Spike Your Watermelon with Tequila

Before biting off a sweet slice of watermelon, it should be thoroughly soaked with tequila. Basically, it's a cocktail topped with fruit, and a watermelon with tequila is much better suited for brunch than a mound of regular fruit. But don't just water your watermelon with moonshine. If you're not in the mood to chew, mix tequila with lemon syrup, lightly seasoned with spices. Pro tip: Cook the watermelon with tequila at least 12 hours before serving, because the longer the fruit is mixed with tequila, the tastier it will turn out.A simple syrup of sugar and water is whipped with the addition of flavoring in the form of lemon zest and star anise. Add a little tequila (and then maybe another one) to the lemon syrup, then pour the entire portion onto a baking tray with the freshly sliced watermelon slices. Let the fruit cool in the refrigerator, then serve with a sprinkle of salt.Watermelon with added Tequila Kitchen accessories are kindly provided by our partners in Jet.com .
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together 1 cup water and 1 cup granulated sugar. Add the lemon peel, juice and star anise pods. Bring the mixture to a boil, then stir until all the sugar is dissolved. Remove the syrup from the heat and set aside to cool.Cut a medium-sized watermelon into 1-inch-thick slices. Place in a baking dish (it's best to divide 1 layer into 2 baking pans, but you can double the number of melon layers if you remember to mix them in the middle of cooling).Strain the syrup through a fine sieve, then add the tequila. Pour the syrup over the watermelon slices, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour, but not more than 12 to add sharpness to the taste. Serve with a sprinkle of sea salt.