Watermelon & Cucumber Vodka Cocktail
Once named for the 4th of July; the Firecracker, is a bright Watermelon & Cucumber Vodka Cocktail, that is fantastic all summer long!
Anyone who has followed this blog for any length of time might recognize that I have not posted quite so much. I’ve been dealing with a long bout of pneumonia and lung issues so hopefully this Watermelon & Cucumber Vodka Cocktail will make up for my absence; it has been a big hit this summer!
This cocktail is such a unique combination of flavors but the end result is beautiful and so tasty; great for all of your summer get picnics and barbecues.
Cucumber adds an unexplainable element to this drink; more of a clean refreshing quality than the taste of a veggie…and it’s so good! I was lucky to have a bottle of Prairie Cucumber Vodka on hand…such a unique and cool addition to this drink.
I moved into this house with a builder landscaped front yard and just grass and rock and more rock in the back yard and I thought I could handle it. I had worked for years landscaping the yard at my old house and honestly didn’t think I had it in me to start again.
I was wrong. In the ten years I have now lived here, I have completely redone the front and back yards, built a huge deck and added a small sidewalk and patio to the side and back of the house. I particularly love the large trees we put in that first year; for those of you who have always had large trees you might not appreciate how exciting it is to actually have dappled shade on my deck!
Daisies, yarrow, purple speedwell and ever-blooming daylilies provide the mass of blooms I longed for. It seems to have gone quickly but then I think…TEN YEARS!
But the beauty of reminding myself of all of this work today is being able to make a cocktail and enjoy it outside on my deck without having to try and kill myself with work first. Ahhh….this feels like luxury. And nothing better than this simple Watermelon & Cucumber Vodka Cocktail.
I was fortunate to have a bottle of Prairie Organic Cucumber Vodka on hand; it was sort of perfect for this Watermelon & Cucumber Vodka Cocktail. Prairie has taken their corn-distilled vodka and added garden fresh cucumber flavor.
As much as we enjoyed the cucumber vodka, in lieu of purchasing a bottle, simply add a couple of slices of cucumber when you muddle together the lime and watermelon; that should do the job nicely.
I loved the simplicity of this vodka blend; pretty straightforward without additional flavor notes. One reviewer said, and it’s true, ‘A quiet recreation of cucumber sandwiches, hold the sandwiches.’
The thing about cucumber in a cocktail is that it’s not extraordinary; but is at the same time. It’s adds a cool element, much like cucumbers do to a salad or sandwich. Not overwhelming or overpowering, nope just something almost indiscernible yet still so refreshing.
This is so perfect; one of those ultra refreshing cocktails that I think you also need to have ready after a day of that gardening stuff. It may look like a Firecracker, but it’s not just a beautiful look; this is one damn fine cocktail!
More Watermelon!
Favorite foods…
- Watermelon Salsa
- Watermelon Salad with Toasted Pecans and Gorgonzola Cheese
- Strawberry, Basil, and Watermelon Smoothie
And cocktails…
- Watermelon Margarita
- Watermelon Mint Mojito
- Watermelon Martini
- Margarita Watermelon Slices
- Watermelon Frosé Cocktail
PIN IT! ‘Watermelon & Cucumber Vodka Cocktail’
Watermelon & Cucumber Vodka Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cucumber vodka See Notes
- 4 1-inch cubes of seedless watermelon
- 2 limes diced
- 2 ounces simple syrup Boil 1/4 cup water and sugar just until sugar dissolves. Add 1/4 cup ice to cool – refrigerate leftovers
To Garnish
- Lime Rim equal amounts salt and sugar combined with some fresh grated lime
- 2 Watermelon Slices
- 2 cucumber slices
- 2 small mint sprigs
Instructions
- Combine vodka, watermelon and lime in a cocktail shaker. Muddle all ingredients well. Add simple syrup, fill with ice, cover and shake until ice cold.
- Rim the glasses with a cut lime and dip in the lime rim mixture.
- Fill the glasses with ice and pour the ingredients from the shaker into the glasses.
- Garnish with a watermelon slice, a cucumber slice and a mint sprig.
This sounds delicious. Is there a way to make this in batches instead of one at a time?
Sure… it’s easy to multiply it out however many servant you want to make since there’s nothing in it that’s sparkling water or effervescent, you’ve got nothing to go flat. If you look to the right of the word ingredients on the recipe card you’ll see that it will actually extrapolate those numbers for you. Gets a little messed up with the watermelon so just make four cubes for every two drinks.
Still loving this summer cocktail after making it for the first time in 6/2015. I’ve gotten a number of friends to embrace it as well. Most recently I texted this post/recipe to the clerk in the store that helped me find a new quality cucumber vodka since Prairie Cucumber Vodka was discontinued. Thanks Barb for enhancing our summers!
I love that you love it! What brand did you discover? I was sad to see them gone too so I’ve just been muddling a bit more cucumber; might be nice to have the vodka again. It’s like the cocktail I posted yesterday that used peach vodka; I also added fresh peach but the two together really insure the flavor will come through.
