rosé under fire

When you get a lot of people who are passionate about young adult books together socially, amazing things happen.  My DC Forever Young Adult book club (associated with the ever-hilarious FYA site) usually meets once a month, but this summer we’ve been getting together much more often as part of a YA authors vs. YA readers scavenger hunt.  Last weekend one of our activities was a cocktail mix-off/showdown between the two teams.  My team (the readers. and of the readers, mostly Catie.) came with one YA-related drink recipe in hand, which we called the Rosé Under Fire (after Elizabeth Wein’s Rose Under Fire, obvi).  Friends, it’s pretty AND delicious.  And it won that round!


Rosé Under Fire (adapted slightly from a Creative Culinary recipe)

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 ounces silver tequila
1 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce rich simple syrup (two parts sugar, one part water)
2 ounces rosé sparkling wine (we found a sparkling rosé moscato!)
Lemon twist for garnish
Strawberry for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Fill a Collins glass with ice (we used Mason jars, because we’re classy like that). 

Put the tequila, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously.  Open the shaker, add the sparkling wine (do not shake!) and strain into the ice filled glass.


Flame a twist of lemon (hold peel between two fingers, light a match and bring close to the peel without touching it, let spark and then blow out the match), and then run it around the lip of the glass.  Drop into drink when done!

Note: Flaming the lemon may seem a little crazy, but it smells great and heats up the oils in the peel, so when you then rub it on the lip of the glass you get tiny taste of fiery lemon.

Making the simple syrup a day or two before will simplify this drink to the point of ‘too easy not to make it.’  I recommend going that route.  The end result is a fun little drink that has lovely notes of berry and citrus, and if you can’t imagine the tequila and wine together, don’t worry – it works!  It’s a tiny bit like sangria, but mostly just refreshing and lightly sweet.


Recommended for: a simple, summery cocktail to make for yourself or share with friends on a warm evening.

Interested in other food-related posts?  Check out Beth Fish Reads’ Weekend Cooking.

13 comments:

caite said...

that sounds like a lovely summer drink..and I love the color.

(Diane) bookchickdi said...

This looks like a lovely summer drink, thanks for sharing.

Teddyree said...

So pretty and I love Moscato so this is one I'd definitely try.

Beth F said...

Pretty and refreshing! I've never tried flaming the lemon peel -- I'm definitely going to give it a go.

Tina said...

Ya had me at Tequila!!

JoAnn said...

We've been enjoying fun summer cocktails lately... adding this one to the mix. Thanks!

Alex said...

I am definitely going to enjoy this drink when I read Rose Under Fire (soon). Thanks to you and your tean for inventing and sharing this delicious looking drink.

Col (Col Reads) said...

What a fun idea for an evening out! I love the idea of the drink -- I'm not much of a tequila drinker, but maybe vodka or rum could be substituted!

Joy Weese Moll (@joyweesemoll) said...

That does sound perfect for summer!

Liviania said...

Sounds terrific to me.

Tales of Whimsy said...

Oh my yum!

Belle Wong said...

Sounds delicious! I love the flaming lemon peel idea - might have to borrow that for other drinks.

Heather said...

a book club meeting/cocktail party inspired by the books we read, I am all in.

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