Watermelon Fix is your new summer cocktail. When it’s hot, you’re thirsty, and you want something that’s refreshing and a little unexpected, try a cocktail that combines smooth whisky with the briny-sweet magic of pickled watermelon rind juice. Yes. You read that right. And yes—it’s shockingly good.
What Is the Watermelon Fix?
The Watermelon Fix is a Southern-inspired cocktail made with whisky and the leftover juice from pickled watermelon rinds. It’s sweet, tangy, a little salty, and a lot more complex than it has any right to be.
It’s like a Southern pickleback met a porch cocktail, put on some linen, and decided to show up to your summer happy hour in style.
Where Did This Come From?
This drink came about one evening when I got home from work, tired, and wanted a nice cocktail. I had a bottle of Canadian Whiskey but no mixer for it. As I was looking in the refrigerator for something, I remembered I had a bottle of watermelon rind pickle brine that I had saved the last time I made watermelon rind pickles. I reasoned that whiskey and the syrup would go quite well together, and I was right.
What I expected: a weird experiment.
What I got: a weirdly amazing cocktail that hits all the right notes.
This might be your next summer signature drink, too.
🍉 How to Make the Watermelon Fix Cocktail
I recommend using large ice cubes. We have large silicon ice cube trays that we love for making ice. The good thing about the large ice cubes is they don’t melt as quickly so they don’t dilute your drink as fast. The other recommendation would be large metal ice cubes which, again, won’t dilute your drink.
When I made this, I had Canadian Whiskey, but I think it would be great with my other favorite, Jack Daniels, a real Southern sour mash whiskey. Of course, it would be fine with bourbon, rye, scotch, vodka, tequila, or even gin. The watermelon rind brine can stand up to just about any alcohol you have. Want to have it for kids? Dilute the brine with water and pour it over ice.
The watermelon rind brine is a mixture of sugar, water, cider vinegar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The rind also retains the taste of the watermelon itself. If you’ve never had watermelon rind pickles, or beets pickled in watermelon rind brine, you owe yourself the experience. So, after you have made watermelon salad with feta and mint, save those rinds, make some pickles, and save that brine for cocktails. You won’t be disappointed.
Can I Get the Watermelon Fix at my Local Bar?
Sadly, the answer is probably not, unless you are in a bar that happens to have pickled watermelon rind. Since watermelon is a summer fruit, and cutting up the rinds could be a laborious process for most restaurants, you won’t readily find it. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t ask for it. Bryant Preserving has been making Old South Pickled Watermelon Rind since 1947. Watermelon rind pickles are available at stores and online, and the brine in the jar would be just as good as homemade. So, ask your bartender to keep watermelon rind pickles on hand. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors that they’re missing out.
A Little Warning
This drink is surprisingly good and sweet, so be careful of how much you drink. Sweet drinks tend to hide the alcohol taste making you possibly want to drink more than you should. The whiskey can sneak up on you, so please, be careful and don’t drink and drive. Be responsible when you drink this or any alcoholic beverage1.
Watermelon Rind Fix Recipe
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Watermelon Fix
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Ingredients
- 1 Ice cube, large ice cubes preferred
- 1 ½ fluid oz Watermelon Pickle Rind Brine
- 1 ½ fluid oz Canadian whiskey
Instructions
- Mise en place
- 1 Ice cubePut the ice in the glass.
- 1 1/2 fluid oz Watermelon Pickle Rind BrinePour the watermelon pickle rind brine over the ice.
- 1 1/2 fluid oz Canadian whiskeyPour the whiskey in the glass.
- Garnish with a watermelon pickle if desired.
Video
Nutrition
- The Good Plate and its author take no responsibility for any tipsiness, tomfoolery, or questionable dance moves that may occur as a result of consuming or preparing this recipe. The Watermelon Fix is an adult beverage intended for responsible enjoyment. The Good Plate and its creator assume no responsibility or liability for any consequences resulting from the preparation or consumption of this cocktail.
By reading this post and/or making the drink, you acknowledge that:
You are of legal drinking age in your country or region
You will not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of alcohol
You will store alcoholic ingredients safely and out of reach of minors
You accept full responsibility for your own consumption and actions
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Always drink responsibly, and never serve alcohol to anyone underage. Please enjoy responsibly ↩︎
Thank you for sharing this recipe
Looks good! Can’t wait to try it!