Watermelon, Thai Basil, Seedlip Grove 42 and Tomato

Recipe, Food, Styling & Photo: Oliver Schwarzwald

Mocktailthursday, Thirstythursday, Thirstday….

Summer at last! Here in the north, the weather still needs some time before it finally switches to dry and warm. At the greengrocer's it's already that time. An unmistakable sign of summertime: watermelons in all shapes and sizes. Perfect for a cool drink with great flavours. Watermelon and Thai basil (important) are the basis for a sweet and spicy basic contrast. The salty rim of the glass is important here to counteract the sweetness. The tomato, whose aroma is brought out well by the basil syrup, also needs a counterpart. And the dash of Tabasco makes it spicy! Cheers.

The Drink:

For 2 small glasses

100g watermelon

8-10 Thai basil leaves

2 CL basil syrup / Bacanah

2 CL Tomato juice / Van Nahmen

3 CL Seedlip Grove 42

1/2 lime

1 Dash Tabasco

Salt for the rim of the glass

Ice cubes

Put plenty of salt on a small plate. Rub the rim of the glass with some lime so that it is slightly moist. Now press it into the salt. The salt should stick and cover the rim. I added some edible flowers to the salt to make it a little more colourful. You can do this, but you don't have to.

Muddle the melon with the Thai basil in a shaker so that the basil develops its full aroma. Add some ice and shake well with syrup, tomato juice, Seedlip, some lime juice and a dash of Tabasco. Strain into a glass with ice. Garnish with a leaf of Thai basil.

Styling & Photo: Oliver Schwarzwald