bourbon watermelon slushie

 

I first got introduced to this fabulously refreshing drink one night when I came home and my roomie and a pal were sitting at the kitchen table having some drinks.

One was drinking beer and the other vino, but what intrigued me was a small bowl in the middle of them filled with watermelon that neither of them were eating, but instead just turning the pieces over every so often.

“What’s with the watermelon?” I asked.

“It’s soaking in bourbon,” they told me.

Ten minutes later when I returned to the kitchen after taking a shower there was a bourbon watermelon slushie waiting for me in the freezer.

Mm! It was delicious.

Although my roomie decided she wasn’t a big fan, I thought the sweet watermelon balanced nicely against the contrasting rough & grainy deepness of the bourbon.

So when I harvested the most GIGANTIC watermelon ever from my parents’ garden, I knew it was time to make bourbon watermelon slushies again!

The watermelon was so big I could barely carry it up the front steps and had to call for help to get it into the kitchen because it was slipping out of my hands.  I swear it must have weighed 50+ lbs!

We got it up on the counter and I anticipated cutting into it.  Would it be ripe? Overripe? Every other watermelon we had picked that year ended up being a bust, still green on the inside.  But I didn’t see how this one could possibly get any bigger and I was worried about leaving it much longer on the vine.

I cut into it and the juice poured out; the flesh that beautiful fuchsia.  It was perfect!

I’ve been enjoying the watermelon breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack time! (don’t worry, I’m eating “real food” too! ; )  Nothing says SUMMERTIME to me than a big juicy piece of watermelon.

And a bourbon watermelon slushie is the perfect indulgence on a hot late summer day!

 

HOW TO MAKE:

blender nearly full of watermelon (I cut mine into chunks and removed the seeds)

ice (I used nearly a full tray)

2 shots bourbon (I used Knob Creek)

optional – fresh herbs like mint or basil, bruised with a mortar & pestle (I used just picked Thai basil from my garden)

(You’ll want to play with the proportions.  The trick is not to overdo it with the bourbon.  You want primarily a nice watermelon flavor with the bourbon just creeping from the background.)

Blend watermelon & bourbon.  Add ice and blend well.  Pour into glasses and stir in herbs by hand (if you’re using).

If you want, you can pop the drinks in the freezer for a few more minutes before drinking.

Enjoy!


Leave a comment & tell me: What’s your favorite summer drink? What kind of cocktails have you been enjoying this summer?

 

Stella Deer is currently on hiatus. Email lia@stelladeer.com to place an order! Dismiss