Summertime Fruit Punch Lemonade

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 01/26/23
Watermelon strawberry kiwi bowl in garden
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Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
233 Calories
1g Fat
34g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 233
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 20mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 26g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 70mg 351%
Calcium 44mg 3%
Iron 2mg 8%
Potassium 335mg 7%
*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.)

Watermelon and parsley? Oddly enough, they are a great match, and the featured ​ingredients in this fun and refreshing summer punch from Ciroc Vodka. It may be the parsley that throws you off, but it really does work! You'll be pleasantly surprised and left wondering about other drinks where it could be useful as well.

Ciroc is a very smooth vodka and an ideal base for this nicely crafted drink in which everything just seems to come together perfectly. The sparkling pink lemonade is a must and should be easy to find at most grocers, but you may like it better with a homemade version. It's a better match since this cocktail relies so much on fresh ingredients.

Ingredients

  • Granulated sugar, for rimming

  • 1 slice fresh watermelon, rind removed and cubed

  • 5 parsley leaves

  • 1 1/2 ounces vodka

  • 3/4 ounce lemon juice

  • 3/4 ounce agave nectar

  • 1 splash sparkling pink lemonade

  • Seasonal fruits, garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Add a sugar rim to half of a collins glass: Wet the rim with a piece of watermelon and roll or dip it into a small dish of sugar.

  3. In a cocktail shaker, add the watermelon cubes and parsley leaves. Muddle well to release the juices.

  4. Add the vodka, lemon juice, and agave nectar, and fill the shaker with ice. Shake well.

  5. Double strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice.

  6. Top with sparkling pink lemonade and garnish with assorted fruits. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • By rimming just half the glass with sugar, you can choose to drink out of either side as you see fit. It's a fantastic option for any cocktail—including margaritas—because you're not fully committed to drinking through the sugar.
  • Making your own pink lemonade is incredibly easy. While some recipes use the "juice" from a maraschino cherry jar, cranberry juice is the best option. Simply make fresh-squeezed lemonade and add 1/2 cup of cranberry juice for every 2 cups of water.
  • To add sparkle to any still pink lemonade, simply add a little club soda or sparkling wine.

Recipe Variation

This is a perfect recipe to mix up in a pitcher so it's ready to serve a small party of four to six people (though you can make as much as you like). When converting it to a large drink, you'll find it best to increase the volume with sparkling lemonade (or a combination of pink lemonade and sparkling wine).

  • The average pitcher holds just over 60 ounces and you want to leave room for ice. In this case, begin by muddling 3 large slices of watermelon (or enough to get 1 cup of juice) with about 1/4 cup of parsley leaves. Let the herb steep in the fruit juice for about 1 hour. Strain the fruit and herb pieces from the juice and pour it into a pitcher. Add 1 1/2 cups of vodka along with 3/4 cup each lemon juice and agave nectar. Just before serving, fill the pitcher with ice, then top with sparkling pink lemonade.
  • Stir the drink and give it a taste. Add more agave nectar or one of the juices to taste.

How Strong Is a Summertime Fruit Punch Lemonade?

As a single cocktail, this recipe is pleasantly mild. It should shake up to just about 10 percent ABV (20 proof), which is similar to drinking a glass of wine.