It’s been months since we had a tasty cocktail here on Inspired by Charm. Today I thought we could celebrate the final weeks of summer with a delicious tribute to the season: Watermelon Basil Martinis!
I saw this cocktail on a menu a few months ago and have been dying to give it try. I wasn’t quite sure what the restaurant used to make its version, but as soon I read the name, a few ingredient ideas were dancing in my head. After a bit of testing, I’m pleased to tell you that the resulting libation is quite delicious.
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The base of the cocktail is watermelon juice muddled with fresh basil. To achieve this, you mash up a few pieces of watermelon with a couple basil leaves and then strain it to remove the pulp and seeds. What you end up with is a delicious juice that tastes like a summer melon with just a hint of basil.
To make sure the watermelon basil flavor stood out in this cocktail, I relied on vodka for the main liquor. (When you’re making any martini, go with a top shelf vodka for the best results. As of late, my brand of choice is Tito’s.) In addition to the vodka, I used one of my favorites: St. Germain. This sweet liqueur, with flavors reminiscent of pear and lychee, perfectly complements everything else that’s happening in this martini. – If you prefer your cocktails on the sweeter side, feel free to add an extra splash when you’re shaking up your martini.
Once everything is prepared, all of these goodies get shaken vigorously with ice, strained into a martini glass, and garnished with a tiny watermelon slice and fresh basil leaf.
If summer had a flavor, this might be it.
makes 1 cocktail
1 cup fresh watermelon, chopped
2 large basil leaves
2.5 ounces vodka
1 ounce St. Germain Liqueur
Mini watermelon slice and basil leaf for garnish
In a large glass, muddle the watermelon with two basil leaves to release as much juice as possible. Strain through a fine sieve and reserve the juice.
To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2.5 ounces of the watermelon juice, vodka, and St. Germain. Shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a watermelon slice and basil leaf.
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I love a simple martini that’s made with ingredients I’m likely to have on hand. It’s perfect for winding down at the end of a long day or enjoying with a friend who stops by.
Join me in savoring these last days of summer with one (or two) of these Watermelon Basil Martinis. Cheers!