I made this for an 81st birthday party for my mom. I have been obsessed with this recipe ever since. The sweet and salty with zest on the rim is superb! Why did I never think of it??
The drink is refreshing and I struggled to keep up with the orders flying in from my family. Try it. You will love it!
So pleased you love it too Jennifer; it is seriously a huge favorite of mine. I like to wait until we can get Colorado watermelon before I make them so they haven’t shown up yet on my back porch…hoping to change that for the 4th of July!
This looks interesting and I’m debating between this and one other recipe for my Fourth of July party. That is a ton of simple syrup though. I’m a bartender so I’ll let you know what I come up with if there is a better balance of flavors. I’ll probably just infused the vodka with cucumber myself. And I’ll probably purée the watermelon first to make it into a juice instead of muddling it. Muddling works better to impart flavor where the fruit or veggie being infused is still in chunks and can be removed with a strainer to avoid it getting stuck in a straw.
New houses are really nice, but there’s loads to do with them. And I’ve never seen a new house that didn’t need much (or all!) of the landscaping redone. Glad you’re getting there. You’ll enjoy this firecracker of a drink on your new deck. Once it’s done, that is. 🙂
I am so ready John…this has been beyond an adventure; the stress has taken it’s toll and I’m a tough bird! Still, yes…can’t wait to sit and sip when all is said and done!
This sounds so refreshing! I love those flavors together especially in the summer!
That sounds like an incredible amount of lime for a couple of cocktails. Am I reading this correct? Two entire limes? Thanks.
You had me wondering myself but when I break it down it’s about 2 Tbsp for each cocktail which also contains an ounce of simple syrup which is also about 2 Tbsps so there is a balance to that tartness. Between that and the sweetness of the watermelon it was perfect. If you think it might be too much; revise the portion to one lime and see how it goes; always better to err with less and add some than the opposite.
I’m getting ready to make cucumber margaritas on my blog. These pretty looking cocktails of your look so refreshing. I’d LOVE one.
Send me the link when you do; would love to see them.
Drink sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it out!! I was wondering if you could share where you got those stunning cocktail picks from? Thanks!
First of all: Yum! Second of all: Thank you for baring your soul on this issue. Third of all: Did I say yum?
Indeed you did! And loved your other comment; have to wonder sometimes about someone who complains like that. But I don’t wonder much; life is too damn short!
Could you put the recipes first so we don’t have to wade through pages if commentary if we are in a time bind or just want the recipe please. Thank you.
I’m sure if you fill out the forms in triplicate she can refund you the ten seconds you wasted scrolling past her heartfelt personal writings.
ThisThis is the MOST gorgeous looking cocktail I have seen in a long time! I am going to try this for sure. Watermelons and cukes are abundant right now and I have fresh mint growing in the garden. No chance of finding cucumber vodka in Molise, Italy but I will create my own version as you said! Cheers!!
Thank you! Hope you love it too.
Now all I have to do is figure out how to do this without purchasing the cucumber vodka. Love your post, BTW; so many of us are so glad about SCOTUS’ decision. My two godchildren are gay and I love that they can now marry legally.
Just put a couple of slices of cucumber in with the watermelon and limes when you muddle them, that should do it. Enjoy!
Lana sent me over after I’d seen her post. As I told her, this is one of the most delicious looking summertime cocktials I’ve ever seen. I seriously am excited to try this very soon. Pinning and thristy 😉
Thanks Renee…several people have already made it and loved it too…you won’t be disappointed!
Barb~
Thank you so much for the prompt reply. Just finished making & started sipping this cocktail!
It is wonderful. So light & refreshing!
Can’t even be bothered with the outdoor thermometers reading 110-114 degrees.
I know right? I love it too!
Such a refreshing summer drink!! Gorgeous pictures and yay for the great news!
Thanks Ami…this is the best drink; it’s been hot and it’s been wonderful!
The recipe calls for 2 diced limes. Is that 2 lime wedges diced? Or 2 whole limes diced?
Planning on making this to get through the “Excessive Heat Warning” today–112 degrees!!!
It’s 2 limes, one per cocktail. It brings a bit more ‘limeishness’ to the cocktail to crush the lime and get the juice and some of the lime oil from the rind but the amount of juice is typically only about a tablespoon per lime which is why a whole one is called for.
What a refreshing cocktail and after all the work tending to your garden I bet this really hit the spot. I don’t have cucumber vodka but I am sure I can pull it off with some great plain vodka and some cucumber slices crushed, right?
Absolutely; I think I mention that somewhere; if you don’t have cucumber vodka just add a couple of slices of cucumber to the cocktail shaker when you muddle the watermelon and limes. Enjoy!
We really live in interesting times! And I’m happy we do. I know loads of people for whom today’s decision is really, really important — happy for them. And I’d be happy to have one of these to celebrate! Great looking drink. Love that garnish! Thanks for this.
We do and I am too John. I’m the product of change; it can happen! People have to stop with their rhetoric and remember, they are people, just people like everyone else and for one group to try and circumvent how another group lives their ONE life on this planet is beyond me.