GARDEN COCKTAILS: A METHOD FOR ENJOYING MORE SUMMER

If you were smart and planted watermelon vines in your garden, your summer is about to become even more exceptional.  A farmers’ market is another way to fulfill your summer watermelon dreams, but either way this remarkable summer drink invented by our daughter, Daisy Ryan, will be a great accompaniment to evening garden-gazing.  Do not hesitate to substitute vodka or gin.

WATERMELON TOSS

1 ½ oz blanco tequila
2 oz fresh watermelon juice
1 oz fresh lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
Pinch cayenne
1 tsp pickling liquid from watermelon pickles

Garnish: watermelon pickle
Put all ingredients (except the watermelon pickle) in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice, shake, and pour over ice in a double rocks glass and garnish with the watermelon pickle on a pick.  Go outside, sit down and drink it while the sun turns the sky the same color as your drink.

Watermelon Juice

Cut rind off watermelon, including ¼” of the pink flesh, put aside.  Juice ½ of the melon at a time in a blender until it turns to juice and strain it.  Add simple syrup and salt to taste

Watermelon Pickles

Reserved watermelon rind
3 c champagne vinegar
2 c water
1 c sugar
½ c pink peppercorns
¼ t cayenne pepper

Using a sharp knife, cut the rind into lengthwise strips including ¼” of an inch of the pink flesh. Cut into ½” squares.  Heat the vinegar, water, sugar, pink peppercorns and cayenne.  When it comes to a boil,  pour over the rind, let it cool then refrigerate for 24 hours.

Make this and drink it now! (or maybe later): It’s good for you and your garden

Summer. It’s hot, it’s the weekend and you would like to have a tall, icy drink outside next to the garden you have worked in all day.  At least, Brent has worked in it all day.  Daisy and I have been working to come up with this:

SUMMER RICKEY (one drink)

• A few fresh mint leaves or a few fresh basil leaves  right from your garden
• 2 oz Plymouth or other high quality gin
• ½  oz Pernod
• ½ lime from your lime tree
• Fever Tree Club Soda or other high quality club soda
• A splash of tomato water (see below) made from YOUR tomatoes

Muddle the mint or basil leaves (or both!) in a mixing glass, add the gin and Pernod and some ice and stir. Strain it into a highball glass packed with crushed ice, squeeze in half a lime and drop into the glass, stir again, fill with soda water, top with a splash of tomato water. Garnish with a sprig of mint or basil and a straw (preferable a striped one).

TOMATO WATER

Chop a pound of ugly but juicy tomatoes, place in a large strainer over a large bowl and let them drain for a few hours.  Don’t press on the tomatoes.  The liquid in the bowl should be slightly pink (or yellow if you used yellow tomatoes) and mostly clear.  Use the tomatoes in some other delicious recipe, but use the water in a Summer Rickey or just drink it.