National Watermelon Day 2018: Interesting Facts And Cocktail Recipes To Celebrate Fruit

Just in time to save you from that brutal summer heat, it’s time to celebrate National Watermelon Day! Although there isn’t much known about the origins of this juicy holiday, each year on Aug. 3, the refreshing fruit is commemorated for both its existence and sweet taste.

In honor of National Watermelon Day, we gathered some interesting facts and tasty cocktail recipes that can be enjoyed by produce lovers everywhere.

-Watermelon is 92 percent water and reportedly originates from southern Africa.

-Watermelon is considered both a fruit and a vegetable.

-Citrullus Lanatus is actually the official name for watermelon. The produce is considered to be a part of the botanical Cucurbitaceae family and is cousins with pumpkins, squash and cucumbers.

-The white rind is edible and safe to eat. Whether it is pickled to be enjoyed at a later time or chopped up to be added to a stir-fry, it can be eaten in a number of different ways.

-Watermelon seeds are nutritious. The seeds contain potassium, zinc, phytonutrients, vitamin B, vitamin E, and several other nutrients.

-The heaviest watermelon weighs 350 pounds and was grown by Chris Kent of Sevierville, Tennessee, according to Guinness World Records.

Now that you have learned some interesting facts, you can properly toast to National Watermelon Day. Check out the drink recipes below in order to turn this delicious and nutritious fruit into a refreshing cocktail.

Sparkling Mint Watermelon Cooler

Ingredients:

• 2 Leaves fresh mint
• 1 Teaspoon simple syrup
• 4 oz Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer Watermelon
• 8 oz Watermelon lemonade

Add the mint leaves and simple syrup into a tall glass and muddle to release the mint oils. Fill the glass with ice, then pour the Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer Watermelon in, followed by the watermelon lemonade. Gently stir the ingredients together and garnish with watermelon slices and mint.

Watermelon Sangria

Ingredients:

• 1 750ml Bottle of Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato - chilled
• 2 Cups of watermelon balls
• ¼ - ½ Small watermelon – chilled, seeded and blended to make 470ml juice
• 60 ml Lime juice
• 100ml Simple syrup – more or less depending on sweetness of the watermelon

Cut small watermelon in half and scoop out two cups of watermelon balls using a small melon baller. Place watermelon balls in a pitcher and set it aside. Seed the other half of the watermelon and cut it into chunks. Using a blender, blend the fruit until it is smooth and you have 470ml of watermelon juice. Pour the sangria over the melon balls and ice. Refrigerate the finished cocktail until it is ready to be served.

Spicy Watermelon Mimosa

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups cubed watermelon
• 1/2 Cup fresh orange juice
• 1 Lime
• 2 oz. Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
• 9 oz. Smirnoff Ice Watermelon Mimosa
• Tajin or spicy salt, for rimming and garnish

Crack out that blender one more time for a tasty cocktail with a kick. Combine the cubed watermelon and fresh OJ in the blender and blend them until smooth. Juice the lime and stir the contents into the blender before adding the Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka and Smirnoff Ice Watermelon Mimosa. Pulse the blender for a few more times to properly combine the recipe. Next, rim two tall glasses with your choice of the tajin or spicy salt and evenly distributed this tasty cocktail. Add a little more spice to your drink by sprinkling an extra dash of spicy salt on top.

Mom’s Watermelon Moscato

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Barefoot Moscato
• 2 oz Watermelon juice
• 1/2 oz Simple syrup
• Splash lemon juice

Mix the ingredients together over ice and garnish your finished beverage with a fresh watermelon.

Nectar Twist

Ingredients:

• 2 oz 1800 Silver
• .75 oz Fresh lime juice
• .50 oz Agave nectar
• Pureed watermelon
• Watermelon Slice

Crafted by 1800 Tequila’s brand ambassador Derrick Turner, this drink is sure to satisfy your taste buds. Muddle some watermelon in a mixing tin until it is pureed. Then add the remaining ingredients to a shaker filled with ice, shake and strain into a stemless martini glass. Garnish the drink with a watermelon slice.

Watermelon Mule

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Absolut Elyx
• 1.5 oz Watermelon juice
• .25 oz Ginger canton liquor
• .5 oz Lime juice
• .25 oz Simple syrup

Combine the ingredients and a sprig of mint together in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain the contents into a mule cup over fresh ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish the finished cocktail with watermelon, mint and lime.

Watermelon Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Casa Nobles
• 1 oz Watermelon puree
• 1 oz Sour mix
• 1/2 oz Lime juice

Add ice and the ingredients into a shaker tin and shake. Strain the drink into a margarita glass filled with ice.

The Stoli Watermelon Cooler

Ingredients:

• 1 Part Stoli Cucumber
• 3 Parts Watermelon Puree
• 1/2 Part Triple Sec
• 1/4 Part Fresh Lime Juice

Don’t make National Watermelon Day more complicated than it has to be. Thanks to this quick and easy cocktail recipe, you can enjoy a yummy drink in under five minutes. All you have to do is mix the ingredients together in a glass, add in some ice and enjoy!