Little Spirit Recipe For The New Year

Toasting the New Year – Her Way!  

by Meta Newell West

As the New Year approaches, it’s traditional to raise a glass of champagne, sparkling cider or even a cup of eggnog to wish friends and family continued or increased prosperity, laughter, joy, and good health. New Year’s Eve is a time to reflect on the past and toast new beginnings.

So, in the spirit of those new beginnings, we offer up a few recipes for seasonal drinks that might add a spark to your New Year’s Eve toast.

           

Make mine cranberry! Yes, I’m still on my cranberry campaign and this fabulously festive cocktail starts with a spiced cranberry syrup reduction and includes sparkling wine, brandy and fresh cranberries. This is another cranberry recipe from our cousin Judy McMullen. She suggests making the Spiced Cranberry Syrup (which is actually a reduced liquid versus an actual syrup) a day or two ahead; it can then be stored in the refrigerator.

• Spiced Cranberry Syrup (make ahead and store in the refrigerator)
• 2 quarts cranberry juice cocktail
• 8 slices peeled ginger (each about the size of a quarter)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise

Pour the above ingredients into a saucepan and simmer over the lowest temperature until reduced by about one-third—this should take about 2 hours and will result in about 5-6 cups of remaining liquid. Remove the ginger and pour liquid into a jar (Judy leaves the cinnamon sticks and star anise in with the liquid). Refrigerate until ready to use. 

Ingredients are heated on a low temperature to reduce the amount of liquid, both concentrating and blending flavors. - photo by Meta Newell West

Spiced Cranberry Sparkling Cocktail     Makes 16 servings

• Granulated or fine sugar for rimming glasses (red sugar adds another festive touch) + a little cranberry juice cocktail
• Brandy — ½ to 1 cup (vary amount according to your preference)
• Spiced Cranberry Syrup (see previous recipe)
• Cranberries, fresh or frozen, for garnish
• 3 (750 ml) bottles of sparkling wine, Champagne (such as Brut), or Prosecco (Wine containing significant amounts of carbon dioxide is referred to as sparkling wine. Champagne is the classic example of a sparkling wine but it is produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France. Other countries and regions produce their own versions, such as Italy’s Prosecco.

1. Rimming glass—Place sugar and a little cranberry juice cocktail in shallow containers that are wide enough to accommodate dipping the rim of a champagne glass. Rim glasses by dipping in a little cranberry juice and then into the sugar (make sure the cranberry juice for dipping is very shallow; if too deep, the sugar runs down the glass). Ideally do this ahead of time so the sugar can harden.                              

After dipping the glass rim in cranberry juice, it goes into a bowl of red sugar. - photo Meta Newell West

2. Adding Brandy to Spiced Cranberry Syrup—Add ½ to 1 cup of brandy to the chilled Spiced Cranberry Syrup; stir. Once the brandy is added, this mixture can continue to be refrigerated for several weeks.

3. To Prepare Individual Glasses for Serving— Add 3 cranberries to the prepared glass.  Pour a jigger (about 2 tablespoons) of the Spiced Cranberry Syrup (with added brandy) into a glass, and then fill with sparkling wine. Stir carefully and ENJOY!

 

Glass is ready to add the syrup-brandy mixture and sparkling wine. - photo by Meat Newell West

Barry West tops the Spiced Cranberry Syrup mixture with sparkling wine. - photo by Meta Newell West

 Along with your cocktail you’ll need a witty saying, so we close with a few of our favorites.

Here’s a toast to the future, a toast to the past, and a toast to our friends,

far and near. May the future be pleasant, the past a bright dream.
May our friends remain faithful and dear. 

Anonymous

Cheers to you, Cheers to me, Have a Happy New Year’s Eve!

Anonymous

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