Mandatory summer cocktail!
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This was one of my early cocktail creations that really convinced me to start this whole blog. I had already concocted my seminal original creation The Melon Blast which started the wheels turning, but it was my annual trip to Provincetown in 2017 that was my introduction to this wonderful cocktail that convinced me that creating, photographing and promoting cocktails was my life calling. Or at least my mid-life crisis relief-valve hobby. In any case, I was walking down Commercial Street with my family, when I had the rare opportunity to wander off by myself for a cocktail while the wife and kids shopped for tourist related apparel. I happened to be right in front of a popular restaurant called the Lobster Pot where coincidentally an old friend had previously worked when I visited him 30+ years ago on my first trip to Ptown. I slipped inside to chug something – anything – that would dull the pain of hot sun and whining children. I was gonna just get something with vodka, but then I saw the locals next to me get these gorgeous fruity drinks with watermelon slices, limes and mint and I said “I’ll have one of those!”
There are literally as many recipes for the watermelon mojito as there are people making them. The only thing they seem to have in common is fresh watermelon, lime, mint, rum and some kind of bubbly topper (ginger ale, ginger beer, lemon lime soda, seltzer, champagne, etc.) plus most also include some form of sugar or simple syrup. I’ve made many variations, and usually I spend the time to do up the garnishes all purdy-like, but that takes time and it was hot, so you can figure that out fer yerselves. This is my premier version of the recipe, but feel free to fiddle. I build this in a large glass and make it messy.
¾ cup fresh watermelon chunks
half a lime
10 mint leaves
1 oz. Smith & Cross Navy Strength Rum (or other Jamaican rum)
1 oz. Don Q añejo rum (or other Puerto Rican or Cuban rum)
½ oz. Velvet Falernum
½ oz. Cointreau
4 oz. ginger beer (or seltzer)
2 dashes creole bitters
crushed ice
Muddle watermelon and lime aggressively in a pint glass until watermelon is mostly liquid, then add mint and muddle gently, add liquor and ice, stir, top with ginger beer and garnish with bitters, lime wedge, watermelon slice, mint sprig.