This refreshing Boozy Watermelon Punch is the ultimate summer party drink. A tasty blend of watermelon, vodka, lime, and sparkling water will have you and your friends sipping all day long!
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Fresh and fruity summer punch
This 5-ingredient Boozy Watermelon Punch is fun, fruity, and summery. This easy punch recipe has a hydrating mix of fresh watermelon, lime juice, sparkling water, and even vodka if you want. It’ll have you sipping all day long!
You’ll be happy to hear that this is the easiest large batch drink I’ve ever made. As a bonus, this punch can be made with or without alcohol - your choice! This is a flexible and fun recipe you can make for friends or family.
Sip on this boozy summer punch at BBQs, in the pool, or at a picnic. Enjoy it with a serving of Watermelon Mojito Granita or Blueberry Galette to cool down on a hot summer day.
Inspiration for this recipe
There isn’t any complicated story behind boozy watermelon punch. It’s simply delicious and refreshing in the summer heat!
This recipe does come close to a watermelon agua fresca, which has 3 similar ingredients: fresh watermelon, cold water, and sugar. Make a watermelon agua fresca when you have leftover watermelon or as an alternative non-alcoholic drink.
Ingredients you need
This spiked party punch is loaded with easy ingredients that are summery and refreshing:
Watermelon
The best kind of watermelon to use in this punch recipe is a small seedless. You can use the entire thing for this recipe or use part of a large watermelon instead. If you have leftovers, they make a very pretty garnish or for a snack on the side.
Your local farmer’s market should have in-season watermelon’s ready to buy from July to September. Look for the melons that have a large yellow spot and feel heavy. These will be ripe and juicy!
Vodka
Watermelon punch with vodka is delicious for adults, but it can be easily removed or swapped out. Make the punch with white rum or tequila if vodka isn’t your thing, or feel free to leave it out entirely.
Simple syrup
I love adding simple syrup to fruity cocktails because it creates balance and symmetry in each sip. You can make your own at home very easily and store the batch in your fridge to use in cocktails, ice coffee or tea, lemonade, or punch. You can also infuse other flavors into the simple syrup, like chamomile or hibiscus.
Extra flavors
We can’t forget to round out the flavors in this watermelon punch with a few additions! This is where fresh lime juice, sparkling water, and garnishes come into play.
Squeezing the limes yourself will always give you the best flavor, but feel free to use bottled if that’s what you already have at home.
Sparkling water will make the watermelon vodka punch fun and fizzy. Still or tonic water will make great replacements or try a lemon-lime soda instead.
You can garnish the punch any way you like, but I love the look of fresh mint leaves and a small watermelon wedge. You could even add lemon or lime slices, strawberries, or raspberries to add a pop of color.
How to make the punch
Follow these easy steps to make a big batch of watermelon vodka punch:
Step 1: Scoop out the fruit from the watermelon into a high powdered blender (we love our Vitamix). Blend until smooth.
Step 2: Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the watermelon juice into a large bowl. Discard the remaining pulp.
Step 3: Pour the vodka into the watermelon juice and stir.
Step 4: When you’re ready to serve, pour the sparkling water into the watermelon punch and stir.
Step 5: Serve the punch over ice with a slice of watermelon, mint, or lime.
Helpful recipe tips
Follow these helpful tips to make your punch-making-experience amazing:
Making it ahead of time
Save yourself some time and make this watermelon punch recipe the night before. All of the ingredients can be mixed together and left in the fridge overnight. Just make sure you don’t add the sparkling water until right before you serve the punch.
Serving the punch
Don’t have a punch bowl or pitcher? No problem! A large hollowed-out watermelon makes for an excellent punch bowl substitute.
To make a punch bowl with a watermelon rind, cut the top ¼ or so off. Next, cut off the bottom end enough so the watermelon can stand on its own. Scoop out all of the watermelon flesh and add it to your blender or a bowl. When the punch is ready, pour it right back into the watermelon punch bowl and serve with a ladle!
Equipment needed
The only equipment you need to make this boozy watermelon punch is a blender and a fine-mesh sieve.
A high powered blender, like a Vitamix, is best. You can use a regular blender if that’s what you have at home, but you may need to blend the ingredients for a little longer.
The fine-mesh sieve will help smooth out your punch and remove most of the pulp. You can strain the watermelon juice once or twice depending on how smooth you would like it to taste.
Make a batch!
Okay friend, it's your turn to make a batch of this awesome punch. When you do, tag me on Instagram @cupofzest so I can see what you think!
Recipe
Boozy Watermelon Punch
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed seedless watermelon about ½ small seedless watermelon
- 8 ounces vodka if using
- 6 ounces simple syrup
- 4 ounces lime juice
- 2 cups sparkling water
- mint and limes to garnish
Instructions
- Blend watermelon in a highspeed blender until smooth.
- Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain watermelon juice into a large bowl and discard remaining pulp.
- Combine watermelon juice and remaining ingredients in a pitcher and serve over ice.
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Nutrition
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