Watermelon Vodka Cocktail with Aperol Recipe

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This Watermelon Vodka Cocktail with Aperol and prosecco is the drink you didn’t know you needed! Ready in just minutes, this tasty drink is fun and fizzy. The watermelon vodka gives it an amazing flavor that you need to try!

Watermelon Aperol spritz with vodka in a spritz glass.

A Watermelon Vodka Cocktail You’ll Love

*I was sent Skyy Watermelon vodka and this easy champagne cocktail recipe to share with you.

I like to keep my home bar small and typically don’t reach for flavored spirits. But when I saw this was a watermelon vodka cocktail that also used Aperol, I wanted to learn more. Aperol is a bottle I have on hand and I want as many delicious ways to use it as possible.

Read on to find out how to make this watermelon spritz with the watermelon flavored alcohol plus alternatives if you’d rather use fresh.

Why This Recipe Works

Sometimes flavored vodka can taste very artificial, but Skyy Infusions Watermelon is made with natural flavors. It’s not super bold, but has a really authentic flavor that I loved when I sipped it.

That great watermelon flavor makes it a perfect cocktail ingredient! And since you know I love vodka recipes, I know I’ll be able to use it in all kinds of different cocktails.

If you’re a fan of the Aperol Spritz, you need to try this! In essence this recipe makes a Watermelon Aperol Spritz with a little boost from the infused vodka.

It’s a super quick and easy watermelon cocktail to make and has a gorgeous color that makes them serving to friends and family. It’s made right in a glass so you don’t even need a shaker.

It’s a wine cocktail that I’m adding to my happy hour rotation. Plus it’s great for hot summer days thanks the watermelon being so hydrating.

Ingredients

A classic spritz calls for club soda and prosecco. But in addition to that, this cocktail gets a flavor boost from two special ingredients.

Aperol is an apertivo with a bright orange color and a bitter orange taste. I think it keeps a drink from being too sweet and adds this refreshing citrus note.

Skyy Watermelon vodka is where that lovely watermelon flavor comes in. Paired with a little fresh lemon, this cocktail is balanced and perfect for sipping any time.

Scroll down to the printable the recipe card for quantities.

How to Make a Watemelon Vodka Spritz

Adding Skyy Watermelon vodka to a wine glass filled with ice.

1. Add the ingredients to a glass

I used a spritz glass (although Amazon calls them red wine glasses) because I LOVE how they look. But you could also use a regular or stemless wine glass.

Fill it full of ice then add the Skyy Watermelon Vodka.

Measuring prosecco in a small measuring cup.

Add the prosecco.

I’m a terrible estimator, so I always measure out my cocktail ingredients. Too much of one thing can throw everything off.

Feel free to eyeball it if you feel comfortable doing that.

Measuring Aperol for a Watermelon Aperol Spritz.

Add the Aperol.

That color!!!!

Adding fresh lime juice to a wine glass filled with ice.

Add the fresh lemon juice.

Never use bottled. You just won’t get that same brightness.

Adding club soda to a watermelon aperol spritz in a cocktail glass.

Top with club soda.

I didn’t measure this because I know a little bit extra will just give it a little more fizz and make it more suited for day drinking. (Not that I do that…often).

Any mom past 40 knows day drinking isn’t like in the old days…

Woman holding a wine glass with a watermelon aperol spritz.

2. Garnish and Enjoy

Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint then enjoy!

The watermelon flavor isn’t too IN-YOUR-FACE. But you can pick it up among the other ingredients.

It’s the perfect watermelon champagne cocktail to sip when it’s warm.

Variations

While this is the best watermelon vodka I’ve tried, there are other ways to make this drink if you don’t want to buy a bottle.

A bottle of Skyy vodka on a counter next to a wine glass with muddled watermelon in it.

If you’d rather use regular vodka, you can just muddle some fresh watermelon in the wine glass then add the vodka. This will leave some fruit chunks in the glass which I don’t mind. (Browse my fave bar tools).

If you prefer, you can muddle the watermelon in a different glass then strain saving only the watermelon juice for the cocktail. Which you would then mix with regular vodka.

I recently found store-bought watermelon juice which you could also use in place of making your own.

Or you can blend watermelon in the blender and press through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure you get out just the juice.

If you want to make this a spicy drink, you can muddle a little bit of fresh jalapeno or serrano pepper in the glass before you add the ice.

If you would like it a little bit sweeter you can add simple syrup. Or for another boost of watermelon flavor make a watermelon simple syrup.

Top tips

Since you’ll have a bottle of champagne open, this is a great watermelon champagne cocktail to make for a crowd. You will probably be able to get about 4 drinks from one bottle.

Don’t want to buy a whole bottle, grab some individual champagne bottles at the grocery store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use champagne instead of prosecco?

Yes! You can use any kind of sparkling wine, champagne, prosecco or cava to make this drink. Some styles are sweeter than others so there may be a slight variation to the flavor depending on what you use. You could even use a sparkling rosé if that sounds interesting to you.

What goes good with watermelon vodka?

I never would have guessed that Aperol would go so well with watermelon vodka, but it really does! Citrus flavors (from fresh fruit or flavored liqueurs) will always pair well. Other flavors that pair well with watermelon are fresh herbs, other fruit juices (like orange juice or pineapple) and fresh berries.

What is the best way to open a bottle of champagne?

The best way to open champagne is, carefully. Here’s a great article on how to open champagne safely. I always use a towel over the top of the cork and bottle because I’m irrationally worried about breaking a window in my house.

Bottle of Skyy Watermelon vodka next to a wine glass with a watermelon vodka cocktail.

This Watermelon Vodka Cocktail with Aperol is great for people who aren’t big cocktail drinkers! They’ll love the fizz and the watermelon vodka is super smooth and tasty!

This is one of those recipes that seem next level but are so super easy to make at home. It’s a great drink when having company over!

Check out even more watermelon cocktail recipes using Skyy Infusions Watermelon!

Make sure you don’t lose this recipe by saving it for later! Also, for more recipes make sure you’re following me on Pinterest, Instagram and like my page on Facebook. If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and tag me in your pictures!

Woman touching the stem of a wine glass with a watermelon cocktail.

Watermelon Vodka Spritz with Aperol

This fizzy Watermelon Vodka Cocktail with prosecco and Aperol is easy to make and delicious to enjoy with friends! The watermelon infused vodka gives this drink a great, refreshing flavor that pairs perfectly with the fresh lemon juice and Aperol.

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Course: cocktails

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: cocktail

Calories: 209kcal

Author: Sharon Garofalow

Ingredients

Instructions

In a spritz or wine glass filled with ice, add Skyy Watermelon Vodka and Prosecco.
Add Aperol and lemon juice.
Give it a quick stir.
Top with Club Soda.
Garnish with mint (optional).

Notes

If you’d rather use regular vodka, muddle fresh watermelon in the wine glass then add the vodka. This will leave some fruit chunks in the glass.

If you prefer, you can muddle the watermelon in a different glass then strain saving only the watermelon juice for the cocktail. Which you would then mix with regular vodka.

Use store-bought watermelon juice instead of making your own.

Or blend fresh watermelon in a blender and press through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure you get out just the juice.

Make this spicy by muddling fresh jalapeno or serrano pepper in the glass before you add the ice.

If you would like it a little bit sweeter you can add simple syrup. Or for another boost of watermelon flavor make a watermelon simple syrup.

Since you’ll have a bottle of champagne open, this is a great watermelon champagne cocktail to make for a crowd. You will probably be able to get about 4 drinks from one bottle.

Don’t want to buy a whole bottle, grab some individual champagne bottles at the grocery store.