4 Cocktail Recipes for Winter Wine-Lovers Ready to Venture Into the Spirits World [INFOGRAPHIC]

With warm weather firmly in the rearview and the colder months in full swing, it’s only a matter of time before the chill sneaks up on us and stays for a while. But before you dust off the snowblower or put away ingredients for your favorite summertime cocktail, consider winterizing it with the addition of red wine. These cocktails take your favorite reds and turn them into your new favorite winter libations. We’ve even included a couple of recipes for batching – so you can turn wine night with friends into a fun cocktail party! 

Winter Wonderland Red Sangria Recipe (Batched) 

Because of its bold red and black fruit flavors and tannic structure, red wine has the ability to transform into libations that aren’t just meant for the wine glass. For instance, the Grenache in the Winter Wonderland Red Sangria wonderfully complements the toasty flavors of vanilla and spiced oak showcased within Zacapa No. 23 dark rum. Rum, which is often associated with hot-weather Mojitos and Piña Coladas, easily transforms into a fall favorite with the addition of orange and cinnamon. If you’re playing host to holiday fêtes this season, consider brewing up a pitcher for your next dinner party.

Ingredients

  • 0.25 Cup of Zacapa No. 23 Rum
  • 1 Bottle of Grenache Wine  
  • 1 Medium Navel Orange, Thinly Sliced 
  • 1 Red Apple, Chopped and Cored with Skin
  • 1 Pear, Sliced and Cored with Skin 
  • 0.75 Cup of Raspberry Sparkling Water 
  • 2 Cinnamon Sticks 
  • Ice to Chill

Instructions

  1. Add orange slices to an empty pitcher and muddle the fruit with a wooden spoon.
  2. Toss in the chopped red apples and sliced pears.
  3. Pour in the entire bottle of wine, rum and cinnamon sticks, topping off with sparkling water. Stir to combine.
  4. Chill the pitcher in the fridge for an hour.
  5. To serve, pour sangria into red wine glasses filled with ice. Garnish each glass with a slice of apple, pear and orange. Serves 5-6.

NYC x ATL Sour Recipe

The NYC x ATL Sour, a play on the classic New York Sour, puts the spotlight on the flavors of Crown Royal Peach Flavored Whiskey with Malbec topping off the cocktail. The creamy vanilla and juicy peach flavors of the whiskey are intensified by the black fruit flavor of the Malbec, resulting in a delightfully sweet confection that would fit right in alongside homemade cobbler at Thanksgiving. 

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Add whisky, simple syrup and fresh lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Shake and strain the liquid into a rocks glass with fresh ice. 
  3. Pour the red wine slowly over the back of the spoon, allowing it to “float” on top of the mixture.
  4. Garnish with a peach slice. Serves 1.

Bulleit Mulled Wine Recipe (Batched)

In this Bulleit Mulled Wine recipe, two of the season’s biggest players are combined: Bulleit Bourbon and mulled wine. The bold, spicy character of this high-rye whiskey lends itself to the warming flavors of star anise, clove and cinnamon. When combined with Zinfandel, a jammy wine replete with plum and blackberry tasting notes, the bourbon’s toffee-flavored finish sings. Sip this one fireside for a chance to warm up from the inside out. 

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the wine, whiskey, spices, honey and a few orange slices to a boil over medium-high heat.
  2. Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Lastly, ladle the mulled wine into mugs and garnish with an orange slice. Serves 5-6.

Ruby Red Margarita Recipe

Perhaps the cocktail most synonymous with summer is the Margarita. Luckily, the beverage’s penchant for customization makes it easy to modify for the autumn season. When Casamigos Mezcal is combined with Gamay, a light-bodied red wine bursting with flavors of cranberry and red currant, the herbal aromas – thyme, mint, licorice – of the agave spirit are enhanced. Try a Ruby Red Margarita next time you’re tailgating for an elevated pre-game libation.

Whether you’re tailgating with friends before a football game or roasting marshmallows at the firepit in your backyard, rest assured that the spirits you sipped all summer long can stick around for this season too – simply add wine, good company, and enjoy.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz. of Casamigos Mezcal
  • 1 oz. of Gamay Wine
  • 1 oz. of Fresh Lime Juice
  • 1 oz. of Triple Sec  
  • Lime Slice Garnish
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Add ice, Casamigos Mezcal, triple sec and fresh lime juice to a cocktail shaker.
  2. Shake and strain into a chilled coupe glass and top with Gamay wine.
  3. Garnish with a lime slice. Serves 1.

This infographic is sponsored by The Bar. 

Published: October 11, 2021