Last weekend I had the best luck with cantaloupe. In my experience, cantaloupe is either under ripe and totally bland or juicy and unforgettably sweet. I had the latter and it inspired me to create a cocktail that would pair beautifully with or before an Indian meal. Ginger Melon Fizz is the perfect summer cocktail – the taste of cantaloupe evokes the season, ginger tingles the palate, lime adds a touch of sour, simple syrup a touch of sweet and it is topped off with club soda for effervescence. It is an added bonus that this is a totally gorgeous cocktail as well – the color of a sunset at the beach. It is also equally good virgin. At the end of a day when you need something to revive you this will definitely do the trick. Enjoy with or without Indian fare!
GINGER MELON FIZZ
Ingredients:
2 c. roughly chopped cantaloupe (about 1/4 of a melon)
1 tbl. finely grated ginger (I used a microplane grater)
2 tbl simple syrup *
1/2 c. water
1 cup vodka
lime wedges
12 oz chilled club soda
mint sprigs for garnish
1. In a blender, puree the melon, ginger, simple syrup and water.
2. Run the mixture through a sieve. You should have between 1 – 1 1/3 cups of juice depending on the juiciness of the melon.
3. Add a handful of ice to each cocktail glass, followed by 1/4 cup of melon puree, and 2 oz of vodka. Squeeze the lime wedge into the drink and then drop it in. Top with club soda to fill the glass. Stir well. Garnish with a mint sprig.
This will make 4-5 cocktails depending on how much juice you produce.
* If you don’t have simple syrup on hand you could also use another liquid sweetener like agave nectar or honey.
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