Twilight Fizz
This cocktail checks all our favorite ‘oooh, that’s a good cocktail’ boxes: It’s got lots of body, thanks to the egg whites, and mulling spices add subtle floral notes. Cabernet Sauvignon gives it a tannic mouthfeel and the tequila infuses it with a bright, boozy heat. The complex play between the sweetness of the simple syrup and the tannins in the wine is what really makes this drink work.
The cinnamon, nutmeg, peppercorns and anise pods give the Twilight Fizz a heat that’s perfect for Minnesota winters. Make it for your S.O. this Valentine’s Day, your bestie for Palentine’s Day, your cousin for her wedding shower or for yourself and your housemates just because.
1 serving
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes (plus, 1 hour chilling time)
Ingredients
For the mulled-wine syrup:
2 L&B Whole Cinnamon Sticks
3 star anise pods
8 cloves
8 allspice berries
16 black peppercorns
1 teaspoon L&B White Sesame Seeds
8 almonds
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Peel of 1 lemon
Peel of 1 orange
10 raisins
750-milliliter bottle cabernet sauvignon
2 ½ cups granulated sugar
For the cocktail:
1 ½ ounces reposado tequila
½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
¾ ounce mulled-wine syrup, divided (see above)
1 egg white
Ice
Club soda
Directions
- To make the mulled-wine syrup: In a medium pot, add the cinnamon, star anise, cloves, allspice, peppercorns, sesame seeds and almonds and toast over medium-low heat until lightly fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the nutmeg, lemon peel, orange peel, raisins, wine and sugar. Bring to a boil for 15 minutes or until the syrup coats the back of a spoon. Allow the syrup to cool and then strain it into a jar with a lid. Refrigerate until chilled through, about 1 hour.
- Thirty minutes before serving, put a coupe glass in the freezer to chill.
- To make the cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, lemon juice, ½ oz mulled-wine syrup and egg white. Dry shake without ice for about 15 seconds to combine the ingredients.
- Fill your shaker with ice and shake for another 15 seconds to slightly chill.
- Add the remaining ¼ oz mulled-wine syrup to the chilled coupe glass. Slowly strain the cocktail into the glass and top with club soda.
Recipe adapted from: Punch Drink
