Watermelon Cocktails

The Fancy Food Show is now over, and very likely an increasing number of future posts here at Unique Culinary Adventures will cover some of the new products showcased there. In fact, we'll probably do so tomorrow with a follow-up post covering products from the show that also relate to drinks featuring watermelon, such as pictured above. However, before delving into the packaged goodies from the Fancy Food Show, lets begin with the basics.

But first things first: The cocktail on the left is a watermelon margarita made with tequila. The formula is from the book Atomic Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for Modern Times by Karen Brooks, Gideon Bosker, and Reed Darmon. Here's how you do it:

NEON WATERMELON MARGARITA

Sugar for rims of glasses
2 1/2 oz. silver tequila
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
2 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. Midori (melon liqueur)
2 cups cubed seeded watermelon
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
1 1/2 cups crushed ice
2 watermelon wedges and two slices of kiwi fruit (optional) for garnish

Rub rim of two large wine goblets with lime slice then dip in sugar and set aside. In a blender, whirl the tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice, and Midori. Add the watermelon, sugar, and ice. Blend until the mixture is between slushy and chunky. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared goblets. To garnish: With a plastic toothpick sword, skewer a watermelon wedge and a kiwi slcie and decorate the rim of a goblet; repeat the process to garnish the remaining margarita. 2 drinks

From Atomic Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for Modern Times by Karen Brooks, Gideon Bosker, and Reed Darmon, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 1988

The drink on the right features mescal and a lot of other ingredients. I've always referred to it as my Mescal Watermelon Martini, based on a recipe taken several years ago from the Internet. An identical recipe is still on the Internet at the site A Taste of Texas http://www.tasteoftx.com/bevs/mezcal/mezcal_drinks.html.
I don't know whether it is from the same site that was my original source or not, but it's now referred to as a "watermelon margarita." No question that it's a lot more margarita than martini. I find the flavor profile defined by mescal, watermelon, lemon, lime, Grand Marnier, and mint to be most intriguing.