What happens when you take a classic refreshing summer drink like Fresita sparkling strawberry infused wine and add a simple apple cinnamon syrup spiked with vodka? A perfect fall cocktail: the spiced berry apple fizz.
Last week I was bemoaning the fact that it felt like I missed summer. I’m still bemoaning it!
Where did it go? The sun disappears sooner every evening and while the days are still sunny and hot, the light has that watery golden glow that signifies summer is getting ready to say goodbye. The nights have a definite nip to them and it’s time to start carrying a hoodie when you leave the house… just in case! (and if you live in Vancouver, it’s time to put your umbrella back in your bag – it’s just a matter of time.)
But I love fall. I think it’s my favourite season. I vacillate between spring and fall – I think I favour whichever one is approaching. I love sweaters and scarves and boots. I love my winter coat. It’s bright red and cheery in a city that’s plagued with winter rains from November to March. I love fall leaves. I love that Sam is a total camo dog when we go for a walk – completely blending in to the yellow leaves that are piled on the sidewalks.
And I love comfort food – soups and stews and casseroles. Apple pie, pumpkin pie, concord grape pie… so much pie! And poached pears! And all the spices I associate with fall and winter: cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, cardamom, vanilla… all warm and inviting in a hot chai or hot chocolate… or a perfect fall cocktail.
Fresita is a perfect summer drink… sparkling wine blended with strawberries that give it a brilliant red hue. It just looks and sounds like summer in a bottle, doesn’t it? But what to do with it when it’s not summer anymore?
It’s time to give it an autumn makeover. And I can think of no better way than combining it with a classic fall fruit – the apple.
Add the comfort of brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla, and a shot of vodka for good measure, and suddenly that sassy red bottle is showing her fall colours, ready for hanging out with after raking leaves or before Thanksgiving dinner or while while huddling up by a fall bonfire. In fact, it’ll take you from autumn right through the festive winter season.
This was a simple idea, really. While I was mulling over how to give Fresita a little fall makeover, my friend Laura suggested pairing it with apples or pears. And then it hit me… a simple apple syrup… only made with brown sugar instead of white sugar, with a touch of cinnamon and vanilla.
The resulting syrup is a dark, rich caramel-y brown colour that tickles your nose with a spicy warmth. The brown sugar gives it its colour and when it’s added to the Fresita it takes it from a brilliant summery red to a deep burgundy that cries out “fall is here!”
A little tip I learned about making simple syrups specifically for cocktails – add a shot of vodka to your finished syrup – this lets it keep longer in the fridge – up to three weeks. Skip this step though, if you want to use your syrup for other things like pancakes or waffles (although, I still use if for those things even with the vodka!)
This makes a great cocktail but it would also work well as a self serve pitcher or punch for a larger party. All you need is a bottle of Fresita (I found mine at my local BC Liquor Store – but make sure you look in the sparkling wine section, not the Chile wines like I initially did!) some apples, cinnamon, vanilla, brown sugar and water. Pop the cork on that baby and make yourself one and a few more for some friends. Then wrap up and find a bonfire and enjoy autumn properly!
- 1½ cups of water
- 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- peels and cores of 3 apples (I used Galas)
- ½ tsp vanilla
- brown sugar
- sliced apple
- 3 parts chilled Fresita
- ½ part simple apple cinnamon syrup
- Place apple peels and cores in a large pot
- Add water, sugar, cinnamon stick and vanilla
- Bring to a boil and lower temperature until mixture is gently simmering
- Simmer over low heat for about 35 minutes or until mixture is reduced by half - this may take up to 45 minutes
- Strain mixture through a fine sieve or cheesecloth into a glass jar
- Allow mixture to cool completely and add a shot of vodka (skip the vodka if you wish)
- Cover and refrigerate for up to three weeks
- Take a slice of apple and rub it around the rim of a cocktail glass
- Turn the glass upside down into a bed of brown sugar so the sugar sticks to the glass rim
- Pour in three parts Fresita and add ½ part of simple apple cinnamon syrup (more or less to taste if you wish)
- Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick and serve
Photography Notes
As you’ve all probably noticed, I’ve been a little obsessed with photographing beverages this year. I love the challenge they present. This was a particularly tricky one – the deep red colour of the drink made it tricky against the dark backdrop, which seemed more appropriate to fall. You will never guess how I lit all but one of these photos… with the flashlight on my Blackberry! More on that in a future post but it did the trick far better than a larger light source would have!
Disclosure Notice: I was financially compensated and provided with product to create an original recipe for Fresita sparkling wine for the purposes of this post.
Gorgeous pictures! I want one! You should come up to the Okanagan and make some. My orchard is positively bursting with fruit this year (thanks to no hailstorms).
oh you know I wish I could – you have a proper apple picking orchard! but no trips till end of October for now 🙁
Perfect cocktail for the upcoming Holiday season!
i think it’ll be great for Christmas!
Hey Melissa, that’s so cool you used your phone flashlight for illumination on these shots, I would never think of something like that so thank you!
And I love apple cocktails. Last year our neighbours created one out of frozen apple cider with whiskey and cayenne which was super tasty and ended up getting replicated by us several times. I like the idea you’ve come up with of blending the flavours of summer with fall. It’s a bit of a sad transition but deserves to be celebrated, so nicely done!
thanks Jon! That cider cocktail sounds pretty delicious too – I would not have thought of cayenne and apple but I think it would be pretty good! The blackberry light was a flash of brilliance if I do say so – I was getting a bit desperate with figuring out how to get a very small beam of light just for the drink itself!
Beautiful photography and inviting drink! Where’s the party tonight!!!!
just bring a few empty glasses 😉
Oh, I loooove fall too! And I love this cocktail idea! Totally perfect for the season. I’m intrigued about the blackberry flashlight lighting. My photography has lately been paralyzed by the lack of light. Please share soon :-).
it is on my list of “to do” posts!
Whoa, this looks good. I am typically not a fan of booze, but I think I could get behind a cocktail with strawberry-infused wine and syrup. Apple syrup! Yum.
honestly… i just love an excuse to make different simple syrups. they are so ridiculously easy to make and I love playing with the flavours. I’ve only made them with sugar but I’d love to try doing one with honey..
I have made a different recipe of simple syrup and we used it right away. I like the tip to add vodka if I want to keep it in the fridge. That’s a different drink, I love the creativity. Just pinned it!
Thanks Helene! I love making simple syrups – – there are so many variations and it’s always good on waffles or pancakes or yogurt or ice cream!
In love with the pictures! The cocktail with strawberry infused wine is so inviting! Yum ☺
(Visiting via FBC)
thanks!
Very cool with the blackberry light. I’ll stick that in my back pocket for later!
it was definitely a case of inspiration borne out of frustration!
That’s an interesting trick with the phone flashlight. I love the dark background of your photos.
thanks! it’s just two old Baker’s Secret baking pans and a piece of black foam board from Staples 🙂
i have never seen this drink before but now I am going to have to track it down and try this. I used my iphone flashlight all the time and often use one ply of kleenex to diffuse it too
I think Fresita is pretty new in Canada. But it was great – drank many glasses on the patio! and the one ply kleenex… that’s brilliant. have to try that!
Wait… you have a Blackberry? I thought those only existed in history books and fairy tales. I’m going to assume that you won’t be at your local Apple store when the iPhone 6 hits the shelves. I’m also going to assume you’ll be at home drinking cocktails…
Summer is my favourite season but when you talk of Fall as eloquently as you did in this post it almost makes me want to embrace it instead of bemoaning the farewell to summer.
Lovely looking cocktail and I agree with Karen, perfect for the holiday season.