TOP COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

TEQUILA CHAMPAGNE SANGRIA

It’s tequila time again.

Yeah, I know it hasn’t been that long since the last time Cocktail Spy talked about tequila.

It’s one of my favorite base spirits. It can be great alone on the rocks, or as part of a cocktail. And of course, few things make you feel quite so youthful as tequila shots.

They remind me of the hot, humid night I was on a pontoon with a few friends and a bottle of tequila on Pine Lake (no, I wasn’t driving). That, and the really fun wedding in Mexico where every table had its own bottle of Milagro. I don’t think any table actually finished theirs…

By the way, have you ever met anyone who said “I can’t drink tequila; it makes me crazy!”? There actually may be something to that. For some people, the agave in tequila can make the alcohol more stimulating than other spirits.

But I digress.

Summer is the ideal time to enjoy the tartness of tequila, and there are a couple other seasonal drink trends I thought would be fun to work with too.

Like sparkling wine. And big punchbowl cocktails. Both perfect for all the graduation celebrations and other end-of-year festivities.

Hence - sangria. But not your ordinary sangria. This one is…

TEQUILA CHAMPAGNE SANGRIA

- 3 navel oranges, 4 lemons, and 4 limes, all cut into thin rounds
- 6 large mint leaves
- 1/2 cup of agave nectar or simple syrup
- 3 oz silver tequila
- 1 bottle each of sparkling wine and dry white wine
- 2 cups lemon/lime soda

Combine the tequila, white wine, and agave. Marinate the fruit and mint in this mixture in the fridge for a few hours. When you're ready to serve it, top the pitcher(s) off with the sparkling wine and a splash of soda.

You can skip the soda if you’re looking for a more potent cocktail. I had a friend make this recipe recently without it. She said it was sophisticated without being fussy and will definitely make it again.

I need to throw a party so I can do the same.

Cheers!

Candice

PS - I take requests for both the drink of the month and the recipes page. If there’s something you’d like a recipe for, let me know at @cocktailspy (Twitter and Instagram), post them on the CocktailSpy.com Facebook page, or email them to thecocktailspy[at]gmail.com