Watermelon Cooler Recipe

Prepare and Purée

Place the 4 cups of watermelon chunks in a blender. Add the 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 2 tablespoons simple syrup, and 1 teaspoon fine sea salt. Purée on high until smooth, about 30–45 seconds.

Strain (optional)

If you prefer a smooth cooler without pulp, pour the puréed watermelon through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or pitcher, pressing on solids with a spoon to extract as much juice as possible. Discard solids. If you like a pulpy texture, skip this step.

Taste and Adjust

Taste the watermelon base and adjust sweetness or acidity as needed: add up to 1 tablespoon more simple syrup for sweetness or 1 teaspoon additional lime juice for brightness. Stir to combine.

Muddle Mint

In a large pitcher, add 6 of the mint leaves and gently muddle them with the back of a spoon or a muddler just enough to release aroma (do not over-muddle to avoid bitterness).

Combine with Soda

Add the strained or unstrained watermelon purée to the pitcher with muddled mint. Add 500 ml chilled citrus soda and stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust: add more soda for a lighter drink or more watermelon base for a stronger fruit flavor.

Assemble and Serve

Fill four glasses with ice (about 1 cup ice per glass). Divide the watermelon cooler evenly among the glasses. Garnish each glass with a remaining mint leaf and a lime wheel or wedge. Serve immediately while fizzy.

Make-Ahead Note

You can prepare and chill the watermelon purée up to 24 hours in advance. Keep the soda chilled and add it just before serving to preserve carbonation. Store purée covered in refrigerator.