MULLED WINE, BUT CHILLED

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Mulled Wine, but Chilled image

Warming in all but touch, this drink is ideal for cusp season, when the days can feel like autumn in morning and summer by afternoon. Cognac anchors the drink, fresh lime brightens it, and a simple syrup steeped with ginger, cinnamon, clove and cardamom evokes a classic mulled wine. The simple syrup here makes extra and keeps for a month in the refrigerator. Add it to lemonade, drizzle it over oatmeal or substitute it for standard simple syrup in another cocktail to make it automatically cozy.

Provided by Rebekah Peppler

Categories     cocktails

Time 25m

Yield 1 drink

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (5- to 6-inch) piece ginger
2 cinnamon sticks, lightly crushed
4 whole cloves
4 whole black peppercorns
3/4 cup granulated sugar
5 whole green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
Ice
1 1/2 ounces dry red wine, such as Pinot Noir, Gamay, or Grenache
1 ounce Cognac
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

Steps:

  • Place a coupe glass in the freezer to chill for at least 15 minutes and up to an hour. (Alternatively, fill the coupe with ice and water, stir for 30 seconds, pour out the ice and water, dry quickly, and pour in the drink into the now-chilled glass.)
  • Prepare the syrup: Gently run the ginger under water to remove any traces of dirt. If the ginger is thin-skinned, leave the skin on. Otherwise, peel. Use the larger holes on a box grater to grate the ginger, and add to a small saucepan. Place over medium-high heat.
  • Add 1 1/2 cups water, cinnamon sticks, cloves and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer on medium until the liquid reduces by about half and is very fragrant, about 20 minutes.
  • Add the sugar and cardamom, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove pan from the heat, and set aside to cool completely. Strain through a fine mesh sieve. This makes about 1 cup. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. (You can use this in place of a standard syrup in another cocktail.)
  • Prepare the cocktail: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the wine, Cognac, vermouth, 1/2 ounce mulled simple syrup and lime juice. Shake and strain into the chilled glass.

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