Watermelon and Basil Martini
Yield: 2 Cocktails
Seasonal
fruit cocktails are always popular, and watermelon
and basil are two of the summer’s finest harvest.
Paired together they create a unique and refreshing
cocktail. Although gin adds an herbaceous flavor
that pairs well with the watermelon and basil;
vodka, rum or tequila can be substituted.
You don’t
have to wait for leftover watermelon to make this
drink, but if you wait until summer is over, it will
be too late.
Ingredients
2 C
watermelon cubed (about 1” thick slice)
2-3 basil leaves
3 T simple syrup*
1 ½ - 2 T lime juice
3 oz gin
Ice
Place the
watermelon and basil in a bowl and mash with a
potato masher. Be sure to really mash the basil
leaves to impart flavor. Strain liquid into a
cocktail shaker. You should have about one cup of
liquid.
Add ice
to the shaker along with the simple syrup, lime
juice and gin. Shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds and
serve in a martini glass. If desired, garnish with a
small slice of watermelon on the glass rim and/or
float a basil leaf in the glass.
Note: The
cocktail can also be made entirely in a cocktail
shaker using a muddler to extract the watermelon
juice and basil flavor. Than add the ice and other
ingredients. Mix, shake and strain into your glass.
I find I get better juice extraction in a bowl, but
muddling is always a crowd pleaser!
*To make
simple syrup, combine equal parts of sugar and water
in a small pan. Bring to a boil to dissolve the
sugar. Cool before using and refrigerate any unused
syrup. This syrup eliminates the dissolving required
when adding sugar directly to a liquid.
Recipe by
David Musial