Summertime is the perfect time for enjoying cold, refreshing watermelon. But this year, consider spicing up your standard picnic fare with a twist – add wine to make a delicious spiked watermelon! This easy recipe is perfect for parties or outdoor gatherings, and it’s sure to be a hit with your entire crew. So gather your supplies and get ready to enjoy a truly unique summer treat.
Tips & tricks for infusing watermelons
- Watermelons can be infused with any type of liquid to give the fruit a fresh new twist. While most of the recipes we’d previously seen called for flavored vodka, we opted to use wine and champagne for our watermelons.
- We also made a Perrier-infused watermelon for anyone under 21 or not drinking. We’d recommend using a fruit flavored Perrier for infusing your watermelons versus just the original, for more flavor to come through.
- You will need ideally 8 hours or so to let your watermelons soak. Prep your fruits in the morning so they are fully infused and ready to be enjoyed later on in the day.
- While you can use any combination of knives/tools to infuse your watermelon, we found it easiest when we used a sharp knife, corkscrew wine opener, long handled spoon or small scooper, and skewers.
- When serving, be sure to label alcohol-infused watermelons as “adults only” to keep the kids away, and let your guests know what they’re infused with so no one’s surprised.
drunken watermelons using sauvignon blanc, rosé, & perrier
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8-9 hours
- Yield: ~6 servings
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Fruit Infusion
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 whole watermelon (large or small depending on preference),
- 1 bottle of liquid beverage of your choosing… we went with Sauvignon Blanc, rosé wine, and flavored Perrier
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients (watermelon, drink of choice) and tools ( marker, a sharp knife, long-handled spoon, small scooper, corkscrew wine opener, and skewers), but you could probably get away with just a knife and a spoon/scooper.
- Gut your watermelon: scoop out as much of the watermelon via the hole you just cut as possible (roughly 1/4-1/3 of the interior watermelon guts). Use a skewer to poke some additional pathways for your beverage to run through after you insert the bottle. Be careful to only scoop out and carve pathways in the insides of the watermelon. Take measures to stabilize your watermelon as well!
- Rotate the watermelon + insert your bottle: rotate your watermelon so that the hole you just cut is titled to the side. Once positioned, quickly insert the neck of the wine/liquor/Perrier bottle into the watermelon, and turn it again so that it is vertical. Over the next 8-12 hours, let the liquid infuse into the watermelon. It will take time for the liquid from the bottle to soak into the watermelon. Make sure your watermelon and bottle are stabilized so that they do not topple over during infusion.
- Enjoy your watermelon: after letting your watermelon infuse, your bottle should be either nearly empty. Remove the bottle from the watermelon and replace the plug that you cut out of the rind. Slice and serve immediately for maximum crispness. If not serving immediately, place the watermelon in the refrigerator to chill.
Notes
Your infused watermelon can be served in traditional watermelon slices, or blended with ice cubes to create a boozy watermelon sangria.
with love,
Salt & Share