How to make a "Watermelon Agua Fresca" cocktail

Summer is almost over, which is a great excuse to throw an end-of- summer bash. We all know, however, that sometimes when we choose to host a party, we end up playing bartender all night instead of spending QT with our invited guests.

So how do we solve the predicament of wanting to serve quality cocktails at our soiree without giving of our precious time? The solution is all in the preparation. Batched cocktails are easy to do with the right amount of prep and your guests will be happy to help themselves to. (Video by Kimberly Yuen)

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Watermelon Agua Fresca (yields approximately 16 servings)
1 whole seedless watermelon (or about 64 oz blended melon juice)
8 oz lime juice
8 oz simple syrup
4 pinches sea salt
10 thai basil leaves (optional)
1 (750ml) vodka
Method: Chop watermelon in half and scoop the flesh out into a blender. Add lime, salt, thai
basil (if using) to blender and blend till smooth. Strain using fine mesh sieve. Skim off the foam
from the top. Add vodka and pour over large ice cube into punch bowl or use empty
watermelon half as a bowl
Garnish: Watermelon wedges perched on glass and Thai basil sprigs
Being that brown spirits are the number one trending spirit across the nation, you are
bound to have whiskey lover’s at your parties. This cocktail is a like a mint julep, meets
lemonade, meets Moscow mule. In order to save yourself from muddling cocktails all night, you
could use a housemade mint syrup instead. This will give you the brightness of the mint without
all of the fuss.