The Ajax Punch is a summer hit at the Embers Ski Lodge, Gary Hayward’s chalet-themed Nashville eatery. And it’s no wonder – the combination of fresh watermelon and cucumber, brightened by sparkling wine and basil, is the perfect refresher on a hot day.
Since there’s a lot of fresh, muddled fruit, it can be difficult to construct this drink in a way that doesn’t result in a mouthful of salad on each sip. The trick is to bury the watermelon and cucumber tightly under the ice, and serve without a straw. The effervescence of the sparkling wine carries the juices up to the top of the glass, where it mixes with the rum and syrup.
