Margarita of the Month: June 2014 – Watermelon Margarita

Margarita of the Month: June 2014 – Watermelon Margarita (Market-Fresh Mixology Version)

Nothing signals the onset of summer to me much more than watermelon – good watermelon that is…

Watermelon Margarita – Market-Fresh Mixology Version

you can get it pretty much year-round, but it’s late spring/early summer that it really starts getting good (normally when the price goes down and they start going on sale is a good indicator of them being in season)!

Market-Fresh Mixology

So when my-favorite-melons started to look better, I pulled out a copy of a cocktail book I’d been sent a little while back: Market-Fresh Mixology, Cocktails for Every Season by Bridget Albert. This book has drinks based around the seasons of the year, emphasizing what fruits, veggies and herbs are in best at each time of the year, and how to incorporate them into a lovely libation (more on the book later).

So let’s make a margarita…

Watermelon Margarita (Market-Fresh Mixology Version)

4 Cubes  Fresh Watermelon (each 1″ square or so, seeds removed)

1 1/2 Ounces  Fresh Sour Mix (2 parts fresh lemon juice to 1 part simple syrup)

1 1/2 Ounces  Silver Tequila

1/2 Ounce  Triple Sec

For Rim Ingredients (also see note below)

4 Tsp  Super Fine Sugar

1 Tsp Sea Salt

1 Tsp  Crushed Pink Peppercorns

Lime Wedge

To rim the glass, mix the sugar, salt and peppercorns on a small plate. Rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge and roll the rim of the glass in the sugar mixture and set aside.

In a cocktail shaker muddle the watermelon with the lime juice until it’s pulverized. Add the fresh sour, tequila and triple sec. Throw in a couple of good handfuls of ice and shake well. Strain the drink into the prepared glass and garnish as desired (lime wheel, watermelon piece, etc.). Now drink up! This recipe makes one decent sized drink. And since it’s got watermelon in it, I’m deeming it a healthy cocktail!

Hibiscus Mini Flower Crystals and Watermelon Margarita

Note: Since I didn’t have any pink peppercorns on hand, I decided to try out another goodie I’d been sent to test out: Mini Herb Crystals from Fresh Origins Microgreens. There are seven flavors of these little crystals which are made from the fresh herb, flower or fruit mixed with cane sugar, in this case I used the Hibiscus flavor. You can also mix these with a bit of salt for that sweet-n-salty rim if you like. They also make larger crystals of the same materials that can be used on cookies, cupcakes and the like. These are some interesting products that are worth a look.

Watermelon Margarita – Market-Fresh Mixology Version

A few more notes on the book… the author (who has appeared on Iron Chef America on the Food Network) opens with a nice section with “Home Bar Essentials” then the main section of the book has recipes for each of the four seasons and wraps up with some recipes for infusions also keyed to the seasons (can you say Savory Onion Infusion for Fall?).

There is a good variety of unique recipes and the photos are nice, but not all recipes are illustrated. There are several recipes I really want to try (Blackberry Cinnamon Mojito anybody?), but be aware that many of the recipes do call for specific syrups (that you’ll have to make from provided recipes, like lemongrass syrup or lavender syrup) and a wide number of specific liquors that you may not have on hand (so unless you have an ultra-well stocked bar, you’ll have to make a trip or two to your local liquor emporium). If you’re the adventurous imbiber and want to expand your collection of adult beverage concoctions I’d recommend taking a look at Market-Fresh Mixology.

 

Thanks to Agate Publishing and for providing the book and Fresh Origins for the flower crystal samples. And in effort of Full Disclosure, I was given the book and samples free of charge, but all opinions/comments are strictly mine and objective.

 

We’re back to the kitchen, and of course, the bar! See you soon!

 

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