June is watermelon season, and what better way to cool off than with a juicy cocktail? Watermelon works wonders with a wide range of liquors – all available at Spec’s! Here’s a list of libations that showcase watermelon and celebrate summer!
Pink and Gold
(serves 4)
5 cups diced watermelon, divided into 1-cup portions
6 oz gin, divided into 1 ½ oz portions
8 tbsp lime juice (2 tbsp per cocktail)
1 1/3 cup ginger ale
lime wedges for garnish
Freeze 1 cup watermelon for garnish. Purée the remaining 4 cups of watermelon. Strain through a sieve, dividing the juice between 4 ice-filled glasses.
Add 1 ½ oz gin, 2 tbsp lime juice, and 1/3 c. ginger ale to each glass. Garnish with frozen watermelon and limes.
Freshen Up
3 pounds watermelon, diced
1/2 cup vodka
1/4 cup Triple Sec
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Lime wedges, for garnish
Purée the watermelon pieces and strain the purée through a sieve over a pitcher. Stir in the vodka, Triple Sec, and lime juice until fully blended. Serve in ice-filled tumblers garnished with lime wedges.
Mellow Mary
2 cups watermelon, diced
1 sprig of rosemary or several mint sprigs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2-3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup club soda
1/2 cup dark rum
Coarse salt, to rim the glasses
Watermelon wedges, for garnish
Add rosemary simple syrup (see recipe below), lemon juice, and rum to the watermelon cubes in a blender or food processor. Puree until blended. (If you use mint in place of the rosemary, blend in the mint now.) Chill thoroughly. To serve, pour into salt-rimmed glasses and top with club soda. Garnish with watermelon wedges.
For rosemary-infused simple syrup:
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, water and rosemary. Boil until the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and let the rosemary steep for 15 minutes. Remove the rosemary.
Melonade
1 cup cubed seedless watermelon
Ice cubes
3 ½ oz limoncello
1 ½ oz lemon-flavored or light rum
Splash club soda
Lemon wedge
Directions
Puree the watermelon cubes in a blender or food processor. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the watermelon juice, limoncello and rum. Stir to blend and top with club soda. Garnish with the lemon wedge.
