The Ultimate Watermelon Cocktail Bar: 5 Steps To Set Up A DIY Station At Home
When summer arrives in its entirety, with bright colours and warm temperatures, one of the fruits that ripens and becomes available in abundance is watermelon. This is a crispy, watery and juicy fruit, filled with sweet flavours and a distinct aroma. Watermelon is often added to a number of different cocktails because of its crisp taste and juicy texture that blends suitably with varied liquors to give them a fruity finish.
At a summertime cocktail gathering hosted at home, these crunchy watermelons can become the central ingredient primarily because they fit so well into drink recipes. And what can add a more participatory touch into the evening party or event would be a station where guests can themselves experiment with different cocktail ingredients and mixers which can be used to prepare drinks with watermelons as their focal flavour note.
Read on below for some handy steps to set up a DIY cocktail station at home that is complete with drink recipes comprising of watermelons as their core ingredient:
Choose A Watermelon-Friendly Cocktail Theme
The first step involved in setting up a cocktail station with watermelon as its central theme is to go for a party motif that goes well with the fruit’s flavours. This can be something akin to a tiki or island themed gathering, which reflects the tropical flavour and vibe of the summer fruit. Or, the party can also be shaped around motifs like an herb garden or sparkle and spritz or even tropical summers so the cocktails that are prepared for the event can incorporate watermelons in a way that is in tune with the overall feel of the event.
Pick Base Spirits And Cocktail Options
The next step in planning this watermelon themed gathering is to pull together the different base spirits and cocktail options that guests can prepare during the evening. Plan for at least 5-6 cocktail recipes which incorporate watermelon as one of their primary ingredients. With this, also shortlist spirits such as a 180 ml bottle of Tanqueray No. 10 Gin or any other premium gin of choice as well as a 180 ml bottle of Don Julio Blanco Tequila or any other premium tequila of choice and a 180 ml bottle of Captain Morgan Dark Rum or any other premium rum of choice, all of which can cater to 15-20 guests who will blend cocktails using a variety of base liquors.
Craft Watermelon Mixers Ahead Of Time
Next, prepare watermelons in versatile ways beforehand so they can be arranged on the DIY cocktail bar in the form of mixers and flavour additions. Cut up and deseed watermelon fruit chunks for muddling into drinks along with juicing the fruit and even turning it into puree. Grill a few watermelon pieces and add them to simple syrup in the form of a puree to introduce more complex, caramelised fruit flavours into cocktails like a smoked margarita or a burnt melon old fashioned.
Jot Down Recipes
Now, with the liquors and mixers all ready, jot down the different cocktail recipes that guests can put together at this themed gathering. Having a recipe on hand is a straightforward way to blend drinks, especially for those who are novices to the world of mixology. It is also an interesting way to subtly indicate to guests which cocktails are planned for the evening so they can choose the one they like best for blending.
Create A Separate Garnish Station
Another interesting step in this process is to curate a garnishing station where guests can get truly creative. Here, have in store watermelon wedges, sugar and watermelon syrup for rimming margarita glasses and fresh herbs that compliment watermelon-infused cocktails. Preparing watermelon ice is another way of lending these fruity drinks an aesthetic touch. At this separate garnishing station, guests can experiment with different watermelon accents that highlight the fruity theme of the party.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
