I don’t ‘do’ mint unless it’s in tea or toothpaste. Mint and food, together? Not my cup of tea…well actually, that might be slightly confusing as I just stated it is my cup of tea. I digress.
I understand that you may balk at my crude analysis of this dreadfully overpowering herb, but listen, I speak the truth. And I was thinking about it today. That is, how bad I feel for generations, millennia, eons of people sipping, slurp after slippery slurp of muddled yuck.
The mojito. A classic, I know. But here’s the thing…mint is gross. So, usually, I carry on, unassumingly with my wine or craft brew, numb to its existence. But now I can’t sit idly by and do nothing any longer. My innate convictions, morals, values and ethics have a strong hold on my mind (and glass) and I cannot bear to be in this situation without intervention again.
Choose basil. Choose tarragon (like I did here – yum). Heck, choose cilantro even! But whatever you do, choose wisely. And leave mint for the teeth brushing.
Makes 6 large glasses; Takes 15 min
Ingredients
- 1 lb of a seedless watermelon, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 small container of blueberries (about 2 handfuls)
- 4 sprigs fresh tarragon, divided
- 1 1/2 cups good quality white rum
- Juice of 3 limes
- 30 ice cubes, divided
- 1 bottle sparkling water or club soda
Method
Let’s make a very simple simple syrup first:
In a sauce pan over low heat, mix together water, sugar, juice of 1 lime (and throw the body in the pot), and 2 sprigs of tarragon. Whisk this once in a while until all the sugar melts ~ 10 min. Then remove from heat and allow to cool.
Meanwhile, pull out your handy dandy blender and add about 15 ice cubes, all the watermelon, juice of 2 limes and the rum. Blend baby, blend. Taste…
Strain the simple syrup and add about half to the blender. Blend again, and taste. Better, eh? I usually end up storing the rest of the syrup in the fridge for later, but if you like it really sweet – do your thing!
You should still have 2 sprigs of tarragon, right? Good, mince up the leaves.
Ok, let’s say you’re making 4 of these (to start). Pull out your tall glasses and muddle some of the blueberries and minced tarragon in the bottom of each glass. (Muddle just means mash up – you can use a muddler or blunt end of a knife – just don’t cut yourself…like I did here.)
Fill the glasses with some of the ice cubes. (I do about 3/4 the way up). Pour over the blend. Top with extra tarragon, blueberries, limes and watermelon slices.
Need more boozy inspiration? How about Mummy’s Mummosas? Or get fancy with my Fig & Cotton Candy Grape Martini. Practicing safe drinking? Try my Homemade Dark Chocolate with Vanilla Whip. It’s non alcoholic, and non-non nothing less than amazing.
