When a wine comes to the point of clogging our Instagram feeds with its own meme — yes, we’re talking about Yes Way Rosé — we can officially proclaim its arrival. At this point it seems you’d have to actually try hard to not find rosé on a wine list, or in the hands of your friends. France and their economy must be absolutely thrilled that we’re gulping down all this pink juice — you’re welcome France: first we saved you on beaches of Normandy, now we’re drinking all your pink wine!
With rosé everywhere at this point, it was a forgone conclusion that eventually people would start making cocktails with it, and that’s exactly what they’ve done. Fully embracing the phrase that there’s never too much of a good thing, mixologists have invented delicious ways to incorporate everyone’s favorite pink beverage into some delicious drinks, and now you can make them too. The French would be so proud.
The Lillet Rosé Spring Cocktail
This cocktail comes to us by way of Martha Stewart. Not only is the drink delicious, it also features a floating flower, which ups the Instagram-ability big time.
12 ounces Lillet Rosé
12 ounces Ruby Red grapefruit juice
6 ounces gin
6 edible flower blossoms
Combine all the ingredients minus the flowers into a pitcher full of ice and stir until chilled. Strain and divide cocktail among 6 stemmed cocktail glasses, such as Champagne coupes. Float a flower in each.
Rosé Punch
Do you have a beautiful pitcher you received as a wedding gift, yet rarely use? Make this awesome rosé punch, also from Miss Martha. Pour into clear glasses and Instagram away!
1/4 cantaloupe, peeled
1 small peach, pitted
1 small nectarine, pitted
2 bottles chilled rosé wine
6 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups golden or red raspberries
Slice cantaloupe, peach and nectarine into bite-size pieces. Pour wine into a large pitcher, and stir in sugar. Add sliced fruit and raspberries, and refrigerate, covered, for 2 hours.
The Ruby on Rails
This drink from Chow combines two of summer’s hottest libations: Rosé and Pimm’s Cup, resulting in a refreshing drink that is not only easy to make, but beautiful to photograph. Plus, if you have any friends who are developers, they’ll love the drink’s name.
2 or 3 medium strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
1 1/2 ounces gin
1 3/4 ounces fruity rosé wine
3/4 ounce Strawberry Syrup
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce Pimm’s No. 1
Combine all the ingredients, minus the strawberries, in a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice and shake until chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into a glass filled with ice, garnish with strawberries and serve.
The Black Rosé
Punch is often one of the easiest forms of cocktail to make, especially for a crowd, and this one from Chow really delivers. Whip it up before they arrive, and then just relax with your guests while you all take pictures of the beautiful drink.
1 pint fresh blackberries, plus 12 extra berries for garnish
5 ounces simple syrup, chilled
1 bottle dry rosé wine, chilled
9 ounces vodka
6 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 9 medium limes)
12 thinly sliced lime wheels, for garnish
Place the pint of blackberries and simple syrup in a large pitcher and muddle until the fruit is crushed and juicy but not completely pulverized, about 1 minute. Add the wine, vodka and lime juice and stir to combine. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a punch bowl and strain the mixture into the bowl, discarding the solids. Place a large block of ice in the punch and serve in wine glasses filled with ice. Garnish each drink with a blackberry and a lime wheel.
Header image via Shutterstock.com
