Cantaloupe gin and tonic

Makes 4 cocktails

Cantaloupe is naturally sweet and floral, making it an unexpectedly delicious flavor for late summer cocktails. This juiced-up gin and tonic features the tiniest little bit of rosewater to bring out those floral notes, but you can leave it out if it's not for you. For every 1/2 cantaloupe you use, you'll have enough to make about 4 drinks (depending on how juicy your melon is).

Ingredients

Cantaloupe Juice

  • 1/2 cantaloupe, peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped (from a 3 1/2 lb melon)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar, or as needed
  • 1 teaspoon rose water (optional)

For each cocktail:

  • 3 oz cantaloupe juice
  • 1 oz gin
  • 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz tonic, or as needed

Directions

  1. For the cantaloupe juice: combine the cantaloupe, sugar, and rose water, if using. Add 1/2 cup water, and blend until smooth. Add more water, as needed to facilitate blending. Taste and adjust with additional sugar, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  2. For each drink, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the juice, gin, and lemon juice. Tightly close and shake until the mixture is well-chilled.
  3. Strain into a highball glass with fresh ice. Top with tonic just before serving.

CIA FOODIES


Cantaloupe Gin and Tonic

Cantaloupe gin and tonic
Makes 4 cocktails Cantaloupe is naturally sweet and floral, making it an unexpectedly delicious flavor for late summer cocktails. This juiced-up gin and tonic features the tiniest little bit of rosewater to bring out those floral notes, but you can leave it out if it's not for you. For every 1/2 cantaloupe you use, you'll have enough to make about 4 drinks (depending on how juicy your melon is).

Ingredients

Cantaloupe Juice
  • 1/2 cantaloupe, peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped (from a 3 1/2 lb melon)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar, or as needed
  • 1 teaspoon rose water (optional)

For each cocktail:
  • 3 oz cantaloupe juice
  • 1 oz gin
  • 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz tonic, or as needed

Directions

  1. For the cantaloupe juice: combine the cantaloupe, sugar, and rose water, if using. Add 1/2 cup water, and blend until smooth. Add more water, as needed to facilitate blending. Taste and adjust with additional sugar, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  2. For each drink, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the juice, gin, and lemon juice. Tightly close and shake until the mixture is well-chilled.
  3. Strain into a highball glass with fresh ice. Top with tonic just before serving.

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