Made with melon liqueur, this classic cocktail is the perfect choice for melon lovers.
You can't hear it, but I'm giggling to myself right now because what I'm about to tell you is going to sound really silly. Since there's no other way to say it than to just say it, here it goes...
The smell of honeydew melon makes me think of college.
Granted, many smells take me back to my college days, but none of them get me there as quickly as the smell of honeydew. Partly because I went through a HUGE cucumber melon phase during my freshman and sophomore years (thanks to this) and partly because my friends and I were HUGE fans of cocktails featuring Midori (especially this one).
So... it shouldn't really come as a big surprise that this time of year always makes me nostalgic for that period in my life when it didn't require massive amounts of planning or rearranging of schedules (multiple times) to spend time with my closest friends.
Thankfully, this is also the time of year that I'm able to reunite with a bunch of those friends since so many of us still head back to campus to tailgate before the football games. The first home game of the season is coming up this Saturday, and in honor of the occasion, I thought it would be fun to mix up some Melon Ball Cocktails to get us in the spirit of things... even if these cocktails aren't necessarily something you'd serve at tailgates.
Unless, of course, you tailgate like we do and pick a theme for each week. If your theme is melon or, um, balls... then these cocktails would fit in perfectly.
To kick things off, fill your glasses with ice.
Pour in your Midori...
Then add your vodka...
And top off with orange juice.
Ta da!
You could serve up the cocktails like this, but why stop there? Remember those honeydew melon balls from earlier?
Not only do they make an addictive snack, but they also make an impressive-looking garnish. Just skewer them onto toothpicks and...
Voila!
Cocktails are served.
Since Melon Ball Cocktails are on the sweeter side, try serving them alongside a bowl of assorted nuts or even a platter of prosciutto-wrapped melon. The saltiness of the snacks will help balance everything out.
Is there a particular smell that reminds you of college? Let me know in the comments!
Melon Ball Cocktails
INGREDIENTS
- Half honeydew melon, seeded
- Ice cubes
- 4 ounces Midori® Melon Liqueur, divided
- 2 ounces vodka, divided
- Orange juice
- Using a melon baller, scoop out melon balls. Thread melon balls onto two toothpicks and set the skewered fruit in the freezer to chill while you mix the cocktails.
- Fill your glasses with ice cubes.
- Pour 2 ounce of Midori and 1 ounce of vodka into a glass. Repeat with the remaining Midori and vodka.
- Top off each glass with orange juice.
- Garnish each cocktail with the chilled melon balls and serve immediately.
Recipe by Michelle Rittler, Taste As You Go // adapted from The Kitchn
Taste As You Go Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate product links. Clicking on the links may result in my being paid a commission based on product sales. Regardless of commission, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.
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One year ago: Maxim's 22 - Easton, PA
Two years ago: A Taste of Tuscany: The Leftovers
Three years ago: The Bendel Snack Bar - New York, NY
Five years ago: Dinner with Dad at Bentara
Six years ago: Triple Chocolate Chunk Brownies
Seven years ago: Overlook Lounge
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