This Watermelon Moscow Mule Float was inspired by a photo of a watermelon float. It was simply blended watermelon with vanilla ice cream and 7-Up. As delicious as it sounded, I wanted to make a major revision and make it a boozy float.
I have something to celebrate and needed a drink that was festive and this cocktail fit the bill. Beautiful, summery, and worthy of a celebration. Perfect.
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I’ve mentioned to friends on Facebook that I have a big celebration this week. It’s not my birthday, or an anniversary. Nope. Well, I guess it’s actually both in a way but not mine so much as this blog you’re reading.
I decided to start putting my favorite recipes online THIRTY years ago today. I know…old huh? At least in the world of blogging! I’ve redone so many of the old recipes and published them with later dates but I still have a couple from 1995 and it all started with this recipe for Easy Beer Bread.
I had recently moved to Colorado, was given a cookbook from the Junior League and this was my first foray into that book. I still love beer bread but I’ve not renewed this one so that I would always have a placeholder for that first post I published!
I went to work for a cable company in 1994, now it’s Comcast, and the Venture Capitol division I was in became the Internet Division within a couple of months when a small company in California thought that cable lines could be used to provide internet access to homes. It’s no exaggeration to say that I found myself in the heady realm of a world that was mostly unknown.
I was charged with learning HTML so I built a trial site to use as a repository for my recipes and by 1995 I launched with a nice little catalog. I moved a fair number of these recipes to this blog about 20 years ago but am reminded when I picked up this image from the Web Archives that I still have more I could do!
I learned so much but was not happy working for such a huge corporation so I left, built my own web development business, continued to keep my recipes online and in 2013 sold the web business and started to blog full-time about food and cocktails. Ah, yes, cocktails. Despite 30 years of sharing hundreds of recipes about food; it’s the cocktails I’m known for!
So on this date I thought we should celebrate with a wonderful summer libation and I decided to mark the occasion with a dessert version of a Moscow Mule. I had a gorgeous watermelon on hand, always a plus, so it was time to measure and mix watermelon, vodka, lime, and chilled ginger beer. Why yes, that will do nicely, thank you very much…with some vanilla ice cream on top!
I used Seagram’s Watermelon Vodka that I had recently received from the brand. My neighbor and I thought we had to try it as a shot first and we liked it all by itself. I can imagine it would really be fun if ice cold; I’ll be keeping the rest of the bottle in the freezer. These are not premium vodkas but this one has a nice, sweet watermelon hint that was very pleasant.
It is not a necessity for this dessert cocktail though; use your favorite vodka in lieu of a watermelon version.
Admittedly I was late to the Moscow Mule craze; catching on only when the zingy drink started a resurgence several years ago. I had never had a taste when I was younger, only being introduced to this original version (with honey) in 2012. I was completely hooked and have discovered that it is a basic drink that does well with a lot of different fruit combinations, why not watermelon…and as an ice cream float?
Yes, why not watermelon? The end result was one of those combinations that if not for me knowing specifically that yes, indeed, there really was alcohol in there, it would have been easy to have downed the entire cocktail with a few swigs. Careful…this is so easy to drink!
I really did get a perfect watermelon this past week…and shortly after it arrived, I noticed a hack someone posted online for the best way to cut one. I was intrigued and now I’m totally onboard with this method. So easy and the best way I’ve ever found for serving it. Not slices so much but rectangles?
Easy too. Simply cut your watermelon in half. Lay the cut portion on a counter or cutting board and cut into squares like the image on the left. I didn’t take photos of the second half but you can basically cut off a slice on each side, it’s just rind. So you’ll have a square.
After it’s cut, you’ve got long slivers of watermelon, each with their own handle on the rind end…perfect for eating by hand or chopping for a cocktail or salad.
Since finishing a ton of garden work this spring/summer I’m determined to get some photos outside and on this day it was hot and unusual for Colorado; a bit muggy after a late afternoon shower. By the time I finished; this was the perfect antidote to quench my thirst. Want a mocktail for friends who don’t imbibe or something for kids? Just mix it up without the vodka and you’re set.
How to Grow Garden Mint
Since this cocktail requires mint, I thought I would share a great gardening tip that someone taught me 25 years ago. My mint is currently in it’s own pot near an elevated planter with other herbs, once I decide on garden space I will put it in the ground. If you know how much mint can get out of control that might seem a recipe for disaster but it’s easy to contain; simply contain it before you dig your hole!
You’ll need a 5 gallon paint bucket; like this one at Lowe’s. Fill the bucket with good dirt up to about 2 inches from the top of the bucket, then plant your mint plant in the bucket. Dig a hole large enough to sink the entire bucket in your garden, leaving a couple of inches above ground level. It will thrive in the space of that bucket, should come back each year, but will not branch out via roots and get a foothold anywhere else in your garden.
I had one year when some longer shoots hanging over the edge starting rooting but I just pulled them out and cut them off. Worked for me for 23 years at my former home and will again in this garden I’m sure!
Having fresh mint outside is wonderful; it’s such a refreshing addition to salads, desserts, ice tea, and cocktails! Grow your own and it’s just a quick trip outside to gather mint for this delicious Watermelon Moscow Mule Float!
A great watermelon, vodka, fresh mint, chilled ginger beer, and good vanilla ice cream, and you’re on your way to a most refreshing summer cocktail…Cheers!
More Watermelon!
More Moscow Mules!
PIN IT! ‘Watermelon Moscow Mule Float’
Watermelon Moscow Mule Float
A totally refreshing summer cocktail combining a favorite summer fruit with a Moscow Mule…and adding ice cream!
Put two large mugs into the freezer to chill for 10 minutes.
Fill a pitcher with 4 cups of ice, combine watermelon juice, vodka and lime juice and stir briskly until chilled, about 15 seconds.
Strain half of the mixture into each of the chilled mugs and top each with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Finish with ginger beer, stir gently and garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig.
Nutrition Facts
Watermelon Moscow Mule Float
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
