This post is sponsored by the Georgia Watermelon Association. All opinions are completely my own.
At least once every summer when I was a child, my Grandma would invite us over to her house for watermelon. On a scorching August afternoon, there was nothing better than gorging on slices of the ice-cold melon. The contrasting smells of newsprint that she would spread on the table and the sweet aroma of the ruby fruit still evoke those fond childhood memories. In our family, there was always a salt shaker on the table to go with watermelon. I’m not sure how the salt thing started, but I still eat it that way to this day.
Nothing says summer like watermelon, and we certainly ate our share during my Mississippi childhood. Local farmers would bring truckloads of the giant oblong melons to markets. On every summer holiday, the watermelon had a prominent space on the table. It wasn’t a barbecue without one.
The Georgia Watermelon Association (GWA) recently contacted me to help launch their summer drink contest. GWA is searching for the most refreshing drink for the hot months ahead. Consumers can compete to create “Georgia’s Best Summertime Drink” spotlighting one of the state’s favorite fruits – the watermelon.
The campaign began on May 26, 2015, and will continue throughout National Watermelon Month, ending July 27, 2015. Winning entries will be announced on or about August 3, 2015 – National Watermelon Day – and winners will receive juicy watermelon-themed prizes. To get information on the contest and the Association, visit their website at www.georgiawatermelonassociation.org.
To help generate a little inspiration for the contest, I’ve created a watermelon variation of one of my favorite cocktails. The Old Cuban is similar to a Mojito, made with rum, mint and lime juice, but the Cuban also contains bitters and Champagne. This ice-cold watermelon cocktail is the perfect antidote to the oppressive Georgia heat we’re having this month.
Use your imagination, create a fun watermelon drink, and enter this contest.
Ingredients
2 cups cubed Georgia Watermelon (more or less depending on how many cocktails you are making)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
6 to 8 mint leaves
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces watermelon juice
1 1/2 ounces amber rum
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 ounces Champagne or Prosecco
Lime slices, mint leaves, and watermelon wedges (for garnish)
Instructions
Place watermelon in a blender or food processor. Process until liquified. Strain through a sieve to remove pulp.
Place sugar and water in a small sauce pan and place on cocktop over low heat. Heat until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and cool.
1. Muddle mint leaves and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Add simple syrup, watermelon juice, rum, bitters, and about a cup of ice to shaker and shake until very well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
2. Add Prosecco or Champagne. Place lime slice, mint leaves, and watermelon wedge on a wooden skewer and place across glass rim.
https://southernboydishes.com/2015/06/19/watermelon-old-cuban/You may also like:
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Really good pictures. And nice drink! Fun stuff — thanks.
Hey Bill!!! I have been meaning to drop you a note for a while now. This spring and summer is ridiculously busy with grilling season and TV production. Busy is good! LOL I have been following along with your posts – they always looks a sound so delicious and look so amazing! I will definitely be making your Watermelon Old Cuban as the perfect grill-side cocktail! Good luck with the contest! 🙂 Cheers!
Your drink looks perfect for a hot summer evening. “Prost” as we say in Germany.
OMG, Bill — those photos. TOO GORGEOUS! Makes me want a watermelon old cuban right now (well, OK, not at 9am but maybe at 5pm today). 🙂 Seriously gorgeous!
Thanks you, J!! I appreciate the compliments and I think you’ll like this drink! Have a great weekend, my friend!