Love is in air. Valentine’s Day provides plenty of sales opportunities for fine and sparkling wines. Cocktails, too, offer plenty to inspire the imagination and value-added sales. Here, four recipes each with a popular base spirits.
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- Brockmans Frosé: 1 oz. Brockmans Gin, 5 oz. Rose liqueur, Freshly-squeezed lemon luice, 2.0 oz. Sweet Rosé Wine, crushed ice. Combine Brockmans Gin, rose liqueur, lemon juice and Rosé wine in a shaker with ice. Strain contents into a large stemmed wine glass filled with crushed ice. Alternatively combine all ingredients in a blender with ice. Blend until the ice is crushed and scoop into a large stemmed wine glass. Garnish with sugared or fresh rose petals.
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- Strawberry Mamie Taylor: 2 parts Monkey Shoulder, .5 parts Lemon juice, .75 parts ginger syrup, .25 parts strawberry, puree. Shake. Top with soda. Cocktail by Giuseppe Gonzalez (Suffolk Arms, NYC).
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- Casa Noble’s Bae-cation: 2 oz. Casa Noble Crystal Tequila, 1 oz. Lime Juice, 1 oz. Grapefruit Juice, ½ oz. Agave Nectar, Sparkling Water, Grapefruit wedge. Place Casa Noble, lime juice, grapefruit juice and agave nectar into shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into glass over ice (salt or lime-and-chili powder rim optional), top with sparkling water, and swirl. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.
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- Smoke & Flowers (serves 5): 7 ½ parts Montelobos Mezcal, 2 ½ parts St. Germain, 5 parts strawberry puree, (wash strawberries and blend in a blender), 3 ¾ parts lemon juice, 2 ½ parts simple syrup. Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and stir together vigorously. Add ice cubes when ready to serve. Garnish with strawberry and lemon slices.
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- White Manhattan: 2 parts Hudson NY Corn Whiskey, 1 part Lillet Blanc, 3 dashes orange bitters. Stir ingredients 50 times with chunk ice to chill and dilute properly. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.
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- Ruffino’s Cupid’s Arrow: 2 oz .Ruffino Moscato d’Asti, 1½ oz Pomegranate juice, 1 oz. Dry Vermouth, 1 oz. Soda Water. Combine ingredients and pour into a rocks glass with ice. Lightly stir. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and rosemary sprig.
