By Justina Coronel
There is no better way to cool off from this brutal summer heat than by trying these refreshing summer cocktail recipes. The Watermelon Smash and the Mint Julep are deliciously made with moscato from Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi. The Watermelon Smash is a great combination of juicy watermelon and mint leaves. Both of these substances also garnish the drink beautifully. The Mint Juleps have muddled fresh mints as well; even the ice cubes in this frosted drink are mint-infused. Now that’s quite the experi-mint.
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato – Watermelon Smash
Prep + Cook Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Yield: 8-10 cocktails
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds seedless watermelon, peeled and cubed, plus 1/2 pound watermelon reserved for garnish
- 1/4 cup mint leaves, plus several leaves for garnish
- Juice of four limes (about 8 tbsp)
- 1 bottle of Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato
- 5 ounces vodka
- Simple syrup to taste (depending on how sweet your watermelon is, you may not need it at all)
- Ice
Directions:
- Add watermelon, mint and lime juice to a blender and puree. Strain into a pitcher.
- Stir in the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato and vodka. Taste. Sweeten with simple syrup to taste. Refrigerate for at least two hours.
- Stir again, then pour the cocktail into drinking glasses filled with ice and garnish with skewered watermelon.
*Entertaining Tip: for a no-fuss crowd pleaser, double or triple this recipe and serve it in a large punch bowl. Make a gorgeous ice ring by adding lime slices, mint leaves and water to a plain Bundt pan. Freeze, then unmold and add to your punch just before party time!
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato – Mint Julep
Yield: 1 Mint Julep
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato
- 3 tsp seltzer water
- 3 sprigs fresh mint
- Extra large ice cubes
Directions:
- To make mint ice cubes, tear up about 8 mint leaves and freeze with water the night before.
- Muddle 6 mint leaves, powdered sugar and seltzer water in a glass or cocktail shaker.
- Add Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato and shake or stir lightly to mix.
- Add ice cubes to your serving glass, pour drink over the ice and garnish with the remaining mint.
*Entertaining Tip: to make the mint ice cubes, chop several mint leaves and freeze them with water in ice cube trays the night before serving.
The summer heat is no sweater weather, but you definitely will break a sweat so make sure to keep hydrated by drinking these perfect summer recipes.