Alaska is known for its Midnight Sun and Aurora’s but not for its Winter Sun and bluebird skies. During the harsh cold winters here in Alaska we welcome cloudy days and snowflakes because it actually keeps those harsh negative temps at bay. A bluebird sky and a few hours of winter sun are welcomed but come at a price, seriously cold temperatures.
This drink by Robert Sickler is a perfect accompaniment to those cold winter days and nights. His mixture is a celebration of those surprise bits of brightness to be found in the winter wild, and he finds great harmony with gin, sparkling wine, and a trio of carefully selected two-in-one ingredients for a thorough representation of the fruit, root, and flower families. The color is a perfect rendition of those beautiful pink hues that are cast against Denali on those winter sun-lit days.
INGREDIENTS (4 – 6 Servings)
6 oz citrus-flavored gin
4 oz lavender-lemon syrup
8 dashes blood orange + ginger bitters
8 oz hibiscus & pomegranate mixer
4 oz dry sparkling wine
6 dried pineapple rings
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add the gin, syrup, and bitters to a small punchbowl or pitcher over 4 – 6 large format ice cubes and stir vigorously.
- Slowly pour in the mixer and sparkling wine, to preserve the bubbles, and stir a few times to chill.
- Place the pineapple rings on the source of the punch.
- Serve the punch into separate glasses, with a pineapple ring in each one.
