Today, there is a little celebration going on in the blogworld. A friend of mine, Barb from Creative Culinary is celebrating the one year anniversary of her “Friday Cocktail Series” and asked me if I wanted to be part of the celebration. Gee, let me think about that… um… YES!!! And I had the perfect cocktail in mind – one truly fit for a ‘Queen” .. or in this case the “Queen of Cocktails – Barb from Creative Culinary”!!!
So what exactly is this cocktail? Well, to start, it is made with Dubonnet – a sweet, wine based aperitif made from fortified wine, herbs, spices and a small amount of quinine.It was first developed by Joseph Dubonnet in 1846 in response to a competition run by the French government to find a way of persuading French Legionnaires in North Afrida to drink quinine to combat malaria. But lest you think this is a “medicinal” tasting concoction, nothing could be further from the truth… Dubonnet is, to my thinking at least, a wonderful balance of flavors especially suited to fall and winter foods – a little sweet and a little spicy and pefectly suited to prepping your palate for all those rich and luscious fall flavors!
Dubonnet and I have a long history together. I was first introduced to Dubonnet years ago by my then boyfriend and it quickly became my before dinner “drink of choice” – served on the rocks with an orange twist. To my twenty something self, it seemed “oh so sophisticated” – and it turns out that I am in good company. Dubonnet was also the favorite aperitif of the Queen Mother and her daughter Queen Elizabeth continues that tradition. In fact, I have heard rumors that the current Queen is so enamored of it that she has been known to include a bottle when she is traveling “just in case”.
As the days turn cooler (and if I say this enough it really will happen here in So Cal) the Queen’s Cocktail is truly the perfect pre dinner cocktail – Dubonnet with sparkling wine, a hint of bitters and in keeping with it’s name “diamonds” – edible ones!!!
So Barb, here’s to you – Congratulations on your First Anniversary of Friday Cocktails - Cheers!!!
Edible Diamonds are available from baking supply stores and online. Clear rock candy is available at specialty candy shops or from Middle Eastern markets. If you can't find it, you can [make]http:///http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Rock-Candy] it.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. Edible Diamonds or clear rock candy
- 2 oz. Dubonnet Rouge
- 4 oz. Sparkling Wine ( I used Prosecco, but any dry sparkling wine will work)
- 2 dashes Pechauld's Bitters
Instructions
- In a 6 oz. champagne flute, place the rock candy or "edible diamonds. Pour in two ounces of Dubonnet. Top with chilled sparking wine. Serve.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
You are right, Barb is the Queen of Cocktails! I love her Friday Cocktail blog feature and this is a beautiful cocktail to celebrate her anniversary. It does look very stately and elegant sitting on that pewter tray. I love the dark colours in this and the shot with the ice at the bottom of the glass is great.
What a pretty cocktail! I love the rock sugar at the bottom!
Such a beautiful drink and photo. It was one of the first I noticed in the round-up and it is most certainly worthy of the title ‘Queen’ I want to make this drink and impress the heck out of guests
I love the history of cocktails…gin and tonic is another classic that was originally a concoction for the same reason…tempering the quinine that had to be taken to ward off malaria. See…cocktails are LIFESAVING!
Thanks so much for participating Nancy; this is a gorgeous addition to the party!
Thanks Barb! I love the history too and so glad that you cover it so well in your Friday Cocktail series!!!
I can just imagine your 20 something self…feeling sophisticated. I want to make this tonight! Where did you get the rock candy around here? Do we have to go to the candy store at Disneyland
Oh yes, I was quite something (young and stupid does come to mind!!). I found the rock sugar at Wholesome Choice – a market in Irvine that has middle eastern, jewish and asian foods!!
Quite Queenly! I loved this one right away! standing tall and beautiful. I will try this soon.
We made this drink, Nancy, and I posted about it on my blog today! Loved it. I told everyone your story when we drank them.
So fun!!! Glad you all enjoyed it – the “virtual” cocktail party was really fun.. think we will be doing it again soon!
PS. I got the rock candy at a candy store on the peninsula…it was on a stick but we broke the candy off.