Has wintry weather left you with a nasty case of cabin fever? This fruity and floral cocktail is the cure — at least it was for me. I recently made a trip to Tahoe with the intent to spend a few days hitting the slopes, neglecting one crucial factor: checking the weather report. The thing is, it had just snowed heavily the week before, and it had been raining all week in San Francisco (which generally shares similar weather patterns), so it was a logical assumption that the mountains would be blanketed in blissfully fresh powder.

Instead, we were faced with four days of 34°F rain, ice, and sleet. Now, it would have been easy to let this tank morale, but instead we took the high road (literally) up a winding mountain route for a blowout meal at Manzanita in the Tahoe Ritz-Carlton. As one would expect (or at least hope), the whole meal was excellent, but it was this simple yet elegant predinner cocktail that stole the show.

Bright, effervescent, and subtly spiced from the crucial addition of Hangar One Spiced Pear Vodka, it danced around my head for weeks afterward. Naturally I had to attempt to hack it at home. And while this isn't an exact replica of that tantalizing tipple, I came pretty close; I hope it will brighten your day as much as it did mine.

Inspired by Manzanita

Sparkling Pear and Elderflower Cocktail

Recipe Notes

Ginger beer is an excellent (though less potent) substitute for the Champagne in this cocktail.

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces Hangar One Spiced Pear Vodka
1/2 ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
Brut Champagne or dry sparkling wine, chilled
Lemon twist, for garnish

Directions

1. Combine the pear vodka, St. Germain, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until the outside of the cocktail shaker becomes frosty, then strain into a Champagne flute or coupe.
2. Top off with Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

Makes one cocktail.

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Do you believe in love at first sight? I do! Maybe not romantically, but rather in the case of what will please my palate. Specifically, I knew that I was destined to enter a whirlwind romance with this tart and tangy shredded kale and brussels sprouts salad as soon as I set my eyes upon it. In this case, my woman's intuition was spot-on; perfect in its original iteration (it's a favorite amongst our whole team), this salad-slaw hybrid is even better — at least better catered to my proclivities — with a few minor tweaks and additions (reflected in the recipe below).

Now, before you fear that this is all bluster, I've been so smitten that I've already made it three times in the past month — a rarity for someone whose job is to test recipes . . . So as the title says, I seriously urge you to get on board, and make this salad right now!