Watermelon Gin Martini with Fresh Basil
Sip your way through long summer days with this Watermelon Gin Martini recipe! Featuring a harmonious blend of luscious watermelon, zesty lemon, premium gin, and muddled basil this easy-to-make and irresistibly refreshing martini will undoubtedly become your new favorite!
The Inspiration behind this Watermelon Gin Martini recipe
Watermelon is a summer delight that becomes an even more magical ingredient when incorporated into cocktails. Its natural sweetness and vibrant color beautifully complement a range of spirits, including bourbon, rum, and especially gin. I In this recipe, I draw inspiration from the classic French Martini, infusing it with the refreshing essence of watermelon, the aromatic touch of basil, and the zesty tang of lemon. This recipe swaps out the Chambord and pineapple found in a French Martini for fresh watermelon and lemon juice. It also features basil as a nice herbaceous touch. This delightful concoction is a must-try for anyone seeking to create a whole new vibe for their summer martini experience!
If you like this recipe – try out these other great cocktail recipes:
Ingredients for Watermelon Gin Martini with Fresh Basil
- Watermelon: Fresh and ripe watermelon is best. It renders the most juice and has the sweetest flavor.
- Premium Gin: New Amsterdam Gin is an affordable premium gin that I keep in stock at home. Bluecoat Gin, which is made by Philadelphia Distilling, and is by far my favorite premium gin brand, and is another option.
- Basil: Fresh basil leaves are required for this recipe. If basil is not available, subtitute it for mint or rosemary but it will alter the flavor.
Equipment needed for Watermelon Martini with Fresh Basil
- Cocktail Shaker
- Jigger
- Martini Glass or Coupe Glass
FAQs
Absolutely! This recipe traditionally calls for gin, but you can easily substitute it with vodka if you prefer a smoother and slightly milder taste. The vodka will still pair wonderfully with the watermelon and other ingredients, offering a different but equally enjoyable experience.
Use a ripe and juicy watermelon for this cocktail. It renders the sweetest flavor and most juice. Look for a watermelon with a uniform shape, dull skin, and a creamy yellow spot where it rested on the ground. Avoid watermelons with bruises or soft spots. If no ripe watermelons are available, use watermelon juice as a substitute.
Simply omit the gin or vodka from the recipe and replace it with sparkling water or a non-alcoholic spirit alternative to create a virgin version of this drink.
You can easily scale up the recipe to make a larger batch for a party. Adjust the ingredient quantities and prepare the cocktail in a blender instead of a cocktail shaker. This will change the consistency of the cocktail but it will be equally as delicious.
Will you help add value to Geo's Table? If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment.
Watermelon Gin Martini with Fresh Basil
Sip your way through long summer days with this Watermelon Gin Martini recipe! Featuring a harmonious blend of luscious watermelon, zesty lemon, premium gin, and muddled basil this easy-to-make and irresistibly refreshing martini will undoubtedly become your new favorite!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups Cubed Seedless Watermelon (or 1 cup Fresh Watermelon Juice)
- 3 ounces Premium Gin
- 2-3 Large Basil Leaves
- Juice of 1 Lemon Wedge
- 1 Tablespoon Honey or Simple Syrup
- 1 Cup Ice
Instructions
- Place watermelon and basil in a cocktail shaker and muddle vigorously for about a minute until all watermelon is fully mashed and about 1 cup of juice is rendered. Add gin, lemon juice, and honey, then fill then add ice.
- Place lid on cocktail mixer and shake vigorously for twenty seconds until it’s cold to touch. Strain into a coupe or martini glass, and garnish with a lemon, watermelon and/or a few sprigs of basil.
- Enjoy.
I muddled the watermelon with the basil, then added Nolet’s Gin, lemon juice and honey. Let’s just say me and this cocktail are a match made in heaven – it was mouth watering good!
I’m a gin girl when it comes to martinis and this watermelon martini recipe is now my official summer drink! I love the freshness the basil adds and have been buying even more watermelon than usual to make sure I have them on deck for the weekends!
It’s been unbearably hot and these were just PERFECT for last weekend’s BBQ. Refreshing, not too sweet and the herby note from the basil just really set it off. THE cocktail of the summer!
This was so perfect for a lil bridal soiree we held for our dear friend. We only had vodka in the house so that is what we used and it was so delicious!! We had a grand time, and the cocktails definitely helped!