A watermelon cucumber mojito spritz with mint, lime, and sparkling water. Get the recipe for a cooling summer mocktail.
This watermelon cucumber mojito spritz blends fresh watermelon and cucumber, then finishes the juice with lime, mint, and sparkling water. It makes two cooling summer mocktails in 15 minutes, with an easy rum option if you want the cocktail version.
Watermelon is sweet but not heavy. Cucumber keeps it green and clean. Mint makes the whole glass smell colder than it is.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Prep time | 15 minutes |
| Total time | 15 minutes |
| Servings | 2 |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Key ingredient | Fresh watermelon |
| Best for | Pool days, cookouts, July heat |
| Flavor profile | Cooling, juicy, minty |
| Caffeine | Naturally caffeine-free |
Why You Will Love This
This is the drink for the first properly hot week. It is not syrupy. It is not neon. It tastes like cold fruit, lime, and mint.
The spritz format also gives it a lighter finish than a blended watermelon drink. You get the flavor without the slush.
The Story Behind It
Mojitos stay popular because the structure is almost perfect: mint, lime, sweetness, ice, fizz. Watermelon and cucumber slide into that frame easily.
Pinterest has been circling watermelon, cucumber, and mint drinks hard for summer. That makes sense. The color sells the drink before anyone reads the recipe.
What You Will Need
- 2 cups cubed seedless watermelon
- 1/2 English cucumber, chopped
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- 6 ounces chilled sparkling water
- Ice
English cucumber works best because the peel is thin and the seeds are small.
How to Make It
- Blend watermelon and cucumber until smooth.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve. You should have about 1 cup juice.
- Clap the mint leaves once between your palms. Do not shred them.
- Add mint, lime juice, simple syrup, watermelon cucumber juice, and ice to a shaker.
- Shake for 8 seconds.
- Strain into two glasses filled with fresh ice.
- Top each glass with 3 ounces sparkling water.
Herbalist Notes
Mint is rich in menthol, which creates a cooling sensation even when the drink is not colder than anything else. That is why mint reads as refreshing so quickly.
Cucumber is mostly water, but the aroma is the point. The skin carries the green note, so leave it on if the cucumber is unwaxed.
Make It Your Own
For a cocktail, add 1 1/2 ounces white rum to each serving before shaking. For a sharper mocktail, swap half the sparkling water for ginger beer.
You can also add a pinch of salt. It makes watermelon taste more like itself.
Before You Start
Make the watermelon cucumber juice right before serving if possible. It separates as it sits, and the color is best in the first hour.
Keep the mint out of the glass unless you are drinking immediately. Bruised mint turns dark fast.
Common Questions
Can I make this without a blender?
Yes. Mash very ripe watermelon through a fine mesh sieve and grate the cucumber, then press out the juice. A blender is cleaner and faster.
Can I use bottled watermelon juice?
You can, but fresh tastes better. If the bottled juice is sweetened, reduce the simple syrup by half.
How long does the juice keep?
The strained watermelon cucumber juice keeps for 24 hours in the refrigerator. Shake before using because it naturally separates.
What spirit works best for the cocktail version?
White rum is the easiest fit. Blanco tequila also works if you want the drink to lean closer to a watermelon Paloma.
Camille writes about botanical drinks, herbal cocktails, and the old plant wisdom that makes them work. Most days you'll find her in the garden or the kitchen, turning herbs into something worth sipping.
