L ifestyle /C ulture
Cocktails and Mocktails: Sips of Summer
F OO D
KERI WHITE | JE FOOD COLUMNIST
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH to
be invited to a friend’s home
in Stone Harbor at the Jersey
Shore for a recent weekend.

She, a teetotaler, tapped me to
handle the bar for all of the
guests. She asked me to bring
cocktail accouterments for
Friday and Saturday and wine
for the Saturday night dinner.

I was happy to undertake this
task and was determined to
provide something refreshing
and tasty for my gracious
hostess. I wanted to accom-
modate her
preferences (which also include no refined
sugar) and sought to pour
her something more inter-
esting than sparkling water,
which is often the default for
nondrinkers. Mission accomplished by
these two recipes, named for
where they were created.

The Society Hill paired
perfectly with vodka, but
I could definitely see it with
rum or tequila. And for the
low-octane version, my friend
added sparkling water, but
18 SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
if you eschew fizz, tap water
is just fine. My goal was to
highlight summer flavors and
also integrate herbs from my
garden; the mint comple-
mented the lemonade perfectly.

On that Saturday, which
just happened to be National
Tequila Day (where do they get
these observances?), I created
the Stone Harbor out of fresh
watermelon, lime juice and
basil and mixed it with tequila
for those wanting to partake.

Because the watermelon is so
naturally sweet, we did not
need to add any sugar or agave;
it was just delightful!
SOCIETY HILL
Makes about 2 cups of strong
lemonade, which would provide
about 6 drinks when they are
mixed with vodka, sparkling
water or water — quantity may adds more lemon flavor, and
vary pending the juiciness of the since the whole pureed mess
is strained anyway, it’s a great
lemons. hack.

I made simple syrup using
Do not be alarmed by the fact
sugar and water for the group,
that this uses whole lemons
with the rind. I’ve made it with but the hostess preferred honey,
both peeled lemons (a pain) so I used a 1-part honey/3-parts
and whole lemons (not a pain). water proportion to make her
The latter method arguably simple syrup. Agave is an excel-
lent alternative if you find the
flavor of honey overpowering.

firmly against the strainer to
extract all of the juice from
the mush. There should be at
least 1 cup of this lemon/mint
liquid. When the syrup cools, mix
it with the lemon juice and
then add water, gradually, until
the drink tastes like strong
lemonade — approximately 2
cups. For a mocktail, fill a glass
with ice, and fill it three-
fourths of the way with the
8 lemons, cut in quarters
lemon mixture. Top off the
5 stalks mint with leaves
drink with either sparkling
¼ cup sugar (honey/agave)
water or additional ice water.

¾ cup water, plus more for
For a cocktail, fill a glass
adjusting the flavor
with ice and fill it one-fourth
Vodka/sparkling water/tap
of the
way with vodka. Fill
water the
glass the rest of the way
Lots of ice
with the
lemon mixture. Stir,
Sprigs of mint for garnish
garnish it with a sprig of mint
In a blender or food and enjoy.

processor, puree the lemons
with the mint until fairly STONE HARBOR
smooth. Pour it into a strainer Makes about 6 cups of juice,
over a bowl and let it sit. Make which produces 8 or more
the simple syrup: Place the drinks depending on how you
sugar and ¾ cup of water in a spike it and how much ice you
small saucepan, and bring it to use.

a boil. Set it aside to cool.

Press the lemon puree The freshness and simplicity of
JEWISH EXPONENT
onlyyouqj / iStock / Getty Images Plus
this drink is deceptive — it is
just watermelon and lime juice.

But it is far more than the sum
of its parts! On top of that, the
color is just beautiful.

6 cups watermelon,
cut in chunks
Juice of 6 limes
Basil leaves, snipped or
muddled to release flavor
White tequila
Puree the watermelon in
a blender or Cuisinart. Pour
the puree through a strainer,
pressing down on solids
to extract maximum juice.

Squeeze the juice of 6 limes
into the watermelon juice and
stir. To serve as a cocktail,
fill a glass with ice and fill
it one-fourth of the way with
tequila. Fill it up with the
watermelon-lime mixture and
a basil leaf.

For a mocktail, simply pour
the watermelon lime juice over
ice and add the basil or, if that
is too fruity for you, mix your
preferred proportion of water
or sparkling water. l
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