You're Invited To a Jungle Reds Cocktail Party!

When the Hank first asked me to join Jungle Reds, my first thought was, "Oh, I'm sure this is some sort of mix-up…"

 

My second was, "Holy cats!"

But my third was, "Oooh, I want to create a great — and red — signature cocktail for the Jungle Red Writers!"

I'm an amateur bartender (although I do have one cocktail book to my name), and I do admit I find looking up vintage cocktails, and creating new ones, lots and lots of fun.

And so, I'm offering up a number of red libations for the other Reds — and you — to vote on. They're perfect for the holiday season.

Here we go….

The Sensation

The Sensation, also known as Brandied Port, was

first published in Esquire's June 1939 "Potables" column. As David Wonderich says in Esquire Drinks: An Opinionated and Irreverent Guide to Drinking, "Clearly, this drink could only have sprung from the fertile genius of Sir Winston Churchill — those two tipples being the principal fuel for his bulldog temper (plus, of course, liberal injections of Johnny Walker, Pol Roger, Pouilly Fumé, etc, ad libitum).

2 parts ruby port

1 part brandy

Dash of freshly squeezed orange juice (optional)

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel, or, if you use the orange juice, orange peel.

The Blenheim

  

The Blenheim (pronounced "Blen-im"), also known as the Four

Score and Ten, was created in honor of Winston Churchill's ninetieth birthday. Created by Joe Gilmore of the American Bar at the Savoy, it was named after Churchill's birthplace, the English Baroque-style Blenheim Palace.

3 parts brandy

2 parts Yellow Chartreuse

1 part Lillet blanc

1 part freshly squeezed orange juice

1 part Dubonnet rouge

Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Dubonnet Rouge Cocktail (Her Majesty's Favorite Cocktail)

Queen Elizabeth has called this red gin-based cocktail as her

favorite, as did her mother, the Queen Mum. If it's good enough for two Queens, surely it's good enough for us.

2 parts Dubonnet rouge

1 part Gordon's Gin (that's what the Queen prefers, but I like Hendrick's or Plymouth)

1 slice lemon

1 large ice cube (plus more for shaker)

Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon slice.

Red Negroni with Caramelized Oranges (a la Jon Stucky)

Our friend Jon Stucky, an "outsider artist," came up with this

recipe and never fails to make a batch, or two) when he's over. The caramelized orange add a rich depth of flavor to the classic Negroni and Prosecco adds sparkle.

1 part Campari

1 part sweet vermouth

1 part gin (Jon and I like Hendrick's or Plymouth)

1 part sparkling wine

juice from caramelized oranges and the oranges themselves

Shake Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth together with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze in the juice of a caramelized orange. Top with sparkling wine. We usually serve with the orange slices and lots of ice.

Here are Jon's instructions to prepare the oranges:

Scrub oranges and cut. Soak orange slices or wedges in the vermouth overnight — strain off excess vermouth and save for use in the drinks.

Caramelize on a hot grill in the summertime or use a brulee torch in the winter. (You want some char to add flavor.)

"Reds" Wine

Simply pour and enjoy. (Love the label and the wine’s pretty good, too!)

  

The Jungle Reds

I came up with this one in honor of the Reds, a variation on the holiday classic the Poinsettia (traditionally made with cranberry juice). It’s Miss Edna approved!

1 part pomegranate juice

½ part orange liqueur (I like the spiciness of Creole Shrubb)

3 parts sparkling wine (or ginger ale)

Garnish with a lemon twist. (I used pomegranate seeds and raspberries.)

Do you have an entry for the Jungle Reds cocktail, alcoholic or not? Do you have a favorite red holiday libation? Any favorites among the above? Tell us!

Cheers!

Oh, and I'm delighted to announce the winners of Kim Fay's A MAP OF LOST MEMORIES:

Joan Emerson

Libby Dodd

Virginia P

Congratulations! Email Kim at slendermeans@yahoo.com and she will send you your book!

Images of Jon Stucky's paintings reprinted with permission of the artist.