One big trend for summer drinking in Dallas-Fort Worth has been the incorporation of watermelon as a flavor.

Watermelon is a perennial summer classic for sure, but in 2022, it seems like everyone's doing some kind of watermelon cocktail, from high-end bars to funky shot joints.

What's especially refreshing about this crop of cocktails is that most are using fresh fruit.

"Watermelon is the essence of summer, and it gives a drink a nice sweet balance," says Hilary Guardipee, a manager at Yard House at Toyota Music Factory in Las Colinas, whose menu includes a margarita with watermelon puree. "Watermelon also contains a lot of water, so it's automatically very thirst-quenching."

Here's where watermelon is showing up in cocktails and drinks around Fort Worth:

Cantina Laredo
Tex-Mex chain recently introduced three fruity new drinks for summer which include a Pineapple Mojito Sangria and a Passion Fruit Piña Colada — but the one we're here to honor today is the Watermelon Mojito, made with watermelon Red Bull, rum, lime juice, and syrup, with a fresh watermelon garnish by request. These drinks run through October 3. The mojito joins another permanent watermelon cocktail on their menu: the Tajín Watermelon, a fancied-up margarita with tequila, blood orange liqueur, triple sec, Monin cucumber, jalapeño, agave nectar, muddled watermelon, lime juice, and Tajín.

Cowboy Chicken
This one's non-alcoholic but no less refreshing: The rotisserie chicken chain has brought back a summertime favorite: watermelon-flavored iced tea, adding a fruity alternative to their popular house-made lemonade. They're also offering slices of watermelon as a side dish. Both are available through Labor Day.

Jane
Southlake bistro is now serving brunch every day, starting at 9 am Monday-Saturday and at 10 am, with a menu that includes tacos, avocado toast, chia pudding, mezze board, chicken & waffles, and more. The key news is their lineup of summer cocktails which includes a watermelon hibiscus mule, with vodka, citrus liqueur, watermelon, and hibiscus ginger beer. Refreshing!

Paloma Suerte
Tex-Mex restaurant in the Fort Worth Stockyards' Mule Alley from Tim Love features tequila, including seven amazing frozen cocktails made with Espolon Tequila. Flavors include prickly pear, mango, blueberry, paloma, and yes a watermelon-flavored frozen. If there's a hot trend, Tim Love is on it! Duh.

Shotzee's Bar & Grill
It's a stretch to include this Keller restaurant and bar which boasts more than 50 varieties of shots, since the theme of this story is about summer and "fresh" watermelon. Their watermelon-containing shot drink — called the Mexican Candy — has watermelon Schnapps (along with tequila and Tabasco sauce), not fresh watermelon. But how can you not include a bar that boasts more than 50 varieties of shots?

Yard House
California-based sports bar chain is known for having good food and loads of beers on tap, but also has cocktails including a signature salted watermelon margarita. The watermelon appears in a light puree that gives the drink flavor and a little body. It contains tequila, Cointreau, citrus agave, watermelon purée, and lime. They should really just call it a "watermelon margarita," no "salted," since the only salted element is the salt rim, making it no more "salted" than any other margarita.