Chill!

These chilled cocktails from Recipes from an Italian Summer, Phaidon Press 2010, are ideal for summer entertaining.

Melon Fizz

Preparation time: 2½ hrs (including chilling)
Serves 6

1 large melon
1½ cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup gin
1 bottle dry sparkling wine

Halve the melon, remove and discard the seeds, and cut it into wedges. Peel the wedges and cut the flesh into cubes. Put them into a large bowl, sprinkle with the confectioners’ sugar, drizzle with the gin, and pour over enough wine to cover. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.

Fruits of the Forest Cocktail

Preparation time: 1½ hrs (including chilling)
Serves 4

1 pound 5 ounces mixed berries, such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries
1½ cups superfine sugar
5 teaspoons brandy

To garnish:
4 ice cubes
4 slices orange
4 sprigs black currants
8 mint leaves

Pour 2 cups water into a large bowl, add the berries, and stir in the sugar. Ladle the mixture into a blender and process until thoroughly combined. Add the brandy and process briefly again. Pour the mixture through a funnel into a carafe or pitcher and chill in the refrigerator.

To serve, pour the cocktail into individual glasses and add an ice cube. Decorate each with a slice of orange, a sprig of black currants, and 2 mint leaves.

Edited by Patricia D. Sherman

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