Summertime Sangria

The signature drink continues to stir up sales at restaurants and bars with some industry reports citing a 20% sales increase in beverages attributed to the signature drink. In fact, the hot trend at weddings is to offer a signature drink named after the couple. While there's a certain art to mixing cocktails, a good place to try your hand at a signature drink is with sangria.

My recipe is simple yet impresses guests and is perfect for summertime barbecues. So try it this weekend and add your own signature touches.

1 bottle dry red wine
1 large apple, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 orange, cut into slices, rind on
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1-12 oz. can white lemon-lime soda
3 T sugar
3/4 cup cognac
ice

Pour wine into a glass pitcher. Add apple, orange and strawberries. Squeeze lemon into mixture. Stir-in soda, sugar and cognac. Allow to chill for at least one hour, if possible, so fruit flavors may fully develop. Serve over ice and ensure that a sampling of fruit gets into every glass!

Don't forget younger guests...this recipe can be modified to use Raspberry Ice flavored Crystal Light with the fruit and soda for a refreshing non-alcoholic drink.

Posted by Molly Eaton