The taste of summer in a scrumptious cocktail; Watermelon Mojitos! This white rum cocktail is easy to whip up and share. Single serve and pitcher ready, for your convenience!
Simple Pleasures
The simple pleasures of summer with the anticipation of long weekends, lingering picnics, long beach walks and vacation. These are the things I love most about summer.
Too, it’s the fresh produce.
Watermelon hits the top of my list so naturally watermelon mojitos are on the agenda!
But there’s reason for a white rum cocktail, anyway. To celebrate the joys of summer and…
Celebrating Together
…Rob and I celebrated our twenty seventh (!!) anniversary last week!
I feel like I’ve known Rob all my life. We met when I was 14 and he 17. Years of learning, growing, celebrating, making big decisions and cultivating a life with my best friend. This is the same man I went to prom with. Twice! And yes, I had big Texas hair in the late 80’s. (omg)
Marriage is a big ole’ slice of humble pie, with patience, endurance and joy mixed in.
It’s not always fireworks and butterflies, however. Not the fairy tale image many girls are led to believe. But I didn’t go into this with blinders on. Even my younger self had some wisdom about her.
The Test of Time
It helps though, to have a willing partner who is ready to grow and share in that juicy slice of humble pie. Someone who’s all in too.
Humility. Patience. Communication. Even when you don’t feel like you have the courage or energy in the face of challenge. Twenty seven years seems like a long time. And it is.
We were high school sweethearts and decided we’d just see what the future held together. After my first year of college we married and have been sharing this journey together ever since.
But really, even if it sounds like a long time, I blinked and here we are.
I try not to get too caught up in the amount of time that has passed and simply relish in the celebration of a relationship that’s stood the test of time. One that I’m incredibly grateful for. It’s time to celebrate!
Ingredients for Watermelon Mojitos!
Find in season watermelon, organic if possible and seedless makes it easer to deal with prior to blending. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Homemade mint simple syrup
- Watermelon
- Mint
- Lime
- White Rum
- Crushed Ice
- Club Soda
Be sure to pick up extra mint for a pretty garnish! I grow a pot of mint for summer entertaining. It’s a fail-proof plant and it’s the one thing the deer don’t eat.
A Few Notes on Watermelon Mojitos
- The mint simple syrup can be made weeks in advance. I sometimes forget to make it, so after pouring the freshly made simple into a storage container, I pop it in the freezer, unlidded for about 1/2 an hour to cool.
- These white rum cocktails are best freshly made and with the juiciest, organic, in season and seedless watermelon you can get your hands on. A trip to the farmers market may be in order!
- Watermelon mojitos make a fabulous mocktails too. Simply omit the rum and add a bit more club and simple to taste.
More White Rum Cocktail Recipes to Love
So here’s to summer, watermelon mojitos and relationships that have enriched our lives, be it friends, relatives or the loves of our lives.
the recipe
Watermelon Mojitos - Single Serving or Pitcher!
Ingredients
For a Single Serving:
- 2-3 Sprigs of Fresh Mint leaves and stems + more for garnish
- 1/2 Lime cut into quarters
- 1/2 oz (14g) Simple Syrup* or to taste (recipe in notes)
- 2 oz (56g) Light Rum
- 3 oz (85g) Watermelon Purée** seedless
- Club Soda
- Ice
For a Pitcher or Six Servings:
- A Fist Full of Fresh Mint leaves and stems + more for garnish
- 3 Limes cut into quarters
- 1/3 C (85g) Simple Styrup* or to taste
- 1 1/2 C (340g) Light Rum
- 2 C (510g) Watermelon Purée**
- Club Soda I use about 1 1/2 C to top the pitcher
- Ice
Instructions
For a Single:
- In a cocktail shaker, or cocktail mixing glass, layer the cut lime wedges, and mint springs. Pour in the simple syrup and use a muddler to muddle the mixture for about 30 seconds. The goal is to squeeze out the lime juice and to allow the mint to release its oils.
- Add the light rum to the muddled mixture, then using a fine mesh strainer, strain in the puréed watermelon (save the solids for a smoothie!). Add crushed ice then shake or stir. Strain into an ice filled highball glass. Top with Club Soda. Stir. Garnish with a watermelon wedge and mint stem.
For a Pitcher:
- In a large Ball jar, layer the cut lime wedges, and mint springs. Pour in the simple syrup and use a muddler to muddle the mixture for about 30 seconds. The goal is to squeeze out the lime juice and to allow the mint to release its oils. Add the light rum and to the muddled mixture. Stir. Strain into a pitcher.
- Into the pitcher, use a fine mesh strainer to strain in the watermelon puree (save the solids for a smoothie!). Stir, add ice (or add ice to individual glasses) and top with club soda. Serve right away.
Notes
