There’s nothing more refreshing that snacking on watermelon when it’s warm out. Since watermelon is 92% water, it’s the perfect summer snack for keeping hydrated. Since it’s so high in water content, it’s also terrific for creating drinks. Sure you can use watermelon in smoothies. However, I love using watermelon in cocktails!
My Georgia Fruit Stand Cocktail is inspired by a recent drive home from Savannah, Georgia. Most of the way is on rural highways and we passed several fruit stands piled high with two fruits that Georgia is famous for – her watermelons and her peaches. Sure you can get both fruits at any supermarket in town, but there’s something special about buying locally grown produce at a fruit stand.
When buying a watermelon, make sure to look it over. You want a firm, symmetrical watermelon that has no cuts, bruises or dents in it. When you lift it, your watermelon should be heavy since most of the weight is water. When you turn it over, there should be a yellow spot where the watermelon sat on the ground to ripened in the sun.
Make sure to wash the outside of your watermelon before you cut into it. It’s been rolling around the back of your car. Who knows where it’s been before that!
Some notes on my Georgia Fruit Stand Cocktail recipe
My watermelon cocktail recipe used about half the medium watermelon I bought from the store. So you can double the recipe if you wish. Or you can make watermelon ice pops or a Mint & Basil Watermelon Salad with Feta. And don’t throw out those rinds! Instead, make Spicy Watermelon Rind Pickles or add them to your compost pile.
The peach flavored whiskey I used is by Leopold Bros., which is a family owned distillery out of out of Denver, Colorado. They use real Georgia Freestone and Clingstone peaches to make their small batch Colorado Peach Whiskey. Their liquors are high quality and worth every penny.
I also used peach bitters made by Fee Brothers out of Rochester, New York. You can find their product at your better liquor stores or online.
Finally, when straining the watermelon juice, don’t throw out the pulp. Instead, use it in a smoothie, in your morning yogurt, or mix it with dash of honey and spread it on toast.
The Georgia Fruit Stand Cocktail
A watermelon drink with peach whiskey & lime.
Ingredients
Ice
Directions
Puree watermelon in a blender or a food processor until liquefied.
Pour watermelon juice through a fine mesh strainer to catch any seeds or pulp.
In a large pitcher, combine strained watermelon juice, peach whiskey, lime juice and bitters. Serve over ice cubes.
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Enter the Georgia’s Best Summertime Drink Contest!
I hope I’ve inspired you to come up with a summertime drink of your own so you can enter it in the Georgia’s Best Summertime Drink Contest! There are four categories:
Family Friendly
Just Juice
Blended Not Stirred
21 and Up
How the contest works:
Create your perfect summertime beverage featuring watermelon.
Qualified recipes will be shared on our social media pages for all to see.
Winners will be announced in early August.
Prizes:
Four First Place Prizes, one for each category: the ultimate summer party beverage stand
One Grand Prize: a Ninja Mega Kitchen System in the color of your choice and the title of “Georgia’s Best Summertime Drink”!
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