July in Mississippi
Madison Farmers Market is open today and each Tuesday! It's by the red caboose.
The Spruce suggests this treatment - I think you could get by without the raspberries.
Independence Day Mojito
10 mint leaves
3 cubes watermelon
6 fresh raspberries (fresh)
1 1/2 ounces white rum
1/2 ounce lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1 1/2 ounces club soda
Garnish: mint sprig
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
In a cocktail shaker, add the mint leaves, watermelon, and raspberries. Muddle well.
Add the rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, and fill the shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously.
Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
Top with soda and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Serve and enjoy!
Tips
To get the most flavor out of your mint, slap the leaves between your palms or tear them slightly before muddling.
Frozen raspberries will work if the fresh fruit is not available—1/4 cup will do. Be sure to let them thaw a little so they can be mashed.
With the abundance of fresh fruits, this mojito will be best with fresh lime juice as well. You should be able to squeeze half a lime directly into the shaker to get the 1/2 ounce needed for the recipe.
Recipe Variations
Pouring an aged or spiced rum will create more of a flavor foundation that can be quite nice.
Use any other lightly flavored soda as an alternative to club soda. Citrus sodas and ginger ales will result in a sweeter drink that's equally refreshing. You could even use a slightly flavored sparkling water, such as La Croix, playing up the fruits if you prefer.
Switch to other seasonal fruits if you like. Use blueberries or strawberries, or go with other melons like cantaloupe or honeydew.
Watermeleon with cucumber makes this gin drink extra refreshing.
Watermelon Cucumber Cooler
1 1/2 ounces watermelon juice (fresh)
2 slices cucumber
1 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce simple syrup
3/4 ounce lime juice (fresh)
Pinch salt
1 1/2 ounces soda water
Garnish: cucumber slice
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
Press the watermelon to make juice (squeeze the watermelon in a juicer or muddle about three 1-inch chunks in a mixing glass). Strain and reserve 1 1/2 ounces of the juice.
Place the cucumber in mixing glass and muddle.
Add the gin, fruit juices, simple syrup, and salt. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
Fine strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Top with soda water.
Garnish with a cucumber slice.
Serve and enjoy!
Tips
Don't pass on the pinch of salt. Without it, this drink would be like a Bloody Mary without the black pepper: slightly bland, but tolerable.
Fine straining is an essential step because it will remove the small fruit bits, including the seeds. It's very simple and should be done for both the watermelon juice and the cocktail to eliminate cucumber pieces. To do it, use your normal cocktail strainer while pouring through a fine-mesh strainer into the glass.
Here's a Martha Stewart recipe with an Italian twist:
Watermelon Slushies
4 pounds seedless watermelon
1 oz. vodka per 8 oz. slushie (optional)
2 oz. Prosecco per 8 oz. slushie (optional)
Step 1
Cut, peel, cube, and freeze watermelon.
Step 2
Blend until smooth in a blender or food processor.
Step 3
Add vodka and Prosecco.
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