Berried treasure

This year, we have learnt to express more freely, give generously and appreciate love deeper than ever before. Cheers to that!

Ascot Day

It is that time of the year when love fills the air, red roses abound and hearts beat just that little bit faster. Eyes sparkle with excitement and expectation. And hope is everywhere. This year, it takes on an extra significance as we have learnt to express more freely, give generously and appreciate love deeper than ever before. These extraordinary times have made sure of that. So here’s a collection of Valentine’s Day special drinks to share and enjoy with your favourite people. I know I will!

It is also the season of strawberries — a perfect Valentine fruit. Everything tastes just a little bit better with a touch of this beautiful berry. Think strawberry tarts and creamy pastry. Pink stained muffins and cheesecake. Strawberry mousse and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Sparkling wine and strawberries. And if the bubbly is pink too… I love fresh strawberries tossed in a crisp three lettuce salad with toasted almonds and balsamic. Baked brie with strawberries. The list is endless and totally delicious. For me, Valentine’s Day is not just about romance but also about friends and family and everyone you love. Some of my happiest memories are from a table piled with all these goodies, glasses always sparkling and full and a room full of happy faces, young and old. This is a good year to bring that back.

I know that pink wines are not fashionable these days. Such a shame though. Rosé wines have such a wide flavour profile and are bursting with flavour. Whether sparkling or still, they are happy wines mostly but can be evolved with surprising depth and complexity. Both Maharashtra and Karnataka produce some exceptional wines, well worth discovering and enjoying. White wines, both still and bubbly, love strawberries too so go crazy with fizzy brunches. And for those whose definition of wine is only red, these juicy berries won’t let you down. In your glass or mulled, they are just fantastic.

Here are two of my favourite recipes — one alcohol-free and the other generously spiked!
Cheers!

Pineapple & Strawberry Sling
Glass: Tall/Pilsner
Ingredients
15ml strawberry syrup/strawberry puree/strawberry crush
Or
30ml fresh strawberry puree
120ml pineapple juice
15ml lime juice
1 wedge of lime
Club soda & fizzy lime
Garnish: Pineapple, sprig of mint/strawberry in season

Method
Fill the glass with ice.
Add strawberry syrup/puree/crush, pineapple juice and lime juice.
Squeeze a wedge of lime and drop it in.
Top up with half soda and half fizzy lime.
Stir and taste to adjust flavours.
Slide in the fruit wedge and sit the mint sprig on ice.

Ascot Day

Glass: Champagne Tulip
Ingredients
20ml fresh strawberry puree
1 teaspoon powdered sugar (optional)
15ml strawberry liqueur/syrup (optional)
Cold sparkling wine (white/rosé) to top
Garnish: mint sprig/strawberry
Method
Pour the puree and sugar into the glass.
Top with your favourite icy sparkling wine and stir.
Garnish.

(The writer is a mixologist, beverage consultant and author immersed in hospitality and alcobev for over four decades.)