santa’s sleighride sangria
Ho ho ho, and a bottle of wine.
Because Santa’s reindeer are largely self-propelling, I don’t think it’d be illegal for him to drink and drive while making his deliveries. I mean, come on, people leave eggnog out for him by the mantle – surely not all of those glasses are virgin and our favorite jolly fat man visits a lot of houses.
Imagine, then, that Santa pre-games for his big night of drinking and eating and making the young and young at heart happy with a pitcher of Sleighride Sangria.
There’s white sangria and red sangria, such as the Cranberry Pomegranate Mulled Wine Sangria, but this one here is a rose sangria. Crisp, light, and sweet, rose wines I think are highly underrated in pitcher cocktails. Sure, perhaps not the most traditional and would likely make purists hiccup in disgust. For all us mere mortals, no one will turn their noses up at this drink. Flavored with cranberry and citrus, zinged with vodka, and finished with a pop of fizzy water and beautiful sparkling cranberries for garnish.
Merry Cocktails
Unsheathe your sangria pitcher and pile in sliced oranges, grapefruit, and fresh cranberries. Then, get yourself a bottle of rose. Doesn’t have to be costly, but make sure it’s at least slightly drinkable on its own. Pour in the wine, vodka, cranberry juice, and a splash of orange liqueur. Give everything a stir, seal, and refrigerate for at least two hours, longer if you can spare.
Pretty up the glasses with a sugar rim and a few slices of orange and grapefruit. Pour in the chilled sangria as far up the glass as you please, then top with sparkling water. Finish with a layer of sugared cranberries. The sugar largely melts off the berries and sweetens up each glass just a touch. What sparkle remains looks extra lovely.
Divvy this up on Christmas Eve, or beforehand at a pre-holiday gathering. ‘Twould look gorgeous alongside a Festive Holiday Cheeseboard and a big cookie box for dessert munchies. Wine, cheese, and chocolate? Count me in, suckers.
Tried this recipe out? Leave a comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!
Ingredients
- 1 bottle rose wine
- 2/3 – 3/4 cup vodka, to taste
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 2 oranges, sliced
- 1 grapefruit, sliced
- 2 cups fresh cranberries, divided
- 1 1/4 cup sugar, divided
Instructions
- In a large sangria pitcher, combine the rose, vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, sliced oranges and grapefruit, and 1 cup of fresh cranberries. Stir and set in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours, but up to 24.
- To make the sugared cranberries, heat 1/4 cup water to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of sugar until dissolved. Drop the cranberries in the syrup to coat, then lay in a single layer on a wire rack to dry for about an hour. After that duration, toss the berries in 1 cup of sugar until coated.
- Serve sangria in glasses with additional orange and grapefruit wedges, sugared cranberries, and mint leaves, as desired.
