Wine is Better in Cocktail Form
There is nothing better than a glass of wine at the fag-end of a long day. Though wine as such is great, it is even better when served in cocktail form. So why settle for less.
Great for Calorie-Conscious Tipplers
As long as humans have learned to coax alcohol from grapes and edible flora, wine cocktails in some form or the other have fallen in and out of fashion over time. Wine cocktails today endure great ways to mix up your beverages.
Just in case you are more of a cocktail drinker, adding sparkle to your wine drinking can effectively add a whole new layer of complexity to the beverage. Cocktails can also use wine rather than stronger spirits for the calorie-conscious tipplers.
Cocktails from Your Favorite Wine
Oenophiles on the other hand will be able to discover newer ways to appreciate the best of their favorite wines by combining these with spirits and other ingredients. This will complement the flavor profiles and other characteristics of the drink. Add a little spritz to a cocktail with sparkling wine. Fortified wines also add depth of flavor along with a touch of sweetness to your cherished drink.
However, it is not recommended to make cocktails with wines that you do not enjoy drinking on its own. Although, wine cocktails present a great way of making use of simple yet inexpensive good quality of wine that is uninteresting to be consumed on its own.
Wine Cocktails Out There
Right from old standbys to esoteric delights, there are wine cocktails out there for all types of tipplers to enjoy. Here are five of the most favorite cocktails for you to get started. These recommended wine styles are capable of making each recipe stand out.
- Kir Royale – This is the most classic of Champagne cocktails. Kir Royale is fun, fruity, and festive. This variation on the Kir is a cocktail that was originally designed by members of the French resistance during World War II. It is made by combining dry white Burgundian wine known as aligoté with crème de cassis. Kir Royale swaps in Champagne for white wine. As a budget-friendly option, you could try cava, the Spanish sparkling wine made using a similar method like Champagne.
- Sherry Cobbler – In all of its diverse styles, Sherry can elevate and effectively add complexity to a wide array of wine cocktails. From the early 1800s, Sherry Cobbler is a straightforward classic American cocktail. It perfectly showcases the nutty flavors of Sherry while seeing that the fortified wine elegantly combines with simple syrup and muddled orange. Remember to use a dry style of Sherry like amontillado or fino. This cocktail requires you to add a splash of simple syrup for all the sweetness you’d like to have.
- Kalimotxo – Red wines can also be used for making wine cocktails. It is not just the white and sparkling wines that get to have all the fun. Kalimotxo is a Spanish invention that was popularized during the 1970s. This 50-50 mix of red wine with Coca-Cola is a refreshing summer sipper that works best with wines like the youthful Joven-style Rioja tipping its hat to the Spanish origins of the drink.
- Watermelon White Wine Spritzer – This Spritz comes in numerous forms. Each one is more refreshing than the other. The amaro-based Aperol Spritz has taken the wine cocktail world by storm. Almost anything can be made into a spritz by adding a splash of bubbly water. You’d love this ultra-refreshing watermelon rendition during the warmer months. The drink combines pureed watermelon with white wine and club soda. Watermelon White Wine Spritzer works perfectly along with a dry, crisp, unoaked white wine like pinot grigio.
- French 75 – A combination of Champagne, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, this is a bubbly tippler. Coming straight out of the history books it dates back to the prohibition era. This is an American creation despite the name it applies. It is the only classic cocktail that was invented in the U.S. during those times. Historians disagree whether the French 75 was created with cognac or gin, but both versions are delicious and worth trying. However, you shouldn’t blow your Champagne budget here with Burgundy, Alsace, or Loire Valley instead try a French crémant. Switch to other sparkling wines from the regions in place of Champagne that offers quality along with more bang.
Wine Cocktails are Having a Day For good reasons, wine cocktails are having a day once again. They are light and refreshing and can be served as a smart drink for two or more. They are also perfect to be made in batches and are both low-lift and festive for entertaining a crowd. There are wine cocktail recipes for every occasion, every season and every holiday that you can imagine.
Some of the favorite recipes given above may want you to have them again and again. So go and grab a bottle of your favorite wine and get mixing.
