It's late August and Summer is REALLY slipping through our fingers. Despite being naturally drawn to Fall weather, I am clinging to Summer as hard as I can. Here, south of St. Paul, cocktail parties are a weekly habit and sitting outdoors to enjoy the weather is a MUST. Despite mosquitoes and humidity, summer cocktails are to be had!
So considering the time of year and soon-to-be-changing seasons, what better way is there to cling to Summer than a series of fruity cocktails? If anything, this series will give you a reminder of what Summer is for all of us come Winter.
The series is going to be about 8-10 drinks and every one of them are delicious — trust me.
Introducing the first drink in the "Cling to Summer Cocktails" series:
The Scarlet Harlot*
Ingredients
- 12 cherries, pitted
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 ounces brandy
- 1/2 ounce Dubonnet rouge
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
Instructions
- Combine cherries and sugar in a cocktail shaker and muddle until cherries are broken up but not completely pulverized.
- Fill the shaker halfway with ice, then add remaining ingredients. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and serve.
When you go out to buy the Dubonnet rouge, I would first go to a higher-end liquor store to find it. Apparently it's a rarity in the Twin Cities. I discovered a fantastic store off of 44th and France, conveniently called France 44. If you've never heard of it, GO. They have a great selection. In fact, it's so great that I plan on writing a feature article on them soon.
Back to the drink...
The drink is fruity, but doesn't sacrifice the tasty of a good brandy. If you're not up for orange bitters, try adding Amaretto instead for a different twist to the drink. If the chunks of cherry bother you, like they do me, I would suggest adding everything to a blender or juicer (a little water or juice, sugar and cherries) for a better consistency.
*The Cling to Summer Cocktails series is by Chow.com as their Summer Fruit Cocktails series. Photography and recipes by Chow.com
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