Courtesy of Jen Ackrill, Top of Waikiki, Honolulu HI
“It can sometimes be challenging to get in the winter spirit when it’s sunny and 78 degrees,” says bartender Jen Ackrill. “But thankfully, the weather in Hawaii took a turn towards winter and it’s been raining nonstop! With this easy Merlot spritzer, I’m able to incorporate holiday flavors while still keeping cool under the bright Hawaiian sun!”
Published: January 8, 2016
Ingredients
3 ounces Merlot
½ ounce mulling spice syrup (recipe below)
½ ounce lemon juice
4 dashes Angostura bitters
Ginger beer, to top
Lemon slice, for garnish
Cloves, for garnish
---
Mulling Spice Syrup:
3 cups water
3 tablespoons mulling spice (any combination of cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, whole nutmeg, star anise pods, cardamom pods, peppercorns and orange rinds)
3 cups cane sugar
Directions
Add Merlot, syrup, lemon juice and bitters into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, and pour into a large wine glass. Top with the ginger beer, and garnish with a thick lemon wheel pierced with cloves.
Mulling Spice Syrup
Bring water, sugar and spices to a boil. Stir until sugar has dissolved, strain and let cool.
