Party punches taste better served in a watermelon

Left, right, hooked!

Source: Benito Martin

If you're throwing a party, you'll want to throw down some punch as well. It's the hassle-free way to keep a crowd topped up in style. Just quietly, it's also a cost-effective way to keep the drinks flowing.

Think of punch as a giant, affordable cocktail that's not too heavy on the alcohol (or completely alcohol-free, if that's your style). This means a punch is just as great served at a midday barbecue as a late-night dance-a-thon.

The secret to a smashingly good party punch? Serve it in watermelon, of course. Especially if your punch recipe happens to actually feature watermelon - but a good look even if it doesn't. If your punch is melon-less, simply serve the fruit as a side dish and load the skin up with whatever punch you fancy.

Follow one of these recipes, but feel free to add or subtract a herb, add more or less fizz, juice or alcohol and generally freestyle your way to your signature punch. Happy party daze!

Love and marriage

Cinnamon quills and rose petals make a beautiful garnish for a festive punch. Source: Brett Stevens

New York bartender Simon Ford invented horse and carriage punch for a friend's wedding. It's an insanely good mix of gin, triple sec, elderflower (sometimes chamomile) and lemon juice, all stirred together with good sparkling wine. Expect the sparkling conversation to be close behind.

Punching above

This is as non-fussy, easy-breezy, she'll-be-right to make as you'd expect from a beer punch. Source: Andy Baker

Speaking of excellent combinations, here's to the green and gold. In punch form... with beer and rum. We might have found a winner here, folks!

Spicy dance kick

Add a couple of chillies to this recipe to really get things going. Source: SBS Food

Double the alcohol then up the quantity of grapefruit and soda water in this recipe to make a refreshing spiced rum and grapefruit punch. Slide it into your watermelon half with plenty of ice and watch your guests fill up faster than a wedding dancefloor when the DJ plays U Can't Touch This.

Ginger made

See how happy punch is in a watermelon shell? Source: Benito Martin

Ginger goes so beautifully with watermelon you'll wonder why you haven't been drinking this watermelon soju punch sooner. It's pure refreshment in a glass.

Cordial pour

Make your blueberry limonata with sparkling water (or even sparkling wine) for a divine party punch. Source: Alan Benson

With blueberries so plump and abundant this season, you'll want to make this blueberry limonata. It may be sans alcohol, but it's bursting with plenty of refreshing flavours. You can make a batch now and serve it all summer long.

Cocktail hack

Based on a Bermudan trademarked cocktail, this is a drink for sailors, made with ginger beer to help with sea-sickness and rum to keep you nice. Source: Benito Martin

A large watermelon half will take about two litres of punch, so to adjust a cocktail recipe (like this one) simply consider how much liquid the recipe calls for. In this case, double this cocktail recipe to fill your watermelon. If in doubt, always add an extra soft drink or juice to fill it.

Cool down

Summer in a punch. Source: Michelle Crawford

This is the punch to serve mid-summer when everyone is feeling too lazy to keep topping up drinks. White peach and a tingly mint and lemon shrub combine to whisk your tiredness away. Feel free to add a little gin for extra uplift.

Summer ball

This one is like the bubble tea of party punches. Source: Benito Martin

Use the whole watermelon with this special sago and melon ball punch. You can keep it rather thick to serve in bowls for dessert, or top it up with lemonade or soda water. Either way, it's a delicious way to bow down to watermelon's summer domination.

Sling it

Pop a bowl of pineapple slivers and cherries next to the punch for guests to garnish their glasses. Source: Adam Liaw

What better cocktail to serve as a punch than the famous Singapore Sling. It's made of gin, cherry brandy and Bénédictine with a dash of bitters and Cointreau and finished off with pineapple and lime juice and grenadine. In other words, it's a party in a glass.

Berry good

This punch couldn't be easier as everything goes straight into the blender for a cherry-red blitz. Source: Alan Benson

Another vodka-based punch whose colour perfectly matches a watermelon shell. This one is coloured by red wine, port and grenadine, along with berries galore. Such a wonderful colour that's worth a tipple.

Pretty in pink

A quick-to-make summery drink that is equal parts refreshing, tasty and pretty. Source: Donna Hay

Here's a fabulous use of any leftover watermelon - pink lemonade. It's just as fresh tasting as it looks and is the perfect punch to serve for those who don't drink alcohol.

Well peared

This punch is a little richer than most, which can only be a good thing. Source: Brett Stevens

For a punch with a difference, try this orchard mix of apple brandy, pear, lemon, chamomile and bitters. Just be warned: it goes down as smoothly as it sounds.

Punch-drunk love

This is one smoooooth punch. Source: Brett Stevens

This punch is inspired by the dulcet tones and immortal cool of Mr Dean Martin. So naturally, it features cool-kid standbys like rum, Aperol and more than a touch of bitters.

Grown-ups only

Hot tip: freeze your watermelon skin to keep this slushie icy cold. Source: Alan Benson

Fill your watermelon to the brim with a strawberry vodka slushie. It may look like a childhood summer favourite, but this is definitely one for adults only.