Peppermelon Cocktail

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
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Colleen Graham
Updated 05/06/21
Peppermelon Cocktail by H. Joseph Ehrmann

Bluecoat Gin
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Syrup: 5 mins
Total: 8 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
399 Calories
0g Fat
80g Carbs
0g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 399
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 58mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 80g 29%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 56g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 8mg 41%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 66mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Sweet watermelon, a smooth gin, and spicy black pepper honey combine to create the amazing peppermelon cocktail. The recipe comes from H. Joseph Ehrmann of San Fransisco's Elixir Saloon and it puts an intriguing twist on the average watermelon cocktail.

This fascinating recipe uses Bluecoat American Dry Gin as the base, flavoring it with the sweet taste of watermelon juice and a hint of tartness from the lemon. You also get a sweet and spicy flavor from the homemade black pepper honey syrup, which is interesting and turns the cocktail into a true adventure. It's easy to make and there's no heat involved, so you can create it within a few minutes.

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Ingredients

For the Black Pepper Honey Syrup:

  • 1/2 ounce water

  • 1/2 ounce honey

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the Cocktail:

  • 1 1/2 ounces gin

  • 1 ounce watermelon juice

  • 3/4 ounce black pepper honey syrup

  • 1/2 ounce lemon juice

  • Watermelon cube coated with black pepper, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Note: while there are multiple steps to this recipe, this cocktail is broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for preparation and assembly.

Make the Black Pepper Honey Syrup

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a small bowl, combine the water and honey in equal parts. (The recipe is enough for one drink; increase as needed.)

  3. Add black pepper to taste; a couple of turns of a pepper mill is about perfect.

  4. Mix thoroughly until the syrup becomes an even consistency. Taste and add a little more pepper if needed.

Make the Peppermelon Cocktail

  1. In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, watermelon juice, black pepper honey syrup, , and lemon juice. Fill with ice.

  2. Shake well for 10 seconds.

  3. Strain into a cocktail glass.

  4. Garnish with a small watermelon cube that has a coating of black pepper on one side. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Ehrmann recommends using organic ingredients whenever possible.
  • Watermelon juice is not common. You will either have to hunt for it at specialty stores or make it yourself (it's a great way to use up leftover watermelon).
  • To maximize the yield, run fresh watermelon through an electric juicer.
  • You can create fresh watermelon juice manually: Place about 1 cup of cubed melon in a cocktail shaker and muddle it into a pulp. Strain it through a fine mesh strainer, pressing it to release as much juice as possible. You can also use cheesecloth, which makes it easier to squeeze out all the juice.
  • The other option is to muddle the watermelon in the shaker, then add the other ingredients and proceed with the recipe's directions. For this method, about 1/2 cup of cubed melon should do because the drink will pick up more juice in the shake.

How Strong Is a Peppermelon Cocktail?

Bluecoat Gin is bottled at a flavorful 94 proof, which is strong for a gin. If you go with that recommendation, the peppermelon's alcohol content will fall in the 16 percent ABV (32 proof) range. That's not bad for a drink served in the martini style. If you pour an 80-proof gin, it will be similar in strength to the average wine.