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Created especially for a hot summer’s day, this watermelon cocktail pitcher recipe is a chilled white wine cooler infused with freshly juiced apple and watermelon with just a little hit of brandy. A great way to share a long white wine cocktail with friends.
This is a great way to make a bottle of white wine go a bit further, and of course, if you find yourself in the position that a few friends come over and you only have one bottle of wine to share, this way you don’t have to go to the shops to buy more. You just need to have some apples to give a fresh zing and a watermelon for sweetness and you have an amazing refreshing cooler. Not too dissimilarly from a sangria which is another great wine and fruit cocktail pitcher we use a little brandy to add a little bit of the alcohol hit that can get lost with mixing juice into wine and let’s face it, you don’t want to think you’re drinking a soft drink.
Easy watermelon cocktail pitcher with wine
This beautiful pink watermelon cocktail pitcher is a simpler version and inspired by a traditional boatman’s punch which is a large bowl of white wine with apple cider and brandy into which melon balls are added. In fact, if you want to substitute the apple juice in this recipe for cider you’ll add a little fizz and quite a bit of a stronger flavour, perhaps more of a party drink rather than a refreshing long tipple but certainly worth a try. Instead of a honeydew melon used in a Boatman’s punch, we find that watermelon and especially the juice is lighter and a better flavour pairing.
What kind of white wine to use?
The overall finish of this cocktail is meant to be crisp and refreshing so wines that convey that are best to use. This means avoiding big white wines such as Burgundys or Chenin Blancs or anything oaked. Crisp, dry whites such as Muscadet, dry Rieslings and Sauvignon Blancs work best. Also it is worth noting that as you are essentially mixing the wine with other juicy flavours it isn’t worth using expensive wines. Likewise with the brandy used, if you only have an XO Cognac available then use that but a standard vs Cognac or brandy works a treat.
Delicious fresh juices
We recommend using a juicer for this cocktail pitcher recipe as using ripe eating apples that you have in your fruit bowl will add a tastier dimension. Use Jazz apples for a tart taste with an almost pear sweetness or Cox apples for a balanced apple flavour that has an almost honey-like aroma or Gala apples for a crisper nature. However if you don’t have a juicer you can use fresh bottled apple juice. Most likely you can’t buy watermelon juice so you can simply mix it up in a blender and pour it through a sieve.
A healthier cocktail pitcher
This is an alcoholic cocktail pitcher after all and you must look to drink in moderation but to be fair this isn’t packed with shots and shots of liquor mixed with sugary manufactured mixers, instead, there has been thought to add a bit of healthiness in there too.
The healthy part is by juicing fresh fruit rather than using store-bought. It is really easy and not only helps use up older fruit from your basket, and whilst not fully backed with scientific research, it has been stated that juicing could deliver the fruits' nutrients straight into your system to be absorbed more easily. The juice of fruit and vegetables contains the most phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals. So by giving these nutrients a more direct route into the body these concentrated plant compounds could even potentially lower the risk of chronic ailments by helping you detoxify and boost your immune system.
So whilst advocating the very pleasurable act of consuming a refreshing and relaxing alcoholic beverage we are (hopefully) balancing out this naughtiness by injecting some goodness too. We know that this isn’t exactly healthy per say but at least it feels like it is or at least we hope you’ll agree.
This pink watermelon cocktail pitcher is also very easy to make. Simply juice your fruits and pour into a large jug full of ice cubes and garnish with sprigs of mint and slices of fresh orange and top up with oodles of chilled white wine with the shots of brandy. Cheers!
Perfect accompaniments
Moroccan Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb (In Delicious Baharat Marinade)
Delicious Bavette Steaks with the Best Chimichurri Sauce
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Watermelon cocktail pitcher recipe
Ingredients
- 200 ml of chilled white wine
- 200 ml of freshly juiced apples juice 2-3 apples
- 200 ml of freshly juiced watermelon juice a ¼ of a small/medium sized watermelon
- 50ml / 2 shots of brandy
- Ice cubes
- 1-2 large sprigs of mint
- 4 slices of fresh orange
Instructions
- Slice approximately a quarter of a watermelon and remove the peel. Pass through a juicer and collect 200ml of juice. Alternatively place the peeled melon in a blender and process to a juice and pass through a sieve.
- Halve the apples and pass through a juicer and collect 200ml of juice. Alternatively use store bought fresh apple juice.
- Mix the juices and brandy in a jug full of ice and top up with the wine and garnish with mint and orange slices.
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