It’s National Watermelon Day, and I have a wonderful cocktail to share in celebration of this day. Organic Watermelon Cucumber Martini. This is a very tasty cocktail that goes down oh so well, perhaps a little too well!
Other than watermelon and cucumber, the Organic Watermelon Cucumber Martini consists of lime and agave, and most importantly, tequila. Yes, tequila folks!
Surprisingly, the lime is the star ingredient in this cocktail. The strong and smooth flavors of the tequila are a little tempered when mixed with watermelon and cucumber, but lime juice changes all of that. It heightens the flavors of each and every ingredient to give you a super-dooper carnival in your mouth.
However, if tequila is not your cup of tea, never fear, you can substitute with almost any clear liquor. Here are my recommendations, in order of preference.
- Gin
- Vodka
- White Rum
- Mezcal
The best time to serve an Organic Watermelon Cucumber Martini would be before dinner as an aperitif. It will open up your appetite and prepare you and your guests for a tasty meal.
Don’t forget, this is an organic cocktail. Needless to say, you will need organic ingredients. I used an organic tequila that I bought when I visited Puerto Vallarta. Please forgive me, the name escapes me as I finished the bottle.
However, Casa Noble is a fine organic tequila and I believe the most popular sold in the US. Apologies to my ex-US readers, my knowledge of available tequilas around the world is limited. However, I can share that many small batch tequilas are organic but not identified as organic. With that in mind, if you need help in identifying the right tequila visit a reputable store with servers that have extensive knowledge of tequila. Alternatively, shop for your tequila online.
This Organic Watermelon Cucumber Martini cocktail is inspired by Douglas Ankrah’s Watermelon Martini, published in his cocktail recipe book, Shaken and Stirred. Douglas is a British drinks and bar consultant, and sadly, Shaken and Stirred is his only cocktail recipe book, published in 2004. Shaken and Stirred is still available online, but it is much cheaper in the UK.
Douglas is also known for creating the amazing Porn Star Martini. Check out this video.
Note: if you’d like to try making the Porn Star Martini, you can skip the passionfruit liqueur and add a little more passionfruit puree.
It looks like today’s post is a twofer!
Whichever cocktail you decide to make, drink responsibly and enjoy.
Organic Watermelon Cucumber Martini
Ingredients
- 5 x 1 inch chunks organic watermelon peeled
- 3 x 1 inch chunks organic cucumber peeled
- 1 tbsp organic agave nectar
- 1/4 cup organic tequila
- 2 tsp lime from organic lime
- Ice
- For garnish - thin slice organic watermelon with peel
Equipment & Utensils
- Cocktail shaker
- Muddler
- Cocktail strainer
- Fine Strainer
- Martini Glass
Instructions
- Place watermelon, cucumber and agave into base of cocktail shaker.
- Muddle watermelon and cucumber, it will turn into mostly juice quite quickly, then mash the stray whole pieces of watermelon and cucumber as best you can.
- Add tequila and lime, then add ice until the shaker is almost full.
- Cover shaker and shake vigorously.
- Remove cover of shaker, then place cocktail strainer on top of the shaker.
- Pour cocktail into martini glass through the fine strainer (you are straining the cocktail twice at the same time)
- To garnish, cut a diagonal slit into the peel and white flesh of the watermelon slice, then cut away some of the watermelon flesh so that it does not fall off the glass.
- Place watermelon garnish on edge of glass and serve immediately.
