Thursday Night Cocktail : Cranberry Sparkler

This week’s Thursday night cocktail is light and fresh and is inspired by the idea that the key to surviving the holiday season marathon without feeling like we need a two-week stay at a detox spa, is moderation.

Moderation: from the Old French word meaning thou shalt not eat all the shortbread and chocolate and Brie and get away scot-free. It’s a loose translation. 

We speak of moderation and secretly roll our eyes just the tiniest bit because now we’re sounding like our mothers when they warned us that warmed-over hot pepper pizza wouldn’t mix well with cheap rum. Apparently they were right about that, and we’ve learned that they were right about moderation too. With neighbours and aunts going to extreme measures to out-due each other in the battle of who can make the biggest, baddest sherry-basted leg of lamb, marinated in 50-year old scotch and served with a truffle-infused apricot compote, it’s a wonder any of us can waddle home.

I don’t know if that’s a real recipe, but please don’t invite me over if it is, because I burst a button writing it out.

The invitations to celebrate with family and friends start somewhere around mid-November and come to a halt January 1, or thereabouts, so when we’re mixing up a cocktail to enjoy at home, easy and light is best. After all, some of us still have online shopping to get to and it’s best to shop with a clear head. Nobody needs giant, inflatable butt-plugs — Or was it a tree? Anyway, even Parisians didn’t want it. — to show up at their in-laws, adorned with a bow and wishing them the merriest of holidays.

Moderation: it’ll save your family.

We’ve been to a few holiday parties already, and we have a few more to go before we herald in the New Year with a week of lazing in our pyjamas. I’m already feeling it; cheese and red wine are impossible to resist. We’ll entertain family before then too and I’m stocking up on healthy ingredients like cranberries and lemons and sparkling wine so I can serve guests a refreshing, but light sparkling wine cranberry juice cocktail and prevent any unfortunate online shopping incidents. 

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Cranberry Sparkler

A fresh, sparkling drink to enjoy during the holidays so you stay on the *right* side of moderation.

Servings 1

Ingredients

• 2 ounces sparkling white wine
• 2 ounces ginger ale
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• Long twist of lemon peel for the garnish
• 3-5 frozen cranberries for the garnish

Instructions

1. Chill the sparkling white wine, ginger ale, and cranberry juice.
2. Combine the ingredients.
3. Slice a long piece of lemon peel and drop it in the drink, stirring to release the oils.
4. Add cranberries to garnish and to keep the drink cool.
5. Makes one drink. You weren't planning on sharing, were you?