We opened our first watermelon of the season last week – it was ripe, ready and a sweet taste of early summer. Eating watermelon freshly cut is an everyday tradition during the warm summer months, but just in the last year have I noticed the great taste it has for drinks, salads and sweets.

After making watermelon soda, and learning to drink out of my own floating watermelon, a cocktail seemed the next logical step. This watermelon mojito recipe was designed over a couple different attempts last summer. We tried many versions and finally landed on this one with our unique recipe for homemade watermelon simple syrup. It is as fresh as can be, and a gorgeous way to enjoy the sweet fruit this season. For celebrating Derby Day this weekend, Mother’s Day brunch, and graduations – this recipe has become our new party favorite! To make it you will need a watermelon cut into pieces, lime, honey, rum, sparkling water, mint leaves and ice.

I like to make these mojitos in batches, but you can do them individually as well – for each watermelon mojito combine 1/4 cup of watermelon, the juice of 1 lime, 2tsp honey and 3 mint leaves in a small pot. Stir (muddle in the pot) until warm and combined. Allow to cool, you can make this mixture up to 24 hours before making the drinks. Store covered and refrigerate.

To mix the cocktail, combine 2 oz of the cooled watermelon simple syrup mixture with 2 oz rum and 3 oz sparkling water. Garnish with a mint spring and frozen cubes of watermelon for a tasty summer drink that you’ll run back to all season long.

PS. A watermelon cake

(Photography ©Cameron Whitman/Stocksy United).