WATERMELON ORANGE COOLER COCKTAIL RECIPE

  I was in possession of a huge watermelon. Now, I don't know what you do with watermelons - except cut them up and eat them - but I make cocktails. Nice, tall, frosty, delicious watermelon coolers just full of all that melon flavor and spiked with rum ....
P.S. It also gave me an opportunity to show off another of the adorable Glass Swizzle Sticks I was sent from The Swizzle Stick Shop, this one had a watermelon on it!   WATERMELON ORANGE COOLER COCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS:
2 Oz Bacardi Silver
1/2 Cup Watermelon Puree
6 Fresh Mint Leaves
1 - 2 Tablespoons Simple Syrup
(amount of simple syrup depends on the sweetness of your watermelon)
1/2 Orange, Quartered
Club Soda

Garnish: Sugar, Salt and Finely Chopped Mint Leaves, Watermelon Wedge, Mint Sprig, Orange Slice

Tools: Small Plate, Muddler

Glass: Collins or Pint

DIRECTIONS:
Puree a cup of chilled, cubed watermelon with the simple syrup until smooth, set aside.
Mix 2 teaspoons of sugar and a pinch of salt with some finely chopped mint leaves in the small plate. Rub the rim of your glass with a slice of orange, roll in the rimming mixture then chill glass in the freezer.
Add the mint leaves, orange quarters and the rum to your glass and muddle gently.
Add ice, pour in the watermelon puree, stir, then top off with the club soda.
Garnish, add a straw and a swizzle stick and serve.

If you would like a non-alcoholic mocktail, feel free to leave out the rum. It's just as refreshing, just not as much fun.

Updated 7-2021

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY