2019-07-01_Louisiana_Cookin

93 louisianacookin.com

Resident Bartender Crystal Pavlas is the head bartender at Chef Nina Compton’s Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans.

A Louisiana native and veteran mixologist, Crystal previously worked at Compère Lapin.

by crystal pavlas | photography by nicole du bois

WHEN WE’RE ROLLING deep in the summer

months in New Orleans, watermelon is one of my

go-to cocktail ingredients. It’s cooling, refreshing, and

hydrating, especially when I’m out swimming for the day.

Th is cocktail, which I named the Coolin’, makes me think

about the hot summer days when my friends and I walk

around the Crescent City streets. It combines vodka,

Watermelon Syrup, and aloe liqueur for an invigorating

refreshment that will help beat the heat.

I used vodka from Th ree Roll Estate, a single-estate

distillery out of Baton Rouge. Th eir vodka is triple-

distilled from 100-percent unrefi ned Louisiana cane

sugar grown at Alma Plantation & Sugar Mill. Cocchi

Rosa, an Italian aperitivo, imbues this cocktail with fl oral

and herbaceous tones while lemon juice cuts through the

sweetness.

Aloe vera has long been known as a home remedy

with all sorts of uses, but it is also edible and makes a

fantastic addition to summer cocktails and other recipes.

Chareau is an aloe liqueur with notes of cucumber,

muskmelon, and spearmint. It adds complexity to this

cocktail while complementing the sweet watermelon.

If you can’t fi nd Chareau where you live, try adding

a bit of spearmint to the Watermelon Syrup. Chareau

is also a wonderful addition to sours. One of my

favorite recipes combines the liqueur with Singani 63

(a Bolivian liquor), lemon juice, cantaloupe syrup, and

egg whites.

SWIZZLE STICK

WATERMELON

QUENCHER

COOLCOOLIN’N’

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

With notes of cucumber, muskmelon,

and spearmint, Chareau Aloe Liqueur

lends a distinct, refreshing quality to

this cocktail.

3 ounces Three Roll Estate Vodka

2 ounces Watermelon Syrup

(recipe follows)

1½ ounces fresh lemon juice

1 ounce Cocchi Rosa aperitivo

½ ounce Chareau Aloe Liqueur

3 ounces club soda

Garnish: cucumber roses

1. Add ice to 2 Collins glasses. In
   a cocktail shaker, combine vodka,
   Watermelon Syrup, lemon juice,
   Cocchi Rosa, and Chareau. Add ice.
   Cover and shake until cold. Strain
   vodka mixture into prepared glasses,
   and top with club soda. Garnish with
   cucumber roses, if desired.

WWATERMELONATERMELON SSYRUPYRUP

MAKES 1⅓ CUPS

1 cup fresh watermelon juice

1 cup superfi ne sugar

1. In a small bowl, whisk together
   watermelon juice and superfi ne sugar
   until sugar is dissolved. Cover and
   refrigerate for up to 2 days.