It’s red. It makes your house smell provocative and mouth-watering. It’s filled with Champagne. What else could you possibly want for a sexy, make-you-giddy Valentine cocktail?
The recipe, perhaps?*
Gather up:
- 2 quarts (64 oz.) cranberry juice (as close to pure cranberry juice as you can find).
- 8 slices (quarter size and 1/8 inch thick) peeled, fresh ginger.
- 2 cinnamon sticks (about 3 inches long–I recommend cassia cinnamon for this recipe).
- 2 whole star anise
- 1/3 cup cognac or brandy
- 8 cups Champagne or sparkling wine. Dry, please. And chilled.
- 32 – 48 fresh cranberries, rinsed.
At least 4 hours before you want to make your cocktail, prep and cook the syrup. You can make the syrup up to a week ahead of time as long as you chill it in an airtight container.
In a 3.5 to 4-quart pan compine cranberry juice, ginger, cinnamon sticks and star anise. Boil over high heat until reduced to 2 cups. It takes about 1 hour. Let cool about 30 minutes, then pour through a fine strainer into a small pitcher or measuring cup. Chill syrup until cold at least 1.5 hours.
The Fun Part
Pour 2 tablespoons of the cranberry syrup and 1 teaspoon cognac into a Champagne flute. Add 1/2 cup of Champagne. Garnish with 2 or 3 cranberries for that sumptuous, luscious touch.
If you want spices for love and raw sexuality, forget Cupid. You need how-to on the spicy Aphrodite.
If you want the non-alcoholic version of the Crimson Spice Champagne Cocktail you can mix this syrup with club soda or plain sparkling water.
Just a little warning: Every time we’ve made this syrup and shown up at a party it had a delirious affect on all the guests. Have fun with it (wink, wink)…and cheers!
February 11, 2011 at 9:53 pm
I already think about cocktails too much. This is just too much!!
Jason
February 12, 2011 at 7:16 am
Who needs to wait until Valentine’s Day? These are dynamite!
February 12, 2011 at 6:41 pm
This sounds like the best cocktail for Valentine’s Day!
February 12, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Ginger??? I’m a sucker for ginger… Can’t wait to try it.
February 13, 2011 at 8:22 am
Champagne + cognac + spices = my kind of cocktail! Love it!!!
February 15, 2011 at 5:22 am
Oh my Karen! I feel shortchanged now for having had only Mimosas to sip on Valentine’s Day morning LOL This is beautiful – the flavours, the colour, even the quirky, dotted flutes!! Just lovely! I WILL have this for my wedding aniversary next month! Bookmarked! Thanks 🙂
February 15, 2011 at 9:04 am
Glad everyone enjoyed it! @Pamela–check out the ultimate gingerbread!
@Jason–any cocktail compliment from Ancient Fire Wines is an honor. Thank you!
@Mistress–maybe we can develop a Valentine rum drink. 🙂
@Zerrin–You don’t really need Valentine’s Day to enjoy these but the crimson color makes it too fun. 😉
@Denise–Your comment reminded me. I DON’T recommend such exagerated flutes. These were great for the picture but I forgot that the syrup gets stuck at the bottom. Happy Anniversary a month early!
February 16, 2011 at 12:58 am
a warming sensuous cocktail for my favourite late winter celebration! Theresa
February 16, 2011 at 8:54 pm
stunning…thanks for the new cocktail,
sweetlife
February 17, 2011 at 12:04 am
That looks so refreshing! And those glasses are so cute with polka dots…hehe
February 22, 2011 at 12:56 pm
I think I might serve the non-alcoholic version at a brunch this weekend! Finally something different than Mimosas will show up at the table ! 🙂
March 4, 2011 at 2:34 am
I would love one of these right now…great cocktail!