Rhubarb Lillet Rose Spritzer

While I absolutely love savory cocktails, not everyone does; some people prefer something a little sweet, like this Rhubarb Lillet Rose Spritzer. So when you’re serving a drink like my Celery Aquavit Spritzer for your big, fancy schmancy Scandinavian Thanksgiving menu, it’s best to make two cocktails for a large group. After all, two cocktails is better than one anyway, right? When I was making aquavit, I wanted to make some Northern, Scandinavian flavors and rhubarb was at the top of my list for pairing with holiday flavors. I also finally procured a bottle of lillet rose, which can be surprisingly tricky to track down and wanted to feature it and it’s lovely pink color. The rhubarb aquavit fit this Rhubarb Lillet Rose Spritzer in that dimension as well since it is also a beautiful pink shade. I have to admit, this isn’t a particularly complex cocktail; it’s light, smooth, and easy to drink. But that’s perfect when you have a huge menu with many courses and lots and lots of awesome wine pairings. In fact, this simple and easy Rhubarb Lillet Rose Spritzer it perfect when it needs to pair with three very different appetizers, like a gjetost fondue, … Continue reading

Clementine Rosemary Margaritas

Clementine Rosemary Margaritas started off Thanksgiving 2012. Good parties do have a tendency to start with cocktails. And like good cocktails often do, Clementine Rosemary Margaritas started with fresh citrus and herbs and good tequila and mezcal. Clementine Rosemary Margaritas are amazing on a cold fall night and perfect with a Mexican themed Thanksgiving. Cheers. 2 parts tequila blanco for a smooth effect, or for a smoky effect, mezcal ½ part lemon juice 1 part clementine or other tangerine juice 2 parts seltzer ½ part rosemary simple syrup salt for the rim If you’re making one, part = ounce or shot glass full. When making it for a group, part = cup. If you’re making it for a party, part = quart. Because I wanted to up the rosemary ante and use a simple syrup, tangerine juice alone left the cocktail unbalanced. The lemon juice fixes that and balances out the sugar. How to choose between mezcal and tequila? Simple. Smoky or bright and smooth? I loved it both ways, so it’s a fun excuse to do a taste test. Mix well in a pitcher. Use a lemon or clementine to wet the rim of the glass. Dip in salt. … Continue reading