As with the changing of the season our taste for new flavors changes as well. All summer long I enjoy sipping refreshing gin and tonics, but come fall I crave the warmth and comfort of a more seasonal beverage. This festive cocktail recipe has everything you want in a fall libation. Cozy spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, plus its warming heat will soothe you inside and out. Like spiced wine, it’s a cocktail we’ll be sipping by the fire all through winter.
Orange Cinnamon Blossom Cocktail
Courtesy of Santa Margherita
Ingredients
1 bottle of Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG
1/2 lemon
1/2 orange
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup sugar
3 whole cloves
3 whole allspice (also known as star anise)
2 cinnamon sticks
Directions:
Rinse lemon and orange and thinly slice them, discarding seeds; quarter the orange slices.
Put fruit in a 4- to 5-quart pan.
Add honey, sugar (use the smaller amount if you prefer drinks on the tart side, the larger if you want a sweeter flavor), cloves and allspice.
With a knife, cut the cinnamon sticks lengthwise into thinner strips. Add cinnamon and 2 cups water to pan; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes.
Pour Prosecco into the hot citrus base and heat until steaming, about 8 minutes. Keep warm over low heat.
Ladle into heatproof cups or wineglasses and garnish each drink with some of the spices and citrus as shown.
Enjoy!
