Spiked Fruit: A Simple Solution for a Labor Day (or Any Day) Party

Nothing says Labor Day and the last gasps of summer quite like a good dose of fruit -- and liquor.

In a last-ditch effort to cool off and wholeheartedly prepare for the weekend, we vaguely recalled times spent in the dorms with watermelons, funnels, and spigots ... and decided to smarten up the process (if only a little).

After hours of drilling, pouring, soaking, and tasting, we present a spiked-fruit party recommendation in a three-step, five-item combination that's a guaranteed good time.

Step One: Gathering Materials
First, you need booze. Most fruits (and vegetables) can be successfully paired with cheap vodkas, rums, and tequilas. No sense in splurging on the good stuff -- this alcohol will soak right into the fruit and lose that plastic-bottle flavor in no time.

As vessels for the liquor, we gathered the quintessential fruit: watermelon (seedless works best), cantaloupe, pineapple, banana, rhubarb, and coconut.

 We also experimented with a few vegetables: bell pepper, jalapeno, and the unidentified fruit/vegetable in the lower right hand corner (above) that we found in the "exotic" section of the grocery store.

Jamie Peachey

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Tools needed:
- a power drill and drill bits
- a funnel
- spigots of various sizes, which can be found at the hardware store. (Note: plus the fruit and the booze, this makes five items.)

Step Two: Drilling the Fruit

Armed with a power drill and a few different-sized drill bits, we took to the fruit ... and other foods.

Keep in mind that the size of the hole needs to be big enough for either a straw, like the one we put in the coconut above, or the spigot, like the one we used in the cantaloupe below.

Not too many essentials here, other than a steady hand.

Once the fruit is prepped, filled with your choice of booze, and left to soak for a few hours (we let ours sit for about eight) carefully arranged in the refrigerator.

Now, it's time to serve.

Step Three: Fruit Party
We found the fruit that we fixed with spigots was a little messy, as spiked fruit juice made its way around the metal fixtures (and all over the counter). 

Some fruits, including the papaya, rhubarb, and cantaloupe, were better chopped and served with toothpicks.

And the fruit, vegetables, and yes, cupcake fixed with straws made for successful, one- or two-person drinks/snacks. 

For more drilling action check out our video below and until next summer -- or next weekend -- cheers!

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Chow Bella Fruit Infusion from Jonathan McNamara on Vimeo.