Inspired we were, by this recipe. And it was as much cooking as we could even think about given the heat.
My comments would be to use less sugar in the simple syrup. Or dilute it more when you have made it. The drink was terrific, but sweet. DO NOT FORGO LEMON SLICE at the end. We substituted ice for the water below. And, of course, we added more gin. We went with Tanqueray, but something very spicy like Hendricks would probably be delish.
I am thinking about popscicles made with the stuff.
Yum.
Also Amanda and Merrill and Food52 are great sites to follow.
Boozy Watermelon Rosemary Lemonade
This recipe is entered in the contest for Your Best Poolside Cocktail. VOTE
AMANDA & MERRILL'S TESTING NOTES:
This tart, pink cocktail is a burst of summer in a glass. You don't strain the watermelon puree, which gives the drink some texture, and we love that piccantedolce calls for gin instead of a more predictable spirit like vodka. The mineral quality of the gin is echoed in the rosemary infused syrup, which announces its presence clearly without hijacking the whole flavor profile. We recommend you serve this over plenty of ice in Mason jars. - A&M
SERVES 6
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- 4 sprigs rosemary
- 1 cup lemon juice - fresh squeezed
- 7 cups watermelon - cut into a 1" dice - approx half a medium watermelon
- 8 ounces gin
- 1 lemon - thinly sliced
- Place sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan, add rosemary sprigs. Cook over medium heat stirring until the sugar dissolves. Once dissolved remove from heat, cover saucepan and let sit for at least an hour to infuse.
- In a blender combine the lemon juice with cubed watermelon. Add the watermelon in batches, blending in between each addition.
- Add in the rosemary simple syrup 1/4 cup at a time until the mixture is at your desired sweetness. I use about a cup.
- Pour the mixture into a large pitcher and add 1 cup of cold water, the gin and fill with the watermelon mixture. Stir to combine. Serve in jars garnished with a lemon slice and half of a rosemary sprig.