Cantaloupe Cocktails for all Occasions
It’s summer cocktail season! Time to kick back on the patio and enjoy a round or two with friends. This summer, step up your spirits game with a secret ingredient: cantaloupe. This super-refreshing fruit creates a different — and unexpected — dynamic in standard cocktails like margaritas. Read on for a few of our favorites.
There’s nothing more classic than a martini, but the traditional gin-and-vermouth variety is a little heavy for hot weather. Try this cocktail with our Cantaloupe Kabobs with Yogurt and Toppings for a perfect pairing.
Cantaloupe Martini
2 teaspoons simple syrup*
1 ounce pureed cantaloupe**
1 ounce vodka
¼ ounce Midori
Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake, then strain into martini glass. Makes one martini.
*You can find simple syrup at the grocery store, or make it at home: Combine one cup sugar with one cup water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool before using.
**Pureed cantaloupe has pulp. If you prefer a drink without pulp, simply strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth and use the juice.
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This tangy drink is wonderful with our Grilled Shrimp with Cantaloupe Salsa.
Cantaloupe Margarita
1 cup cantaloupe puree
1/3 cup lime juice, fresh or bottled
½ cup Cointreau
½ cup tequila
1 cup ice
Place all ingredients in blender and blend. Serve with lime and salt-rimmed glasses. Makes 2-4 margaritas.
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Try this updated version of the favorite Cuban cocktail with our Cantaloupe Carpaccio Bites.
Cantaloupe Daiquiri
½ cantaloupe, pureed
3 ounces white rum
1 ounce Midori
1 teaspoon simple syrup (optional)
1 cup ice
Blend all ingredients in a blender and pour into tall glasses. Makes four cocktails.
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Never heard of a shrub? No, we’re not talking about hedgerows here — a shrub is a Revolutionary-era cocktail made with vinegar that has been gaining ground over the past 10 years or so. Shrubs are especially refreshing on hot days because the acid in the vinegar is a great thirst quencher. Our version is non-alcoholic, but you could easily add a splash of vodka to turn this into an adult beverage. Try the shrub with our Cantaloupe Salad with Arugula, Hazelnuts, and Feta.
Cantaloupe Shrub
1 cantaloupe, rind removed, chopped
¼ cup sugar
4 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
Place cantaloupe in a bowl and cover with sugar. Let it sit covered overnight in the fridge, then drain the syrup that results in the morning. You should have about two cups. Add four tablespoons of white balsamic vinegar and stir, then place in a Mason jar or other sealable container.
To make a drink, pour 1 to 1 ½ ounces of the shrub over ice. Top with sparkling water, stir, and enjoy.
