully for a group: make a large batch of watermelon juice and Aperol ahead of time and just top individual glasses with prosecco when guests arrive.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Aperol
- 1½ oz fresh watermelon juice
- 3 oz prosecco (brut style)
- 1 oz club soda
- Orange slice and fresh mint, to garnish
- Ice
Instructions
Fill a large wine glass with ice. Pour in Aperol, then watermelon juice, then prosecco. Add a splash of soda. Stir once, very gently — you’re keeping those bubbles alive. Garnish with an orange slice and a sprig of mint. Drink immediately and make another one.
7. Watermelon Bourbon Lemonade
This is the drink for people who say they don’t like summer cocktails. Rich, slightly smoky bourbon balanced by tart lemonade and the natural sweetness of fresh watermelon — it’s more complex than it sounds, and it goes down dangerously fast. A wheated bourbon (softer, less rye-forward) works best here; the vanilla and caramel notes complement the fruit without fighting it.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon (wheated style recommended)
- 2 oz fresh watermelon juice
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water, stirred to combine)
- Lemon wheel and a small mint sprig, to garnish
- Ice
Instructions
Combine bourbon, watermelon juice, lemon juice, and honey syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well for 12 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a lemon wheel and mint sprig. For a longer, more sessionable drink, top with a splash of sparkling water.
8. Watermelon Rum Punch (Pitcher Recipe)
Every summer gathering needs a punch, and this one delivers. White rum’s light, tropical character is a natural match for watermelon, and the combination of citrus, coconut water, and fresh fruit keeps it from being too sweet or too boozy — it’s exactly the kind of drink that lets a party find its stride. Make it two hours ahead and let it sit in the fridge; it gets better as the flavors come together.
Ingredients (serves 8–10)
- 2 cups white rum
- 4 cups fresh watermelon juice
- 1 cup fresh lime juice (about 8–10 limes)
- ½ cup simple syrup
- 2 cups coconut water
- 1 cup sparkling water, added just before serving
- Watermelon cubes, lime wheels, and fresh mint, to garnish
- A large block of ice or several large ice cubes for the pitcher
Instructions
In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine rum, watermelon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and coconut water. Stir well. Refrigerate for at least one hour — two is better. Just before serving, top with sparkling water and add a large block of ice to the pitcher. Garnish generously with watermelon cubes, lime wheels, and fresh mint. Ladle or pour into ice-filled glasses and serve. If the watermelon juice starts to settle, give it a gentle stir before each pour.
Stock Up at 3rd Street Beverage
Whether you’re building a summer bar from scratch or just grabbing the tequila and triple sec for a Saturday margarita, 3rd Street Beverage has everything you need. We carry a deep selection of tequilas, mezcals, gins, bourbons, rum, vodka, and everything in between — plus a great wine selection that includes exactly the kind of dry rosé that makes a frosé worth making. Our staff love this stuff and are always happy to make a recommendation.
Find us at 740 NE 3rd St in Bend’s Midtown/Orchard District. We’re open Monday through Wednesday 10am–8pm, Thursday through Saturday 10am–9pm, and Sunday 10am–8pm.
Go get a watermelon. We’ll handle the rest.
Cheers from the 3rd Street Beverage team.
