Cocktails with Watermelon
Watermelon is a large, juicy fruit with a very high water content and sweet red flesh.
How it's used
Muddled or juiced, the flesh brings sweetness, a pale red color and a lot of water. Watermelon is over 90% water, so it lengthens a drink as much as it flavors it.
Substitutes for Watermelon
Bottled watermelon juice
Often cut with water, so it might taste a bit thin. If it lacks body, stir in a barspoon of syrup.
Fresh blended juice
Blend the flesh and strain it: roughly 150 g yields about 100 ml of juice. Pour it in place of muddled fruit.
Honeydew or cantaloupe
Muddle them exactly the same way. They are a touch sweeter and bring a distinct melon note.
The white rind
Will not work. It tastes of cucumber rather than watermelon. Muddling it with the flesh only adds a grassy note and cuts the sweetness.
Storage
Keep a whole watermelon at room temperature: in the fridge it takes chilling injury, the rind pits and the flesh begins to break down. It will not sweeten after picking either, so buy it ripe. Cut flesh keeps a few days chilled. The juice separates quickly and turns dull by the next day, so press it to order.
