Sip Watermelon Rum Punch Directly from the Fruit

Nothing feels more like summer than fresh watermelon juice running down your chin. Instead of eating fat slices, which are admittedly the best snack in the world, why not mix it with a smoothie and drink it straight from the melon? This tart and floral watermelon-rum punch can be served for brunch all day long. The star of the show may be the melon, but the strength of taste of this drink is largely due to Saint-Germain, a sweet liqueur made from elderflower. And it's not for nothing that using a real little watermelon as a cup (complete with a few cocktail umbrellas and wacky straws) is pretty darn popular on Instagram. Cut the top off a small watermelon and grind the pulp in a blender. After mixing and straining the fruit, pour the juice back into the hollowed-out melon. Add rum, Saint-Germain, lime juice, and a little plain syrup (although you can add a little Saint-Germain to add sweetness). Stir the cocktail, then add plenty of ice. Keep in mind that while the melon may be too small, this recipe still makes four servings of the smoothie, so bring a few friends along when you're ready to start sipping.Watermelon and Rum Punch Kitchen accessories kindly provided by our partners in Jet.com .
Using a small paring knife, cut off 1 of the watermelon's tips in a zigzag pattern. Discard the leftovers. Using a spoon, remove the watermelon pulp and put it in a blender. Beat until smooth. Strain through a fine wire mesh strainer and remove any residue.Pour 1 cup of watermelon juice over the watermelon rind; reserve the remaining watermelon juice for another use. Add rum, lime juice, plain syrup, and elderflower liqueur to the watermelon; toss to combine. Sprinkle with ice and share with 3 friends.