Cook the Book: Summer Cocktails for Dad
For most dads, the term "summer cocktail" is synonymous with one thing: an ice cold can of Budweiser tucked into a foam cozy. While there is nothing easier than popping the top on a tall boy, there are other options that are a bit more sophisticated and just as refreshing.
This week's Cook the Book selection, New South Grilling, includes a chapter on cool drinks that pair perfectly with backyard cookout fare. Inspired by the flavors of the deep South, these modern cocktails are heavy on the watermelon, mint, and—of course—bourbon.
Today we're excerpting two recipes that are sure to make your dad forget all about that six-pack in the back of the fridge. The first is for a Mississippi Watermelon-Basil Martini made with gin and a hint of lime. The second, Not-Your-Grandmother’s Mint Julep, uses club soda for a lighter version of the classic cocktail.
Win 'New South Grilling'
In addition to excerpting a recipe each day this week, we're giving away five copies of New South Grilling. Enter to win here.
Mississippi Watermelon-Basil Martini
- makes 1 drink -
Adapted from New South Grilling by Robert St. John.
Ingredients
1 cup cubed watermelon
8 basil leaves
1 1/4 ounces Tanqueray or other gin
1/2 ounce simple syrup (1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, heated until sugar dissolves, then cooled)
2 lime wedges
Procedure
Place all ingredients in a metal cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a martini glass.
Not-Your-Grandmother’s Mint Julep
- makes 1 drink -
Adapted from New South Grilling by Robert St. John.
Ingredients
6 mint leaves, plus 1 mint sprig
1/2 ounce simple syrup (1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, heated until sugar dissolves, then cooled)
2 ounces bourbon
3 ounces soda water
Crushed ice
Procedure
Muddle mint together with the simple syrup. Pour into a cocktail glass. Add bourbon, soda water, and fill with ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
1 Comment:
So you shake the watermelon with the other ingredients and then drain it? Wouldn't all the gin be soaked into the melon and remain in the shaker???
akeeran21 at 4:55PM on 06/11/08