As the holiday season wraps its warmth around chilly evenings, there's no better way to celebrate than with a glass of Late Harvest Holiday Cocktail in hand. This festive concoction is a toast to tradition and a nod to the nectarous bounty of late harvest vines. Each sip offers a symphony of sweet, ripe flavors, a luxurious blend that marries the velvety richness of late harvest wine with the joyful spirit of the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of Stags' Leap Late Harvest White Wine, chilled
- 4 fresh figs, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp honey, preferably a floral variety
- Fresh thyme sprigs
- 1/4 cup of brandy or cognac
- Star anise
- Cardamom pods
- Granulated sugar and honey for rimming the glasses
- Ice cubes (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Glass Rims
Mix equal parts granulated sugar and honey on a shallow plate.
Dip the rims of the cocktail glasses into a shallow water plate to wet them, then dip into the honey-sugar mixture to coat.
Honey-Thyme Syrup
In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water, the honey, and a few thyme sprigs. Gently heat until the honey dissolves.
Add a star anise and a couple of cardamom pods. Simmer for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat and let it cool. Strain and discard the solids.
Cocktail Assembly
Place a few fig slices at the bottom of each prepared glass.
Pour 1 tablespoon of the brandy or cognac over the figs.
Add a small sprig of thyme to each glass.
Combining the Cocktail
In a large mixing pitcher, pour the chilled late harvest white wine.
Stir in the honey-thyme syrup to taste. Start with a small amount and add more as needed, depending on your desired sweetness.
Serving
Carefully pour the wine and syrup mixture into the prepared glasses over the figs and thyme.
For a chilled version, add a couple of ice cubes to each glass.
Optionally, top each cocktail with a splash of sparkling water for a light fizz.
Garnish
Garnish with an additional slice of fig and a star anise on top.
Serve immediately, offering the cocktail with a stirrer to mix the flavors before sipping.
Late Harvest White Wine
Intricate and youthfully fruity, this Late Harvest White fills the mouth with sweet, alluring stone fruit flavors of apricot, peach, and nectarine, alongside hints of candied tangerine, orange marmalade, vanilla, orange blossom and delicate honeysuckle. With crisp acidity and balanced sweetness, this wine has enviable freshness and a more opulent and viscous mouthfeel. Meant to be enjoyed upon release but will continue to evolve and delight for the next decade.
