Watermelon Mojitos

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 11/3/21
Watermelon Mojitos
The Spruce / S&C Design Studios
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1/2 gallon
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
169 Calories
0g Fat
26g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 169
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 31mg 157%
Calcium 35mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 225mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Combining the best flavors of summer, watermelon mojitos are an absolute joy to drink. Watermelon adds a natural fruity sweetness to the mojito's basic elements of rum, mint, and lime and gives the drink a captivating red color. Made by the pitcher, this cocktail recipe is perfect for a small party.

Use pre-cut watermelon or start with a whole seedless melon. Treat the whole melon like a mango: Cut it into large wedges, score each piece, and run the knife along the inner edge of the rind to create cubes. Puree the cubes in a blender, and strain out the pulp if you like. From there, mix the watermelon juice with fresh mint and lime juice, simple syrup, and rum for an easy-to-pour pitcher drink.

You can prepare parts of this watermelon mojito in advance, though it is best to assemble it right before serving. The recipe makes a 54-ounce (nearly half a gallon) pitcher or enough for eight seven-ounce low-proof cocktails.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for a Pitcher of Watermelon Mojitos
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  2. In a blender and working in batches if needed, blend the watermelon cubes into a smooth puree.

    Blending Fresh Watermelon Juice for Watermelon Mojitos
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  3. If desired, remove some of the watermelon pulp by straining the puree through a fine-mesh strainer. Use a spoon to move the pulp around and release more juice. This should yield about 4 cups of watermelon juice.

    Straining Fresh Watermelon Juice for Watermelon Mojitos
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  4. Tear the mint leaves into smaller pieces as you add them to a pitcher, along with the fresh lime juice and simple syrup. Stir for about 30 seconds to infuse the sweetened juice with mint.

    Mixing a Pitcher of Watermelon Mojitos
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  5. Add the light rum and 4 cups of watermelon juice to the pitcher and stir well.

    Mixing a Pitcher of Watermelon Mojitos
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  6. To serve, pour the watermelon mojito into ice-filled glasses, garnishing each with a lime wheel, sprig of mint, and small watermelon wedge.

    Watermelon Mojitos
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Tips

  • If you have an electric juicer, use it instead of a blender to process the watermelon.
  • Unless all of the pulp is removed, the watermelon will separate, so make this pitcher drink no more than a few hours ahead. Stir the mix to reincorporate before pouring.
  • Rich simple syrup is sweeter and made with two parts sugar and one part water. It's easy and inexpensive to make at home.
  • If you want to serve the mojitos without bits of mint in the glass, make the lime, syrup, and mint infusion in a separate container. Let it chill in the fridge for about an hour, then strain out the mint and add the infused juice to the pitcher.
  • Alternatively, filter out the mint while pouring. Some pitchers have a strainer in the lid, and holding a wooden spoon next to the pour spout will reduce the amount of mint in the glass.

Recipe Variations

  • Skip the straining for a thicker (though equally delicious) watermelon mojito or run the watermelon puree through a strainer as many times as you like; each round will remove a bit more pulp and leave you with a cleaner watermelon juice. Even "seedless" watermelon may contain a few seeds, and straining it once will remove them.
  • Add a bit of sparkle by topping each glass with an ounce or two of chilled seltzer or club soda.
  • Make this a nonalcoholic watermelon mojito by skipping the rum and topping each glass with ginger ale. If guests want their drink spiked, add 1 1/2 ounces of rum to the glass, fill with the mojito mix, and stir before garnishing.

How Strong Is a Watermelon Mojito?

Party drinks should be a little low-key because you don't want your guests to get too tipsy. This watermelon mojito follows that philosophy and mixes up to about 7 percent alcohol by volume (ABV, 14 proof) when served over ice. To put the drink's strength into perspective, it's similar to high-point beer but not as strong as the average wine.

Is Light Rum the Same as White Rum?

Light rum and white rum are used to describe the same style of rum. It's an unaged, clear rum with a neutral flavor and the most commonly used rum in cocktails. However, any mojito can handle an aged rum if you want to add a little depth to the drink's flavor. Flavored rums (especially coconut rum) can work as well, but avoid spiced rums because the spices can counteract the watermelon mojito's fruity taste.

Can You Make a Mojito Without Mint?

A mint-infused syrup can replace the fresh mint and plain simple syrup in this recipe. While mint is required for a true mojito (or any variation of the original cocktail), watermelon pairs very well with basil and parsley. Switch to either fresh herb for an interesting and delightful twist.