HOSTA FLOWER & MELON PUNCH
MAKES 2 LITRES
2 cantaloupe melons
250ml vodka, plus 100ml to make melon bitters
1 dash of melon rind bitters
1 cup of hosta flowers, plus extra to serve
25g granulated sugar
Handful of mint, plus extra to serve
1 bottle of dry white wine
1ltr soda water or sparkling water, to top up
Honey, to serve (optional)
■ To make the melon rind bitters, wash and chop the rind of ¼ melon and place in a blender with 100ml vodka. Puree until smooth, then strain through a fine sieve into a bottle.
■ A few hours before you serve the drink, scoop out large balls of flesh from the first melon. If you don’t have a melon baller, cube the melon into ice-cube sizes. Place on a freezer-proof tray and freeze. At the same time, pull the hosta flowers from the stems and place in a pestle and mortar along with the sugar. Smash
