Some years back a friend of mine told me about this cocktail he fell in love with while visiting in San Francisco. It was a Chili Melon Martini and at the time it sounded new and interesting and since I had a watermelon and some chili peppers on hand I had to try it out.
I'm not a huge hot pepper fan, they can easily kill my palate for hours, if not days, depending on end of the Scoville scale they populate. But I was cautious and didn't muddle the pepper slices. I also left out the seeds and just let the slices gently flavor the cocktail as I stirred.
I definitely got and enjoyed the pepper flavor - and aroma - but not the burn and I enjoyed the slight bite of the chili against the sweetness of the watermelon. It was kind of a mellow fire and ice experience and I truly enjoyed my Chili Watermelon Cocktail. Even if you're a hot pepper weenie like me, I think you will too.
And for you real hot pepper junkies, before you add the ice and spirits in the recipe below toss in those pepper slices and muddle them. That should be more than enough to kick it up to the dangerous level. If not then, hey, toss in the seeds and climb up the Scoville ladder a few notches. But just a few, too hot and the pepper will overpower the watermelon. Balance is the key.
The
CHILI WATERMELON
COCKTAIL
Ingredients
1-1/2 Oz. Watermelon Vodka
2 Oz. Fresh Watermelon Juice
1 Oz. Fresh Lime Juice
2 Dashes Hot Sauce
Pinch of Sea Salt
Garnish
Chili Powder & Sugar Rim
Chili Peppers
Lime Twist
Directions
Rub the rim of an Old Fashioned glass with lime then dip in a combination of 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Fill the glass with ice cubes, add ingredients then stir to chill.
Garnish with a lime twist and serve.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS:
National Pepper Month is November, National Hot Sauce Day is January 22nd and National Chili Day is the last Thursday in February.
Updated 7-2021
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
