The Perfect Summer Sparkling Watermelon Drink

As temperatures begin to heat up, we like to sip on refreshing, healthy drinks that quench our thirst and make the most of the fresh produce summer has to offer. One of our favourites is this sparkling watermelon drink which is beautiful, delicious, and so easy to make! 

A simple, make-ahead beverage for hot summer days, you can whip up a big batch of the watermelon juice and store it in your fridge for whenever you need something refreshing. Just add the sparkling water and pour over ice when you’re ready to serve. Perfect for summer picnics, BBQs, or outdoor get-togethers, this refreshing sipper is sure to be a new favourite when the temperatures rise. 

What You’ll Need to Make This Sparkling Watermelon Drink 

Only a few simple, easily accessible ingredients are needed to make this delicious summer drink recipe. You’ll find everything you need at your local Farm Boy store, handpicked with the utmost care for the best quality. Having trouble finding something? Any of our Team Members will be more than happy to assist you. 

Seedless Watermelon: At Farm Boy, we’re always sourcing the freshest produce possible to give you the best flavour for excellent value. Choose seedless watermelon to save yourself the trouble of removing the black seeds. The white seeds will blend up enough to be unnoticeable. You can also use a mesh sieve to strain your fresh watermelon juice after blending to make it extra smooth.  

Fresh Lime Juice: Don’t go for the bottled stuff. A single lime will give you enough juice to add some tartness to this refreshing summer drink. You can even zest it for a little extra oomph! 

Sugar: White sugar dissolves perfectly in this drink recipe. However, you can also use honey or agave nectar if you prefer. Simply add enough until it’s sweet enough for your liking. 

Sparkling Water: Gotta have those bubbles! Sparkling water transforms this beverage into something a little fancier, making it the perfect summer mocktail. 

Ice Cubes: Pour your sparkling watermelon drink over ice to keep it extra refreshing on those scorching summer days. 

Tasty Variations 

Personalize this sparkling watermelon drink recipe to suit your mood, craving, or audience! Some of our favourite ways to customize this recipe are: 

Make It Boozy: Transform this mocktail into a cocktail by adding some vodka or flavoured vodka along with your sweetener of choice. A citrus- or watermelon-flavoured vodka would be extra delicious. 

Different Bubbles: This recipe calls for our Carbonated Natural Mineral Water, but you can amp up the fruitiness with different flavours. Our Cucumber Melon and Berry Hibiscus Sparkling Waters would be a delicious way to add even more refreshment to this summer drink. Naturally free of sugar and sodium and with zero calories, they’re crisp and effervescent. 

Fresh Herbs: Add some fresh mint as a garnish to this sparkling watermelon drink or muddle some in with your chosen sweetener to infuse this recipe with extra herbaceous flavour. Fresh basil would also add some delicious complexity and pepperiness to this drink. 

Make It Slushy: Transform this watermelon juice into a watermelon slushy for those hot summer days! In place of the 6 cups of fresh watermelon, use frozen watermelon instead. Add ice cubes directly into the blender as well, along with the lime juice and chosen sweetener. Blend until it’s a slushy consistency, then serve immediately. Now that’s a refreshing drink! 

Make It a Float: Looking for even more watermelon flavour? Our small-batch vegan Watermelon Sorbet is sweet, tangy, and smooth. Available during the summer months, add a couple scoops to each glass and pour the sparkling watermelon drink over it. It’s a beverage and a sweet treat rolled into one! 

Tips for the Best Sparkling Watermelon Drink 

1. Make sure your sugar dissolves completely. If you’re using white sugar, you’ll want to ensure that its dissolved completely so you don’t have an unpleasant gritty texture. Simple stir until you can’t feel any texture on the bottom. Alternatively, you could make a simple syrup by boiling the sugar and water ahead of time. (If you’re using honey or agave nectar, this won’t be a problem.) 
2. Use fresh ingredients. Bottled lime juice may be convenient, but during the summer months, so much fresh fruit is available. Make use of it by opting for the freshest ingredients, always available in Farm Boy stores. 
3. If you’re making this drink recipe ahead of time, don’t add the sparkling water or ice until just before serving. Adding the sparkling water too soon will cause it to lose carbonation and go flat. Adding the ice cubes too soon will dilute the drink, lessening its vibrant, sweet watermelon flavour. 
4. Keep everything cold. For the most refreshing summer drink, have both the watermelon juice base and the sparkling water chilling in the fridge. Every sip will be so thirst-quenching on those hot summer days! 

Garnish Suggestions 

If you’re looking to serve this sparkling watermelon drink to a crowd, you’ll want your glasses to look as beautiful as the beverage they contain. For a pretty presentation, try some of these simple, homemade garnish ideas. 

Fresh Mint Sprigs: A natural flavour that complements the watermelon and lime, fresh mint also offers a beautiful colour contrast to the rosy hues of this beverage. 

Fresh Lime: Increase the tart and sour notes in this summer drink by adding fresh lime. A wedge or wheel would look elegant on the rim of your glass. 

Fresh Watermelon: Lean into the watermelon vibes by serving your guests an entire slice of watermelon! Cut a notch into it so that it rests easily on the rim of your chosen glass. 

Fresh Berries: You can add loose berries directly into the glass, as we’ve done with fresh blueberries for this recipe. Or, you can use a cocktail skewer (or paper umbrella) to spear a few and settle into the glass for a summery twist.