Pickled Watermelon Shrub Cocktail

Prep Time

20 Minutes

Ingredients

7

Servings

4

Shrubs, or fruit-and-vinegar syrups, are a great way to add acidity and complexity to balance the sweetness of cocktails and alcohol-free beverages. This refreshing libation features tart pickled watermelon, sweet melon liqueur and fizzy club soda.

Ingredients

100 millilitre (4 fluid ounce) white balsamic vinegar
1 sachet Pickling Spice
1/4 watermelon, cut into slices
225 millilitre (8 fluid ounce) melon liqueur, such as Midori
150 millilitre (1/4 pint) gin
500 millilitre (17 fluid ounce) club soda
ice cubes

Instructions

1 Bring the vinegar and pickling spice to boil in small saucepan for 2 minutes. Then leave to cool slightly. Strain the pickling liquid through cheesecloth-lined strainer into liquid measuring cup. Fold up ends of cheesecloth to form a spice pouch, tie tightly with string.
2 Place watermelon slices in large re-sealable plastic bag or jar large enough to hold the slices. Pour melon liqueur, gin, pickled vinegar and spice pouch into bag or jar. Seal tightly. Let stand for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
3 For each cocktail, pour ¼ of the pickled melon mixture into tall ice-filled beverage glass. Top each glass with club soda. Garnish with a pickled watermelon slice. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 4 cocktails.