Porch Cocktails for Watermelon Summer
Summer of 2021 I had dubbed the “Summer of Ginnie.” It was to be a summer filled with wonderful experiences, people, and living life to the fullest. After a very difficult brush with long Covid, I was finally healthy and ready to be out in the world experiencing every moment. And it felt like the world was in the same space in Covid recovery. Potential shone in the summer sun.
Instead, a year ago I had a near death experience by somehow getting a super bug bacteria joint infection in my toe, with sepsis, an operation, and was on IV antibiotics for much of the summer.
In many ways, it’s the most Summer of Ginnie thing possible, because it certainly made me appreciate life and all of its experiences. But it’s also made me cautious on grand pronouncements moving forward.
But it hasn’t sworn me off of a summer theme, because that’s just the right choice. This summer is “Watermelon Summer.” Because watermelon is delicious, it’s good for you, and it can make nearly anyone happy with a perfectly sized bite. And, while it’s a nice theme, it’s also a low bar for summer, which I think we can all use right now.
In that vein, I have several porch cocktail recipes for you so you can celebrate your own Watermelon Summer. Watermelon in a cocktail is inspired, it’s literally summer in a glass and so easy to do. Just chop up your watermelon, or ball it, toss it in the blender, no liquid required, and just blend. You can strain it, but I’m too lazy to do that and it’s never been a problem.
These cocktails were sampled with my dear friends and neighbors Jim and Thea who are up for any beverage challenge that one can come up with. Their patio is a perfect spot for Sunday Funday, and we will often bounce between my porch and their patio.
We created the Manning Mimosa to combine our love for prosecco and watermelon and it is delicious. The recipe is below, but the key to it is putting a splash of watermelon juice on top of your prosecco, which will prevent over bubbling.
Jim’s standard is the watermelon margarita. I don’t know why margaritas everywhere don’t have watermelon involved, but it’s a genius idea. It takes a summer staple and brings it to the next level and for those that care, it also makes simple syrup unnecessary, so really an inspired skinny margarita.
Saving the best for last is the Watermelon Cosmo. I recommend making it by the pitcher. It is everything you’d hope a summer cocktail would be. Refreshing, delicious, and the perfect accompaniment to sitting outside with friends. If you are going to a gathering, bring a pitcher and I promise you’ll be invited back.
Here’s to health, sun, fun, and lots of delicious moments for everyone’s Watermelon Summer.
Quick note: as mentioned above, to make watermelon juice, all you have to do is toss chunked up watermelon in a blender, no liquid needed. Watermelon juice will keep several days in the fridge and you can toss it into popsicle forms for a frozen summer snack. Although with the magic of watermelon, you can also just freeze watermelon itself and it’s delicious.
Manning Mimosa
Serves 1
Ingredients
Prosecco (my favorite for years has been La Marca, but Cupcake also makes a great prosecco at a lower price point)
Watermelon juice
Method
1. Fill your glass ¾ of the way up with prosecco
2. Top with watermelon juice
3. Enjoy!
Watermelon Margaritas
From: The Forked Spoon https://theforkedspoon.com/watermelon-margarita-recipe-3-ingredients/
4 Servings
Ingredients
1 cup watermelon juice
½ cup lime juice
¾ cup Tequila (highly recommend Lunazul Blanco Tequila)
Method
1. Mix the above ingredients together in a pitcher, easy to make ahead and store in the fridge
2. When serving, shake in a cocktail shaker with ice
3. We enjoy too quickly to bother with putting stuff on our rims or garnishing, but if you have more patience than we do, just run a sliced lime around the rim of your glass and dip it in a shallow dish with kosher salt or sugar or a combination of the two
4. If you want to add some spice, put sliced jalapeno in the cocktail shaker before serving, super yum!
Watermelon Cosmos
From: Ina Garten on the Foodnetwork https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/watermelon-cosmopolitans-12438413
Serves 4 (highly recommend doubling)
Ingredients
2 cups watermelon juice
6 ounces Vodka (Albany Distilling Vodka is a delicious local choice, also highly recommend Reyka Vodka)
3 ounces Cointreau or triple sec (no advice on this one, I just buy whatever for Triple Sec and I’ve always been pleased)
2 ounces lime juice (ideally fresh squeezed, but it’s still crazy good if you use that green bottle)
Method
1. Mix the above ingredients in a pitcher, easy to make ahead and store in the fridge
2. When serving, shake in a cocktail shaker with ice
3. Literal summer in a glass, make this one, you will thank me later.
