easy and delicious holiday cocktails with jardesca
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What’s the one thing that gets everyone through the holidays?! Alcohol, duh. As you know, I typically stick to wine, specifically red, and more specifically pinot noir. However, I do love a cocktail every now and again. The problem is that I can usually only have one; and when they are super delicious, you always want another. Well, today I’m sharing cocktails with Jardesca, a botanically infused, all-natural, low alcohol aperitif that marries 10 botanicals with a blend of 3 artisanal California wines. Now you might be thinking, what the heck is an aperitif?! I know I once did. Aperitif literally means to open, so an aperitif drink is an opening drink. It’s what you drink first — think, happy hour, day drinking, the drink you order when you first sit down to look at a menu for dinner. It’s going to start you off, but in my case, it’s what I keep drinking throughout the night. Just because you start with it, doesn’t mean you can’t finish with it too!
Jardesca was created to be a light, delicious and quintessentially Californian alternative to European aperitifs. Made to be served over ice, Jardesca is perfect for brunch, sitting poolside, happy hour, basically anytime you want to drink a delicious beverage. And because it’s fortified, at 17% alcohol, it will stay fresh for four to six weeks after you open it. Hello no waste! You can learn more about how Jardesca was created here; I won’t bore you with all the details. But seriously, go check them out; you might even find a photo of yours truly on the site.
Now on to the good stuff! I created five (yes, five) different holiday cocktails to share — I made two with Jardesca White Aperitiva, which has Viognier at the heart and botanicals like pink grapefruit, pink peppercorn, and bay; and then three cocktails with Jardesca Red Aperitiva, which has a heart of Zinfandel and botanicals that include ginger, tangerine and cardamom. One of the many reasons I love Jardesca is it’s versatility. You can literally do almost anything with it! Want a martini? Sure, try a 3-1 ratio of Jardesca White and Gin. A manhattan? Jardesca’s got you covered with 3oz Jardesca Red and 2oz Bourbon. Craving a mojito? Try Jardesca White with Sparkling Wine, Lime and Mint. I mean I could keep going but I think you get the idea. Although I should also note, Jardesca was designed to be served on it’s own over ice, so if mixology isn’t your think (which it’s definitely not mine) all you have to do is pop open a bottle, pour 3oz and enjoy.
These are the easiest and most delicious holiday cocktail recipes you’ll find. Most require only a few ingredients, and all of them require a very minimal amount of effort — just the way I like it. Make them for you, for a friend, or for a group. Either way, you’ll be feeling fresh and refreshed in no time. You can thank me later.
ps: if you are local to Sonoma County, you can find Jardesca at Oliver’s Market and Bottle Barn. If not, you can order on Jardesca’s website and use code CERRIOUSLY for $10 off your order!
jardesca holiday spritz
3 oz Jardesca White Aperitiva
2 oz Prosecco
1 Small Spoonful Pomegranate Syrup
Pomegranate Seeds and Rosemary Sprig
Pour Jardesca White Aperitiva over ice in a wine glass and top with Prosecco. Add pomegranate syrup (can also use grenadine, but the Jardesca Holiday Spritz Gift Set comes with everything you need). Garnish with pomegranate seeds and a sprig of rosemary.
Note: I like to serve as is because the colors look so pretty, but you’ll want to stir it before drinking.
jardesca mistletoe mule
3 oz Jardesca Red Aperitiva
2 oz Ginger Beer
1 Small Spoonful Cranberry Syrup
Cranberries and Rosemary Sprig
Pour Jardesca Red Aperitiva over ice and top with Ginger Beer (my favorite is Fever Tree). Add cranberry syrup (can also use cranberry juice, but the Jardesca Mistletoe Mule Gift Set comes with everything you need). Garnish with cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
jardesca royale
3 oz Jardesca Red Aperitiva
2 oz Champagne
1 Orange Twist
Pour very chilled Jardesca Red Aperitiva into a champagne flute. Top with Champagne and garnish with an orange twist.
jardesca holiday sangria
3 oz Jardesca White Aperitiva
2 oz Sparkling Apple Cider
Cranberries
Orange, sliced into wheels
Green Pear, cubed
Pomegranate Seeds
Rosemary Sprigs
Red Sprinkles
To create the sparkling rim, dip a wine glass into a 1/4 inch of water, then into a bowl of red sprinkles. Learn from my mistake and let it dry upside down to avoid red water running down the sides of the glass, maybe 10 minutes.
To serve, add an orange wheel to the side of a wine glass and then fill with ice. Pour in Jardesca White Aperitiva and top with Sparkling Apple Cider. Garnish with a few cranberries, pear cubes, pomegranate seeds and a single rosemary sprig.
Large Batch Version: Pour 3 bottles of Jardesca White Aperitiva and 2 bottles Sparkling Apple Cider into a pitcher or beverage dispenser. Add all fruit — I usually use 1 cup of cranberries, 1 orange, 1 green pear and 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds. Place in the fridge while you make the sugar rimmed glasses. To serve, add an orange wheel to the side of the glass and then fill with ice. Pour in the sangria and add extra fruit if desired. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
jardesca mulled wine
3 cups Jardesca Red Aperitiva (just pour the whole bottle)
2 cups Apple Juice
1 cup Zinfandel (something cheap is fine)
5 Whole Cloves
6 Whole All Spice
3 Star Anise
3 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Orange, sliced into wheels
Pour Jardesca Red Aperitiva into a dutch oven over low heat. Add in the Apple Juice and Zinfandel. Then add all the spices. Stir and let simmer for about 15 minutes — be careful to not boil. To serve, ladle into mug and garnish with an orange slice.
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