Today I have a cocktail recipe that will be both your after-dinner dessert and your cup of tea
(pun intended)! I have the absolute pleasure to collaborate with Maddie, owner of Lady and Leaf Tea Company, to bring you a cocktail inspired by her Lady Grey tea.
This cocktail brings to mind the sweetness of dessert wine, however, the dry sparkling wine can be adjusted to suit your preferance. It would be delicious paired with Erin Morgenstern's beautifully descriptive novel The Starless Sea (partly because of the honeybee references in the novel)!
First, make your honey and tea-infused simple syrup:
½ cup honey
1/4 cup + 2 TBS water
2 - 3 TBS Lady Grey loose leaf tea
In a small saucepan, whisk together honey and water, bringing it to a boil.
Remove from heat and, as if you were making a cup of tea, pour liquid over your loose leaf steeper or infuser mug (containing tea leaves).
Let steep 10 to 15 minutes. If possible, when you remove the steeper from the mug press down on leaves to keep all the syrupy goodness! Let the mixture cool completely before storing it in the fridge.
Once the syrup has chilled, you're ready to make your cocktail:
1/2 oz. honey-tea syrup
1/2 oz vanilla or cake-flavoured vodka
Brut sparkling wine (to taste)
Top up with a liberal amount of brut (dry) sparkling wine. This you can do to taste as it is the bitter balance to the sweetness of the syrup. If you're feeling fancy, drop a few of the petals from the loose leaf tea on top!
Now just curl up with a good book and sip—cheers!🥂
We're bringing you a perfect pairing: a cup of tea (or tea-infused cocktail!) and a great book discussion! Sign up for December’s virtual literary salon and you will get a 10% discount code to spend on Lady and Leaf's tea!
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