Watermelon Gin Punch

31/2 pounds watermelon (about half a small round seedless fruit), peeled and cut into large chunks

½

cup fresh lemon juice, strained

½

cup simple syrup

8 sprigs fresh mint, plus more for garnish

2 cups gin

Working in batches if necessary, puree the watermelon in a blender or food processor and press the puree through a strainer. You'll need about 4 cups of juice-it's fine if there's some pulp in the juice. Chill.

Put the lemon juice, simple syrup, and mint in a 3-quart serving pitcher or a punch bowl and mash the mint thoroughly with a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon. Add about 4 cups of ice, the gin, and the watermelon juice and stir.

Serve in rocks glasses over ice. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Serves eight.

Fine Cooking, July 2008