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When warm weather hits, an ice-cold jug of this gin and watermelon mix is exactly what we want to drink.
About the cocktail
Do sunny summer afternoons send you into daydreams of juicy watermelon slices and shady spots to eat them in? They do for us, and we reckon this group-friendly cocktail goes one better, although we’ll take a few slices of that watermelon, too. Honestly, this Hot Pink Punch pretty much hits all of those warm-weather drinking buttons. There’s the watermelon, of course, which brings a cooling, fruity sweetness, ramped up by a little sugar syrup. But it’s all in perfect balance, tempered by the bitter citrus notes of Campari and the tang of lemon juice, while gin adds herbal depth and a spicy salt rim brings a fiery note upfront. Much like our enduring Legally Blonde hero Elle Woods, there’s genuine complexity here beyond the hot pink exterior. Our Hot Pink Punch also shines in the sunny seasons because it’s designed to be shareable – a perfect centrepiece for afternoon barbecues or catch-ups. Friends will be drawn in by the eye-popping colour, but they’ll stay for the melony freshness. This recipe is designed to serve six, so we’d be grabbing that punchbowl you’re always saving for a special occasion and letting everyone ladle themselves a spice-rimmed cup. Otherwise, a jug and rocks glasses is great, too.
Ingredients: garnish
½ lemon 2 tbsp salt flakes ½ tsp mild red pepper flakes
Ingredients: cocktail
1.5kg seedless watermelon, rind removed, cut into large cubes (about 3.5 cups) 250mL gin
125mL fresh lemon juice
45mL Campari
60mL sugar syrup
Glass: punch bowl or jug and rocks glasses
Method
For the garnish, combine the pepper and salt flakes on a plate. Run the lemon around the rim of 6 glasses, dip them in the salt mix, and place the glasses in the freezer to chill In a blender, blitz the watermelon until it’s smooth, then pass it through a fine sieve, pressing on the solids to get as much juice as you can – it should yield about 540mL In a large jug filled with ice, add the watermelon juice and remaining ingredients, and stir to combine well Serve the drink into your prepared, chilled glasses filled with fresh ice
Dan’s top tips
Punches are party-perfect drinks because they come in big batches, meaning no one has to man the cocktail station all night. Our recipe for the Hot Pink Punch makes six serves but, if you’re planning on inviting the whole crew, feel free to scale it up to suit. You might need to blend the watermelon in batches but, if you’ve got a punch bowl big enough or a couple of jugs to spare, there’s no reason this recipe couldn’t make 12 or 18 serves just by doubling or tripling all the quantities. The only other thing to keep in mind here is the spicy rim. We’re calling for a mix of salt and mild red pepper flakes to bring just a hint of heat, but we’ll leave the final Scoville count to you. Want it spicier? Go with a jar of chilli flakes instead of mild red pepper. You can also use Tajin, which is a Mexican blend of lime, chilli and salt.
What are the key ingredients in a Hot Pink Punch?
The main ingredient in a Hot Pink Punch is fresh watermelon. You’ll also need gin, Campari, lemon juice and sugar syrup.
Why is the Hot Pink Punch one of the best batched cocktails for summer?
The Hot Pink Punch is a perfect batch cocktail for summer because it’s easy to make, tastes fresh and fruity, and it’s perfect to serve to a large group.
- What is the best gin to use in a Hot Pink Punch?
With so much flavour in the Hot Pink Punch, we recommend a typical London dry-style gin. Classic juniper notes will work well with the bittersweet Campari.
image credits: Kayla May (photography), Bridget Wald (styling).
