Spring festivities like bridal showers, luncheons, and picnics call for a hummingbird cocktail. This light, bubbly cocktail features sparkling wine and St-Germain, an elderflower liqueur. Topped with club soda and a lemon twist, the drink will have you humming happily in no time.
Light, refreshing, and almost too easy to sip on, this sparkling Lillet aperitif is just the ticket for starting a weekend off on the right note. Even better, it clocks in at a mere four ingredients and requires naught but a languid stir in the glass and a quick swipe of a vegetable peeler along a juicy orange for the twist garnish.
If you're not yet familiar with the concept of the "elegant hour" — essentially cocktail hour, with an emphasis on delicate aperitifs — embrace the idea by sipping this sparkling stunner slowly.
Can you guess what's in this drink? Don't let the orange hue fool you; these mimosas aren't made with oranges — instead, they're made fruity with the help of mango purée and grapefruit juice. Mango thickens and sweetens the mimosa, while the grapefruit provides a crispness that complements the sparkling wine.
Nothing beats fresh, so if you have time, then whirl up ripe mango chunks in a food processor to make homemade mango purée and squeeze some grapefruits in a citrus juicer. Keep reading for the recipe.
Looking forward to watching Seth MacFarlane ham it up for the Oscars this weekend? If you're tuning in, then you might as well celebrate the award show's 85th anniversary by ringing it in with a few drinks.
Toast to the show's winners and nominees with one of these four Hollywood-inspired sparkling cocktails when you read more.
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
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
Makes one cocktail.
Happy Valentine's Day! Regardless of what you have planned, you're sure to spread the love if you whip up this gorgeous lemon raspberry fizz cocktail. We promise the marriage of limoncello, berries, and sparkling wine is not only beautiful, but also delicious — and the festive drink can be easily multiplied if you're hosting for a crowd. Watch the video to learn how to make the cocktail.
Champagne or sparkling wine is wonderful enjoyed on its own, but why not step it up a notch? Take a look at our recipes for cocktails that have just the right amount of effervescence to them.
For Valentine's Day, why buy a bouquet when you can treat your sweet one to a bottle of bubbly with wild hibiscus flowers? Dress up your sparkling wine by garnishing it with a hibiscus flower in syrup. As the flower blooms and reconstitutes in the bubbly wine, it imparts a rose-colored hue. Beyond acting as a stunning garnish, the hibiscus offers a hint of sweetness and floral flavor to the sparkling wine.
Once you've finished the glass, be sure to try the flower; it's entirely edible and tastes similar to rhubarb and raspberries, with a texture reminiscent of fruit leather. End the night with a kiss by drinking sparkling wine and hibiscus.
When it comes to brunch drinks, there's nothing like a mimosa, but if you have them on a regular basis (like I do!), for a special occasion, it's nice to change things up. My favorite new libation is this amazing cocktail that combines limoncello with mint, lemon juice, and sparkling wine. There's a little bit of work involved because you puree the mint, lemon peel, and limoncello in a food processor or blender — however, this can be made the day before the party. Although the recipe serves two, it's pretty easy to increase the proportions of the ingredients. I was worried the sugar rim was going to make the beverage too sweet, but it was just right: it's tart, refreshing, springy, and just plain wonderful. To get the recipe, read more.
A few weeks ago, I went to Rich Table in San Francisco to taste several Knob Creek bourbon cocktails. Upon arrival, the bartenders served up glasses of a sparkling bourbon cocktail. Typically, I'm a bourbon or a sparkling wine drinker, but never had I seen the two twirled in one glass. I had a lot of doubts at first, mostly because I'm a purist and I prefer drinking a straight bourbon or a straight sparkling wine; however, the cocktail intrigued me.
The end result reminded me of a carbonated old fashioned, and I enjoyed it so much that I sought to re-create it. There's a woodsy, spicy flavor from the bourbon, but all potential heaviness evaporates due to the crisp bubbles from the sparkling wine. If you're the type who forgoes a Champagne toast in favor of a stiffer drink, then this sparkling cocktail may be the perfect compromise.
Keep reading to see the sparkling bourbon cocktail recipe.
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