Watermelon Berry Sparkler Drink (Non-Alcoholic or Alcoholic)

Cut the watermelon into large chunks, removing the rind and any visible seeds. Place the chunks into a blender.

Blend the watermelon on high speed until completely smooth and liquefied. Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large pitcher, discarding the pulp.

Combine the sugar with an equal part of water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves to create a simple syrup. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

Stir the cooled simple syrup into the strained watermelon juice, adjusting the amount to taste for desired sweetness.

Refrigerate the sweetened watermelon base until thoroughly chilled. This step ensures the final drink stays cold and refreshing without excessive dilution from ice.

Fill serving glasses with ice cubes, then pour the chilled watermelon base until each glass is about two-thirds full. Top off each glass with sparkling water or club soda and stir gently to combine.

For an alcoholic variation, add one to two ounces of vodka or light rum per glass before adding the sparkling water, and stir to incorporate.

Garnish each glass with a small wedge of watermelon or a skewer of fresh berries on the rim and serve immediately.