Sandia Smash

My how life is starting to taste good again. It’s been so wonderful to reconnect with friends and family now that we are all vaccinated. When I think about the things that are making me happy, words like “savor” and “delicious” come to mind. My very being has been satiated. No more zoom book club! No more FaceTime. No more social distancing! I don’t care about the face masks at the grocery store or whatever, as long as I can see my people, I’m good! Life truly does seem delicious right now.

On top of all that goodness, it’s almost summer. Summer lends itself to the feeling of savoring all that’s good. It’s a warm Tuesday evening; of course I’ll make a cocktail! I picked up a watermelon today and decided that was good inspiration for today’s beverage. I found a recipe on Food & Wine called “Sandia Smash” which was created by John Lermayer. It’s made with muddled watermelon, lime juice, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, agave nectar, and blanco tequila. It’s lovely and light. The watermelon I got wasn’t the most flavorful but it still comes through. Besides, you know what helps with that? Tequila! 😉 I really like the use of St. Germain, too. The floral notes combined with the watermelon round out the tequila and lime. I really want to call this drink “Watermelon Sugar” but I looked and that drink exists in several other forms- one of which I will be trying soon! Until then, I’ll savor this Sandia Smash and encourage you to do the same. Cheers!

Sandia Smash

Ingredients:

6 cubes of watermelon, 3 reserved for a skewered garnish

3/4 ounce lime juice

1/4 ounce agave nectar

1/2 ounce St. Germain elderflower liqueur

2 ounces blanco tequila

Method:

In a cocktail shaker, muddle 3 chunks of watermelon. Add lime juice, tequila, agave nectar, St. Germain, and ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into an ice filled Collins glass and garnish with skewered watermelon.