Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar – Day 12 – Snowbird. I’ve named this drink after snowbirds (like my parents – Hi Mom!), people who escape the frigid Canadian winters to the tropical climes of Florida or California. The drink incorporates three kinds of citrus that are in season in the dead of winter and taste like sunshine in a glass.
This is a tangerine-orange mezcal margarita. Equal parts freshly squeezed orange and tangerine juices, a mexcal base, a bit of Grand Marnier, a splash of kumquat syrup (which I’ve repurposed from the Kumquat Toddy recipe from last week) and grenadine to create a pretty ombre effect.
Holy cannoli, we made it halfway. Happy to take the odds on whether or not we make it the full 24 without a lapse. I’m cautiously optimistic.
I mean, I say that but I feel like my immune system is about to stage a revolt. Turns out your body doesn’t typically love it when you feed it POISON on a regular basis and consider a balanced meal an equal parts cocktail (see: Negroni – 1 gin, 1 Campari, 1 sweet vermouth).
So, as a defensive measure, I’m mainlining vitamin C, zinc, and echinacea. That’s about all the action I’m prepared to take on the file until Sunday when my social calendar eases up a bit.
Tonight, I’m participating in this great cocktails and canapés event tonight hosted by Coupe and Mixer at Red Door Provisions in New Edinburgh. There might be one or two tickets left if you’re looking for some hot hosting tips to get you through to 2020.
Tomorrow night: office Christmas party.
Saturday night: Christmas party at a friend’s house.
Sunday: competitive cocktail blogging. Will I be able to make enough cocktails to carry me through to next weekend? Only as long as I don’t allow my hangover to get in the way.
Now that we’re halfway through, I’d love to hear what your favourite cocktail from the series has been thus far. Share your favourite in your Instagram story, on Facebook or Twitter, I’ll even accept reddit, Tumblr, TikTok, or MySpace.
See what I did there? I tricked you into promoting Taste & Tipple within your social network. I’m just telling you now so you don’t feel taken advantage of after the fact, when it finally dawns on you.
No, seriously, as you may have surmised, the Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar is quite a bit of work. If you are enjoying the content, it would mean the world to me if you felt compelled to pass on the good word, good recipes, and stiff drink to your friends, family, or coworkers.
Snowbird
- 1 oz mezcal
- ½ oz Grand Marnier
- 2 oz tangerine juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 oz orange juice, freshly squeezed
- ¼ oz kumquat syrup
- ¼ oz grenadine
- 12 kumquats
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
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Fill a Collins glass with ice and add 1 oz mezcal, ½ oz Grand Marnier, 2 oz orange juice, 2 oz tangerine juice, and ¼ oz kumquat syrup. Add ¼ oz grenadine and let it settle to the bottom of the glass. Garnish with a kumquat or orange wheel. .
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Slice kumquats into ¼-inch-thick (5-mm) rounds. Using a skewer, poke out seeds.
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In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking to dissolve sugar. Add kumquat slices. Reduce heat to maintain gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until kumquats are tender, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.
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Transfer kumquats and their syrup to a glass jar with lid. Refrigerate up to 1 month.
