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A refreshing summer BBQ cocktail such as this watermelon gin tonic with cucumber is well worth knowing about. This is a light and tasty summer gin and tonic recipe with cut cucumber ribbons and watermelon. This watermelon cucumber drink is ideal for a summer get-together or backyard BBQ.
Watermelon gin and tonic has to be one of the tastiest, sweetest and most refreshing of cocktails. Try this if you want something thirst-quenching and delicious!
Also try melon prosciutto salad or treat yourself to watermelon wine slushie, coffee boba ice cream, rum sangria, or watermelon jalapeno margarita!
If you find gin and tonic to be a favourite, you will love this summer version of the classic drink. Gin and tonic combine with watermelon. Lime and cut cucumber ribbons garnish this refreshing beverage.
So if you’ve been looking for a watermelon cucumber drink with gin, here you go – you’ll love this!
A Look at the Ingredients
This watermelon gin tonic with cucumber is based on the classic G&T of course. There are many brands of gin to choose from and also more tonic choices than ever. You can use whichever gin and tonic you prefer.
As for the watermelon, you will be using the juice in the cocktail and garnishing it with watermelon cubes. The addition of watermelon in this refreshing summer BBQ cocktail works so well.
What Kind of Watermelon is Best?
Although you can use seedless or regular, different people have their own preferences. The seedless variety is bred to only have the soft light seeds and not the black ones.
Have you tried seedless? The first time I tried it, I found it lacked the flavour of regular watermelon but it isn’t a huge difference. Use whatever you prefer and whichever you can find at the grocery store. To check it’s fresh, give it a tap. It should make a hollow sound and not be soft or squishy.
How to Make this Gin Watermelon Cucumber Drink
Once you have all the ingredients ready you can go ahead and prepare this wonderful watermelon gin tonic with cucumber. Press the watermelon through a sieve to separate the juice. You can use a fork or wooden spoon for this.
Next add the juice, gin and ice cubes to serving glasses. Add tonic as well as the cut cucumber ribbons, lime, extra watermelon cubes, or anything else you’d like to add as a garnish. You can also add a swizzle stick to each glass so you can give it a stir whenever you want.
Summer Gin and Tonic Recipe Variations
As well as choosing your preferred type of gin, preferred type of tonic, and preferred type of watermelon, you can make other tweaks to this refreshing summer BBQ cocktail. So when making this watermelon gin tonic with cucumber drink, you might like to try some of these options.
First of all, this would work with another fruit. I’ve only made it with watermelon so far but I’m open to experimenting. I wonder what cantaloupe would be like in this, or honeydew melon.
I bet strawberries would also work, or raspberries! You can also add other ingredients to the mix including mint leaves and lemon or lime juice.
Try vodka instead of gin, or even white wine. Make it alcohol-free by swapping the gin and tonic for Sprite, 7Up, pear juice, or even coconut water. So you can see there are plenty of variations for this summer gin and tonic recipe!
Can You Make This Ahead?
This cucumber melon gin cocktail is a relatively quick and easy, not to mention refreshing, summer BBQ cocktail. So you might be curious as to whether it can be made ahead of time. The answer is yes, you can.
Make it a couple of hours ahead (at most) without adding the gin or ice cubes. Keep it in a pitcher in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve it, stir the mixture before serving.
If you have leftovers, this watermelon cucumber drink with cut cucumber ribbons won’t last that long. I should think it would be OK for a day in the refrigerator but not much beyond that. Keep it in a bottle with a cap or in a pitcher with plastic wrap over the top.
Another idea is to freeze this watermelon gin tonic with cucumber. I like to freeze it in ice cube trays then add a couple of cubes to future gin and tonic recipes! You could even make popsicles with leftovers.
How to Serve Watermelon Gin Tonic with Cucumber
Because it’s so refreshing, this gin and watermelon cucumber drink is perfect for summer. So if you are planning a BBQ, this could be the perfect cocktail to serve with grilled meats, fish or whatever you are making.
Try it with burgers, steak, shrimp skewers, veggie kabobs, or literally anything else from the grill. You are going to how sweet and refreshing it is!
Watermelon Gin Tonic with Cucumber Ribbons Recipe
Watermelon Gin Tonic with Cucumber Ribbons
Ingredients
- 1 Cup watermelon, seedless, cut in cubes
- 4 Oz. gin
- Ice cubes
- 2 Oz. tonic water, pink
Instructions
- In a bowl, press watermelon cubes with a fork to get the juice out. Drain with a stainer and keep pressing the watermelon flesh on the stainer to get more juice. You should get half a cup of juice from a very juicy watermelon.
- Fill each glass equally with gin, about 4 ice cubes and watermelon juice.
- Pour tonic water and add cucumber ribbons. Garnish with watermelon cubes and lime.
Notes
Nutrition
Let me know if you try out this watermelon gin tonic with cucumber ribbons. It is a refreshing summer BBQ cocktail that helps you to beat the heat.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I fell in love with this drink the first time I tried. It’s been my go-to since.
Cucumber ribbons!? This sounds amazing!!
This is perfect to enjoy on a summer evening, I need to try it
That sounds like a perfectly refreshing drink for summer time!
I love watermelon drinks in the summer!