Tag Archives: champagne cocktails

Plum Sparkler

Posted on by August 31, 2016

A New Year’s Party requires a special cocktail, complete with lots of bubbles. New Year’s Eve is all about the champagne, so if you’re making a cocktail, you better make it a champagne cocktail, which is exactly what I did when I made my Plum Sparkler. If you spent your fall packing fruit into brandy, like I did, a New Year’s Party is definitely an occasion that warrants cracking open one of those extra special jars. But if you didn’t, you should be able to find plum brandy at a good liquor store; just ask for Slivovitz or Slivovitsa. Believe it or not, plum brandy made from Damson plums is very popular in Eastern Europe. Of course it won’t take exactly the same as this homemade hooch based drink, but that’s a big part of the fun in mixology in my humble opinion. This cocktail has lots of sweetness to it, but the soda and sparkling wine balance it out perfectly. Just make sure to buy a brut sparkling wine to ensure this cocktail doesn’t get too sweet. You can always adjust the sweetness up and down by adding more or less of the lillet blanc and orange liquor. The … Continue reading →

Aperol Spritz

Posted on by October 28, 2014

Each winter, I forget that an Aperol Spritz is my perfect summer cocktail, and then every Summer, I’m reminded of this fact, usually sometime about this week in July. The first night it’s really sticky- hot outside, even at night, an Aperol Spritz is perfect: delicious, refreshing, effervescent, sweet and salty. Yes, that’s right, salty. I tried to order one last week at a great Philly bar. But they just couldn’t get it right. So I had to take matters into my own hands and make one myself. For me, the Aperol Spritz proportions on the back of the Aperol bottle are all I need; no experimentation required. Just don’t forget the olive. And you should probably make a pitcher whenever you make Aperol Spritz, because they’re definitely a fun crowd-pleaser. 3 ounces Prosecco 2 ounces Aperol splash of club soda plump green olives orange slices ice Pour the aperol in the glass or pitcher full of ice. Add the champagne slowly. Top with the club soda. A light stir never hurt anyone. Garnish with orange slices and olives.When you’re making Aperol Spritz by the pitcher: 3 cups Prosecco 2 cups Aperol 1 cup club soda plump green olives orange slices ice … Continue reading →

Cherry Bourbon Fizzers

Posted on by February 12, 2015

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, and time for some Cherry Bourbon Fizzers, or, more on my obsession with rose-scented geraniums. After a week of posting Midwestern Potluck items, I’ve still got Wisconsin on my mind. And it doesn’t get much more Wisconsin than brown liquor and cherries. In fact, when I went to buy the alcohol for the reception for my wedding, I went in with and idea of how much vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey, etc. that I would need for my event. I thought I should run my calculations past the store manager since they order for large events all the time. I forgot to add in her Midwestern bias when I listened to her advice. I know that while my wedding was in the Midwest, many of my guests weren’t from the Midwest. I let her talk me out of some of the vodka and into Brandy! of all things. Which is not to say that I don’t enjoy a Brandy Old-Fashioned as much as the next Wisconsinite, but let’s just say that we had plenty of Brandy left over, and the bartenders had to make an emergency run for vodka. Lesson learned, I know my friends and how … Continue reading →

Ginger Rogers

Posted on by January 15, 2015

A great meal needs a great cocktail to get your guests in a festive mood and this Ginger Rogers Cocktail certainly does the trick for my Middle Eastern Feast. The bourbon makes the Ginger Rogers perfect for winter and the spicy ginger let’s your taste buds know that something fun is on the way. Finally, the mixer is sparkling rosé, so in my book, it doesn’t really get any better. The lovely pink color makes this a fun cocktail for a ladies night, but with the bourbon and spice, no one would dare say it’s a wimpy drink. Serve it in flutes to take advantage of the bubbles, but coupes, wine glasses and even high balls work just fine. The Ginger Rogers was inspired by a trip to the Village Whiskey in Philly. They used to serve a cocktail by the same name, but when it mysteriously disappeared from the cocktail list I had to take matters into my own kitchen and work on a substitute. I must say, this version of the Ginger Rogers Cocktail slakes my thirst for the original. … Continue reading →