New Amsterdam Watermelon 375

New Amsterdam Watermelon 375 is a flavored vodka from New Amsterdam, made in Massachusetts, and sold here in the 375 ml half-pint bottle. The flavor is the main point. Flavored vodkas in this style usually taste of ripe, juicy watermelon and have a lightly sweet, candy-leaning fruit character. The neutral spirit underneath keeps the flavor from turning heavy, so expect it to drink lighter and fruitier than an unflavored vodka. We haven't been given an ABV or a tasting profile for this bottle, so check the label for the proof. Because the watermelon flavor is already built in, the vodka does best in drinks that let the fruit show instead of covering it. A tall highball with soda water and a squeeze of lime is the simplest option. Lemonade or limeade works well, and so does a Moscow Mule-style build with ginger beer, where the ginger's spice offsets the sweetness. For a Cosmopolitan, substituting it for plain vodka gives a rounder, fruitier drink, and you may want to cut back on the cranberry or sweetener to keep it from tipping too sweet. A watermelon martini is the obvious cocktail: shake the vodka with fresh lime juice and a little simple syrup or orange liqueur, and strain it into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Some classic vodka drinks don't suit a flavored bottle like this. A savory Bloody Mary and an Espresso Martini both depend on a neutral base, and the watermelon flavor would likely clash with tomato, celery and spice, or with coffee. Choose a plain vodka for those. For sipping or mixing, keep the bottle in the freezer or refrigerator and serve it well chilled. Cold temperatures keep the sweetness in check. It works neat in a small chilled glass, over ice in a rocks glass with a lime wedge, or shaken and strained into a martini glass. The 375 ml size suits a few drinks or a small batch of cocktails, such as a pitcher of watermelon lemonade for a summer cookout.