Watermelon Mint Vodka Spritz

# What Goes In:

01 - 2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed

02 - 8 fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish

03 - 1 lime, juiced (about 2 tablespoons)

04 - 1 tablespoon agave syrup

05 - 1/2 cup cold water

06 - 1 cup chilled sparkling water, plain or lemon-flavored

07 - Watermelon wedges

08 - Lime slices

09 - Fresh mint sprigs

01 - Add watermelon cubes and mint leaves to a blender. Blend until smooth.

02 - Strain the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher to remove pulp.

03 - Stir in lime juice, agave syrup, and cold water into the strained watermelon mixture. Mix thoroughly.

04 - Fill two tall glasses with ice. Pour the watermelon mixture evenly into each glass, filling about halfway.

05 - Top each glass with sparkling water. Stir gently to combine.

06 - Garnish with watermelon wedges, lime slices, and fresh mint sprigs. Serve immediately.

01 -

It takes ten minutes and makes you look like a beverage genius with zero effort.
Watermelon's natural sweetness means you're not drowning anything in sugar while still feeling indulgent.
The mint keeps it from tasting too heavy on hot days when you need something that actually refreshes instead of sitting in your stomach.

02 -

If you skip the straining step thinking it'll be fine, you'll end up with a drink that feels gritty in a way that catches you off guard mid-sip.
Watermelon releases its liquid as it sits, so if you make the base more than a few hours ahead, it gets watered down and tastes like pink disappointment.

03 -

Frozen watermelon cubes mean you can skip the ice and the drink stays cold without diluting as it sits, which is crucial if you're making multiple glasses in succession.
Keep your pitcher in the fridge before you start mixing, because a cold vessel keeps everything colder longer and makes a difference you'll actually taste.