Friday, October 7, 2011

The Ingredients For A Watermelon Martini







Watermelon can be used to make refreshing cocktails.


Recipes for watermelon martinis vary. Some recipes call for just four ingredients, while others might have six or seven ingredients, not counting the ice and garnish. A simple recipe takes just minutes to prepare using a martini shaker, while other recipes call for the use of a blender, making watermelon ice cubes or preparing sugar syrup on the stove.


Vodka


A martini by definition is a cocktail made primarily with vodka or gin. A watermelon martini usually calls for vodka as the cocktail's primary liquor. Yet, watermelon martini recipes exist that call for gin, instead of vodka. Vodka is a distilled beverage made from fermented ingredients, such as potatoes or grain. Vodkas often lack a distinct flavor, while juniper berries typically enhance gin's distinct flavor. Vodka's transparent flavor, which does not interfere with the cocktail's other ingredients, is often preferred over gin when making the watermelon martini.








Watermelon


The essential element of the cocktail is the watermelon itself. Simple recipes use the juice of a fresh watermelon, while complex recipes call for pieces of seedless watermelon, pureed in a blender and sometimes frozen. In some recipes that call for pureed watermelon, added sugar syrup sweetens the fruit. Make the syrup by combining equal amounts of sugar and water, and heating on the stove. When having a summer party, prepare a batch of watermelon martinis to use up surplus watermelon.


Liqueur


Watermelon martini recipes typically call for a melon liqueur, often naming a specific brand: Midori melon liqueur. Liqueurs are alcoholic beverages, flavor enhanced by fruits or nuts, and used specifically to add flavor to a recipe, as opposed to an alcoholic punch. Instead of melon liqueur, some recipes call for a combination of triple sec and Chambord. Both of these ingredients are liqueurs, yet triple sec has an orange flavor, while Chambord has a raspberry flavor.


Citrus


Depending on the recipe, it may call for fresh lemon or lime juice. Garnish the cocktail with twists of lemon or lime.

Tags: recipes call, melon liqueur, distinct flavor, flavor while, lemon lime