Truth be told I pretty much avoid alcohol Monday through Friday unless I am celebrating a special occasion—even then I am a one drink with dinner kind of girl. But yesterday I got a hankering for the watermelon juice that I typically make myself in the summer afternoons (think of an agua fresca!) where you basically just blend watermelon and ice together (so refreshing and hydrating). As I started blending the watermelon though, the proverbial creative juices really started flowing and all of the country songs involving alcohol-soaked watermelons at church picnics started playing in my head: I decided this juice needed a kick and a twist! My husband, seeing me pouring out a shot of vodka, walked by the kitchen laughing and said, “Quarantine has changed you!” I told him to hold onto his socks, and into the blender went the vodka. Next, I decided on lime juice, simple syrup, and mint and blended it together. It smelled amazing! Then I shook it over ice, strained it, served him a tester of the concoction. One sip in he decided that he was on board with the cocktail train that was leaving the station. This cocktail is refreshing with a citrus and mint kick and while it does have vodka in it, it is very light and not boozy! See also: perfect for sipping on a sunny afternoon. Happy Friday!

Tip: Serve with a watermelon wedge and eat your booze-infused watermelon once you have finished the drink!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups watermelon juice

• 2oz vodka or tequila

• 1.5oz lime juice

• .5oz of simple syrup

• 2-3 mint leaves

Method:

1. In the jar of a blender combine, watermelon juice, your spirit of choice, lime juice, simple syrup, and mint leaves.

2. Blend until liquified.

3. Pour juice into cocktail shaker and fill shaker 1/2 way full of ice. Shake it for 10 seconds.

4. Fill a cocktail glass with ice and strain juice into glass. Serve with a watermelon wedge and a sprig of mint.

5. Enjoy!