Lychee Watermelon Cocktail Recipe (With Yeo's Lychee Drink)
Some cocktails are made for a occasion. This one is made for a whole summer. Sweet, floral lychee meets fresh watermelon, a hit of citrus, and just enough vodka to make things interesting — all built in a pitcher and served over ice with fresh mint and fruit floating on top. It's the kind of drink that looks like you put in way more effort than you actually did, and it disappears from the table faster than you can pour a second glass.
The secret weapon? Yeo's Lychee Drink. That floral, naturally sweet lychee flavor is the backbone of this cocktail — it plays beautifully with the juicy watermelon and cuts right through the tartness of the lime. Once you taste it, you'll wonder why you ever made a cocktail without it.
Why Yeo's Lychee Drink?
Fresh lychee is seasonal, expensive, and a lot of work to juice. Yeo's Lychee Drink gives you that same sweet, fragrant lychee flavor in a ready-to-pour format that's available year-round. It mixes effortlessly with spirits and fruit without needing added sugar — the natural sweetness does all the work. Find it at your local Asian grocery store or order it at Yeo's Shop.
How to Make Fresh Watermelon Puree
You don't need a juicer for this. Just cut fresh watermelon into chunks, remove any seeds, and blend until smooth. Pour it through a fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp if you want a cleaner drink, or leave it unstrained for a more vibrant, full-bodied texture. Either way works beautifully in this cocktail. One small personal watermelon yields more than enough puree for a full pitcher.
Build It to Your Taste
This recipe is intentionally flexible because everyone's palate is different. Love it sweeter? Add more Yeo's Lychee Drink. Want more citrus punch? Squeeze in an extra lime. Prefer it lighter on alcohol? Cut the vodka and let the lychee and watermelon shine. The ratios below are a great starting point — taste as you go and adjust until it's exactly right for you and your crowd.
The Triple Sec Question
Triple Sec is an orange-flavored liqueur that adds a subtle citrus depth and a touch of sweetness that ties the whole cocktail together. It's not overpowering — you won't taste "orange" — but you'll notice something is missing without it. Cointreau is a higher-end alternative that works just as well if you have it on hand.
Ingredients (Serves 6–8 — one standard pitcher)
- 2 cups Yeo's Lychee Drink (adjust to taste — more for sweeter, less for lighter)
- 2 cups fresh watermelon puree (about ¼ of a small watermelon, blended smooth)
- ¾ cup vodka (adjust to your preference)
- ¼ cup Triple Sec
- Juice of 2–3 limes, freshly squeezed (start with 2, add more to taste)
- 1–2 cups sparkling water (to top off and lighten)
- Ice cubes
To serve:
- Fresh mint leaves
- Fresh lychee (canned works great too)
- Small watermelon cubes or triangles
Instructions
- Make the watermelon puree. Cut fresh watermelon into chunks and blend until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer for a cleaner drink, or leave it as-is for more body and color. Set aside.
- Build the pitcher. Fill a large pitcher generously with ice. Pour in Yeo's Lychee Drink, watermelon puree, vodka, Triple Sec, and freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Stir and taste. Stir everything together well. Taste and adjust — more lychee drink if you want it sweeter, more lime if you want more tartness, more vodka if you're feeling bold.
- Top with sparkling water. Pour in sparkling water to taste — start with 1 cup and add more if you want a lighter, bubblier drink. Give it one final gentle stir so you don't lose all the fizz.
- Serve. Pour into individual glasses over fresh ice. Garnish each glass with a few fresh mint leaves, a lychee or two, and a small wedge or cube of watermelon on the rim. Serve immediately.
Mocktail Version
Want all the flavor without the alcohol? Skip the vodka and Triple Sec entirely and replace with an extra splash of Yeo's Lychee Drink and a little more sparkling water. Add a squeeze of orange juice in place of the Triple Sec for that subtle citrus depth. It's just as refreshing, just as beautiful in the glass, and completely crowd-friendly for guests who don't drink.
Tips & Variations
- Chill everything first: Cold ingredients make a better cocktail. Keep your Yeo's Lychee Drink and sparkling water in the fridge before mixing so the ice doesn't melt too fast and water everything down.
- Make it ahead: Mix everything except the sparkling water and store in the fridge up to 4 hours ahead. Add the sparkling water and ice right before serving to keep the bubbles.
- Frozen version: Blend the watermelon puree with ice and lychee drink for a slushy frozen cocktail version that's perfect on a hot day.
- Spicy twist: Add a few thin slices of fresh jalapeño to the pitcher for a sweet-heat combination that works surprisingly well with the lychee and watermelon.
- Canned lychee hack: If you're using canned lychee for garnish, save a splash of the syrup from the can and add it to the pitcher for an extra hit of lychee sweetness.
Summer in a pitcher. Grab Yeo's Lychee Drink at Yeo's Shop and make this the drink that defines your warm weather entertaining this season.