Tastes Like Sangria

Tastes like sangria. That’s what I said to Jeff when I first made this. I bought some Aperol a while back, maybe it was for a David Leibovitz cocktail, 🤔 not sure, but I’ve been making this refreshing cocktail that tastes like sangria! I really like Aperol, it’s similar to Campari but not as bitter. It’s super simple and you can easily adjust with a splash of this or that, I have some suggestions in the recipe below. It’s nice when you don’t want to make a big batch of Sangria and just want a glass or two. We’re in for some more hot weather this week and it’s a perfect way to end a 105°F day. 

I’ve been busy making and selling granola the past couple months. I’ll be introducing a new hazelnut flavor later this week! I partnered with a local hazelnut grower Baird Family Orchard and wow! It tastes so good! I’m working on a website for the granola but for now all updates will be here.

Hope you’re staying cool this summer, this cocktail should help. Enjoy.

Tastes Like Sangria

• White or red wine

• Aperol

• Apple Brandy

• Lime seltzer

• Fresh fruit to garnish

• Ice

Fill wine or rocks glass with ice. Add wine half way up. Add .75oz Aperol (about half a shot glass), a splash of apple brandy and top off with a bit of lime seltzer. Garnish with whatever fruit you have on hand. Here I used some home grown grapes, peach, apple and lime wedges.

Watermelon Cocktail

I love summer and I love the heat, but it has been a bit crazy these past few days here in Portland with temps reaching 105°. This Watermelon Cocktail is perfect for these warm evenings, it’s so refreshing and one of the nice things about this cocktail is that you don’t need to add simple syrup because of the sweetness of the watermelon. One thing I want to mention is that the flavors (watermelon, lime and mint) seemed to get better as it rested, it might be a good idea to add the lime juice and mint to the watermelon juice before refrigerating it. I made it right in the glass but I could see this being made ahead of time so all you would have to do is add the vodka. I chose vodka because that’s what we had on hand, but I think this would work great with rum as well. Enjoy and stay cool folks!

Watermelon Cocktail

• 4 oz Watermelon Juice
• 1 shot of vodka
• Juice of 1 lime
• a few mint leaves
• Makes one cocktail

Cut up the watermelon into chunks and place in blender a few chunks at a time and blend high speed until liquified, then continue to add the rest until you’re done. Pour Watermelon juice into a container and refrigerate.

Tear the mint leaves a bit and Muddle them in a rocks glass with the lime juice. Add the vodka and watermelon juice and stir well, add ice and enjoy.