Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters Shares Some Spicy Wine Cocktails to get You Started in the New Year
If your New Year’s resolution is to learn how to mix something more intricate than a vodka soda when you cocktail, Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters has got you covered! Elliott Clark of @apartment_bartender knows a thing or two about getting that perfect drink pic for the ‘Gram, and is sharing his mixology skills to help you start 2020 with a toast that’s not tired.
Inspired by the velvety, bourbon-barrel aged Cooper & Thief Red Blend (SRP: $29.99), Elliott devised two easy-to-recreate cocktails featuring the unexpected wine. Along with the recipes, he let us in on his tips for snapping the best photo of your mixology masterpiece. Try your hand at these serves to really impress your Valentine this year!
Below are two of Elliott’s recipes with his insider tips for capturing the most Insta-worthy shot!
“The Mischief Maker takes the warmth of Cooper & Thief’s red blend wine to a whole new level with the addition of fresh blood-orange juice and spiced rum. The best way to capture this hot toddy variation is in wintry type of vibe, so consider styling elements that indicate the season, like these pine needles, or even a fireplace in the background.”
– Elliott Clark, @apartment_bartender
Mischief Maker
Created by Elliott Clark, @apartment_bartender
INGREDIENTS:
2 oz Spiced Rum
½ oz Fresh Blood Orange Juice
½ oz Cooper & Thief Red Blend Wine Syrup*
3 – 4 oz Hot Water
Garnish: Blood Orange Slice
METHOD: Combine all ingredients into a glass mug and stir. Garnish with a slice of blood orange.
“When you have a tried-and-true cocktail on your hands, keep it simple and let the drink take center stage. Classic cocktails are classic for a reason; they’re timeless. That doesn’t mean you can’t spruce things up though, like with this Winter Spiced Old Fashioned. This variation incorporates a split base (cognac & bourbon together) along with a Cooper & Thief twist by adding in a red wine syrup using the ex-bourbon barrel aged red blend, cinnamon sticks, all spice, star anise and cloves.”
– Elliott Clark, @apartment_bartender
Winter Spiced Old Fashioned
Created by Elliott Clark, @apartment_bartender
INGREDIENTS:
1 oz Bourbon
1 oz Cognac VSOP
¼ oz Spiced Cooper & Thief Red Blend Wine Syrup*
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Dash of Orange Bitters
METHOD: Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir to chill the cocktail, and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.
*For the Cooper & Thief Red Blend Wine Syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of Cooper & Thief Red Blend and 1 cup of sugar. For added spice, add in broken cinnamon sticks, all spice, star anise, and cloves. Bring to a light simmer, and gently stir to dissolve the sugar. Strain out the solid and store the syrup in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
