Erik and Whytnee Fain know how to keep a secret. Her grandfather, Troy Howell created the first Cantaloupe Daiquiri in 1985, and his recipe is still a well-guarded secret. Each daiquiri contains two shots of rum and fresh cantaloupe of course but the pair won't reveal any other ingredients. Erik said, “It's the family tradition. There's only a handful of us that actually know it since Troy passed in 2006.”
The specialty cocktail can be enjoyed at Troy's Double Shot bar in the Dry Gulch during the three-day Cantaloupe Festival and County Fair starting on August 26. Erik said, “The cantaloupe festival was just starting, and Troy just came up with this drink on a whim. He and his wife DeeDee thought it would be a good idea to sell at the festival.” Whytnee said her grandmother had her food truck back then too. “That's how they started it, that's how the daiquiri was born. She would literally cut cantaloupes for weeks leading up to the festival.”
The concoction has always been served as a blended drink. Whytnee said her grandparents had gotten their blenders from a local ice cream store that had closed. “We still have two of them in use. We use a total of 7 blenders now plus four slushy mixers, two of which have three hoppers and two that have two hoppers each.”
When asked who makes the drinks during the festival, Whytnee said, “We do. It's definitely a family affair. My mom and my aunt helped my grandparents. Then when I was old enough, I joined in, and now we pretty much run the show.” Erik added, “Three generations right now, soon to be four. Everybody in the family helps nieces, nephews, and cousins. This year we're expecting to have about 25 people giving us a hand.”
All of the cantaloupes they use are local and cut fresh. It takes them about a month to cut up the 30 cases of the melons they will use, in addition to the 40 cases of rum.
Whytnee said the Troy's Double Shot name came to be because they pour two shots in each drink they serve, not just in their daiquiri. “Every mixed drink is a double shot. We do also serve non-alcoholic daiquiris so that everyone can enjoy one.”
The Fallon Melon Mule will be a new offering this year. Erik said they will also be serving Bloody Marys during the corn hole tournament. “We have a spicy version and a regular version, and they come with asparagus, olives, and celery. It will be a meal and a drink at the same time.”
Erik went on to say, “We're really excited to keep it in the family and keep the tradition moving forward. Troy put in a lot of work to make this what it is, and we're happy to carry it on.” Whytnee added, “I feel that when people think of the Cantaloupe Festival, they think of the Cantaloupe Daiquiri. They go hand in hand.”
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