Winter Solstice Spritzer
This fun spritzer is the perfect winter refreshment! Tangy blood orange shrub mingles with herbal gin and sweet and tart pomegranate, topped off with the festive fizz of prosecco. Best of all- it's ea...
Nope, I don’t mean some foliage from Monty Python and I won’t be discussing the finer points of landscaping. The shrub I’m referring to is the drinking vinegar—the tangy, tart, almost syrup-like liquid popping up on cocktail menus all over the world.
Shrubs are one of my all-time favorite things to use in a cocktail for many reasons: They’re easy to make, practically the best way to infuse fresh flavor, and their viscous nature adds body and a depth to the drink, allowing the drink to sit on your palate instead of washing over it—the very same reason they’re perfect for mocktails, becoming the antidote for the oh-so-tired juice blend staple. They add acid and sweetness in one fowl swoop, contributing seamlessly to a balanced drink. And that’s what this whole mixology thing is all about after all—BALANCE.
With the winter upon us, I recommend this delightfully seasonal blood orange shrub. Combine with a bit of sugar and some soda water for an afternoon perk or a morning-after-drinking “detoxifier.” Ready to mix it up? Try my Winter Solstice Spritzer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup peeled and chopped blood oranges, (about 4 to 5)
- 1 cup turbinado sugar
- 1 cup champagne vinegar
Preparation
1. Combine blood oranges and sugar in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, crushing the fruit as you combine.
2. Cover with lid and place in fridge overnight.
3. Add vinegar and mix well. Strain out the liquid and discard solids.
* Though technically it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, store in the fridge up to 2 weeks. (flavors will deteriorate, but that’s all).
** If you don't have turbinado sugar, sub 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup light brown sugar.
Related Stories & Recipes
