Watermelon Syrup
Bar Prep • syrup
Description
Bright, fresh watermelon simple syrup — pureed and strained watermelon cooked briefly with sugar and a touch of acid to make a vibrant cocktail syrup for margaritas, spritzes, punches and mocktails.
History
Fruit syrups (cordials) have long been used in cocktails and refreshments; watermelon syrup is a modern bar/prep adaptation to capture the delicate fresh flavor of watermelon for summer drinks.
Instructions
Step 1.
1) Prep fruit: Remove rind and seeds from a ripe watermelon. Cube enough to measure about 6 cups (approx. 900 g) of watermelon flesh.
Step 2.
2) Puree: Place the cubes in a blender and puree until smooth.
Step 3.
3) Strain: Pour the puree through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a bowl, pressing with a spoon to extract as much juice as possible. You should get about 3 cups (≈720 ml) of juice.
Step 4.
4) Combine: Measure equal parts juice and granulated sugar by volume. For 3 cups juice use 3 cups sugar. Transfer juice, sugar, and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (or 1/2 teaspoon citric acid) to a medium saucepan.
Step 5.
5) Dissolve sugar: Warm the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is fully dissolved. Do not boil; a gentle simmer for 1–3 minutes is enough to dissolve and marry flavors.
Step 6.
6) Cool & adjust: Remove from heat, taste, and adjust acidity or sweetness if needed (a teaspoon more lemon juice or a splash of water).
Step 7.
7) Strain & bottle: Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean, sterilized bottle or jar to remove remaining solids.
Step 8.
8) Chill & use: Cool to room temperature, cap tightly and refrigerate. Shake before use. Optional: for slightly longer shelf life, add 1 tablespoon neutral vodka to the bottle (this makes it mildly alcoholic).
Storage
Store in a clean, airtight bottle or jar in the refrigerator. Keeps up to about 14 days refrigerated. For longer storage, freeze in an ice-cube tray (up to ~3 months). If you added vodka as an optional preservative, refrigerator shelf life may be slightly extended. Always use clean utensils to avoid contamination and discard if off-odors or mold appear.