Living in Arizona can be a challenge, especially in the summer when our temps hover in the triple digits. And that old chestnut, "it's a dry heat" doesn't apply during Monsoon season where nature adds humidity to those high temperatures! One needs a tall, chilled drink for some relief from that kind of weather and I had some watermelon .....
CHIPOTLE WATERMELON MOJITO
INGREDIENTS:
1-1/2 Oz. White Rum 1/2 C. Watermelon, Cubed 1/2 Lime, Sliced then Quartered 5 - 6 Fresh Spearmint Leaves 1 Tbsp. Simple Syrup 3 Dashes Chipotle Sauce Club Soda Crushed Ice
GARNISH: 1 Watermelon chunk, 1 Lime wheel
TOOLS: 1 Long (tall) glass, Muddler
DIRECTIONS: Add the watermelon, lime, mint leaves and simple syrup to your tall glass and muddle to release the juices and the aroma of the mint. Add your rum and your favorite chipotle sauce (I like Cholula), give the cocktail a quick stir. Fill the glass with ice. Top off with the club soda. Add a straw and garnish.
I had a few fresh cherries left over from my Cherry Peach Whiskey Rickey and I wanted something quick and easy to whip up because I was hot, tired and ready for a cocktail. I needed something tall, cool and really refreshing which was also pretty easy and nothing is more refreshingly easy than a Mojito.
I also wanted to console myself because, once again, my work schedule had precluded me from attending Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. I was feeling very sorry for myself indeed. Cherries and rum are a great way to put paid to the doldrums, especially if you add chocolate covered cherries (and leftover peaches from my Grilled Peach Rum Mimosa) to the mix!
Within minutes I was ensconced on my deck sipping away and feeling way considerably less sorry for myself. If you need a little pick-me-up from your doldrums try this drink!
CHERRY BASIL
MOJITO
INGREDIENTS: 1-1/2 Oz. White Rum 1/3 C. Fresh Cherries, Halved and Pitted Fresh Basil Leaves 2 Dashes Chocolate Bitters 3 Tsps. Mint Infused Sugar°° Fresh Lime, Sliced and Quartered Club Soda Crushed Ice
TOOLS: Pint or Collins glass, Knife, Cherry pitter, Muddler, Bar spoon
DIRECTIONS: Place the cherries, basil, mint sugar and limes in your glass and muddle together with a cocktail muddler (or the handle of a wooden spoon) until the cherries have released their juices. Add the white rum and stir. Fill your glass with ice then top the drink off with club soda and stir again. Garnish with a sprig of basil, and or mint, add your Maraschino cherry to the rim and serve.
Enjoy, and remember this one next time you have cherries and need to chill out! P. S. If you like Mojitos and pineapple check out how to make my Grilled Pineapple Mojito on my YouTube channel.
