Watermelon & Cucumber Cooler Recipe

I was invited to a friend's home overlooking the East River for July 4th. As she and her husband are not a wine drinkers, I offered to whip up a cocktail base instead. I came up with a Watermelon & Cucumber Cooler. Something appropriate for her young daughter with a splash of sparking water, or to mix with vodka or gin!

Ingredients

4 cups watermelon, cubed

1 cucumber, peeled & sliced

2 limes, juiced + 1 in wedges, for garnish

4 tablespoons sugar

Alcohol of Choice

Sparkling Water or Club Soda

Place 3 cups watermelon, 2/3 of cucumber and juice of 2 limes in your Nutribullet or blender. Add 1/2 cup of water and the sugar and blend until smooth. (You can certainly strain this mixture, but just as I love pulp in my citrus juice, I like the thickness of the mixture.)

Save the remaining watermelon, cucumber and lime for garnish.

To make the cocktail, fill a rocks glass with ice and add 1.5 oz of your alcohol of choice. (I made these with vodka for the 4th, but with gin at home). Add 1 oz of the watermelon/cucumber mixture and top with sparking water.

For a mocktail, fill a glass with ice and add the watermelon mix and sparkling water at an even ratio.

Garnish with a watermelon cube, a slice of cucumber and a lime wedge.

It's super easy and super tasty. And of course, feel free to play and make it your own! Happy Summer & enjoy!