Grilled Watermelon In Drinks: A Guide To Elevating Flavour And Texture In Cocktails
During summers, one of the cocktail staples used by mixologists and bartenders is fresh fruits such as the watermelon. Crispy, juicy chunks of watermelon are either muddled into drinks or are turned into a fine puree that can be incorporated into a number of different tropical, summertime blends. However, another mixology technique that is often employed by mixologists for utilising this fruit in cocktails is grilling watermelon.
Barbecuing or grilling meats, fruits and veggies on an open flame or on charcoal is a part of many routine summertime holiday cultures. When such a barbecue is curated for the season, one of the ways in which it is put to use is grilling fruits like watermelons. When put on a barbecue or grill, watermelon wedges acquire caramelised flavours and soft textures which build complex flavours when they are added to blends.
Grilling Watermelons
The easiest and most straightforward manner of grilling watermelons involves slicing the fruit into thick wedges, deseeding it and removing the rinds. This is especially useful when the grilled fruit is going to be used for juicing. Pat dry the watermelon to remove excess moisture which could hamper the grilling process. Watermelon wedges can be brushed lightly with honey, lime juice or olive oil to give them an added flavourful edge when they are being grilled. The fruit can then be put on an open flame and allowed to caramelise until little char marks start appearing on the surface. Take the wedges off the drill once ready and cool completely before utilising the grilled fruit pieces in drinks.
Read on below for a guide to incorporating grilled watermelon in cocktails to craft drinks prepared at summertime gatherings or at an outdoor party or a sundowner:
Grilled Watermelon Juice
A simple way to incorporate grilled watermelon into drinks is in the form of juice. Put the grilled fruit in a blender and juice it before adding to drinks like a smoky tropical margarita made using 30 ml Don Julio Blanco Tequila or any other premium tequila of choice. Adding juice to a cocktail will ensure that the watermelon’s caramelised and slightly earthy flavour will seep into the drink, infusing it with a smooth textural finish.
Muddled Watermelon Chunks
Adding muddled and grilled watermelon chunks into drinks lends them a soft and chewy textural touch which brings a bit of structural diversity into blends. A smooth cocktail with muddled watermelon pieces also acquires a slightly thicker quality and denser texture that enables the drink to have more volume. As well, the caramelised sugary flavours in grilled watermelon pieces bring a buttery and earthy sweetness into drinks doing away with the need to add any external sweeteners. Such a grilled fruit can be muddled into drinks like a watermelon and gin smash prepared using Tanqueray No. 10 Gin or any other premium gin of choice.
Grilled Watermelon Syrup
A more intricate way of incorporating the grilled fruit in cocktails is in the form of a simple syrup that is infused with watermelon puree. The blend then becomes a syrupy, sticky sweetener complete with the textural silkiness of simple syrup coupled with the caramelised and juicy flavours of grilled watermelon.
Such a sweetener can be stirred into drinks like a burnt melon old fashioned crafted using 30 ml Johnnie Walker Black Label or any other premium whisky of choice. Earthy, caramelised notes of grilled watermelons mix well with the spicy and bitter flavours of whisky, such that coupled with the addition of 10 ml citrus bitters and a cinnamon garnish, the drink acquires a very nuanced bitter and sweet flavour profile.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
