The Devilmelon

It's Happy Hour! In this episode Matthew dances with El Diablo a simple but elegant and flashy tequila refresher. Meanwhile Ben spices things up with the Peppermelon, a pairing between a gin cocktail that features watermelon and black pepper. They also struggle to remember their first time drinking tequila and give advice on when to substitute ingredients in your cocktails. Recipes below.

El Diablo

• 1 1/2 oz Tequila Reposado
• 1/2 oz Crème de Cassis
• 3/4 oz Lime Juice
• 3 oz Ginger Beer

Add the tequila, lime juice, and ginger beer to an ice-filled highball glass. Float the crème de cassis on top for presentation. Stir gently before drinking.

You can also add all ingredients except the ginger beer to a shaker with ice and shake for 10 seconds before straining into an ice-filled highball glass, then topping with the ginger beer. Either way, it makes a nice cocktail.

Peppermelon

• 1 1/2 oz. London dry gin
• 1 oz. watermelon juice
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 3/4 ounce black pepper honey syrup

Combine Gin, watermelon juice, lemon juice and syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a watermelon cube with one side dipped in crushed black pepper corns.