Aurora Spritz

One year ago, my friend Jasmin visited and introduced me to the perfect summer cocktail: The Hugo. Prosecco, elderflower and mint over ice with a twist of lemon or lime. Ultimately refreshing. 

This week, Jasmin is visiting once again and, once again, introduced me to a spectacular summer sparkler.

We’re just two girls who like ‘champagne cockatils,’ I guess. Like high class prostitutes.

No, wait… not like high class prostitutes. Like… classy… ladies. Just classy ladies.

Like the famous Hugo, this summer quaffer uses sparkling wine- something dry like Prosecco is perfect, but any non-sweet white sparkling wine will do. As you can see, I used a mini-bottle of Veuve Clicquot, which is a little over-the-top but hey- you use what you have, and I just so happened to be showered with many small bottles of Veuve to celebrate the recent birth of my daughter, Evangeline. (thanks, everyone! wow, you really know what I missed during pregnancy haha 😉 )

Too many bottles of Veuve is a good problem to have.

The secret to this pretty cocktail is the splash of pink lemonade. The result is an ever so slightly tart and sweet drink that is soooo gorgeous and petal coloured, you’re going to wish you had a dress to match.

Buy pink lemonade at your local shops, make it from concentrate, or- like I do- whip up your own using a classic lemonade recipe and a splash of cranberry cocktail.

Elderflower syrup is used again because YUM (buy it fancy at cocktail shops or Whole Foods or do what I do and pick up a bottle at IKEA. Yes, IKEA. Those Swedes know what’s up). The elderflower syrup lends a beautiful floral flavour without ever becoming perfumey. I could seriously add this syrup to just about anything.

Finally, a small splash of gin, to keep things from getting so saccharine. It’s a very small splash, but it the depth of flavour and small hint of sharpness it lends keeps the combination solidly refreshing.

Now, you’re probably wondering why I called it an Aurora.

I struggle naming cocktails- highly descriptive names are great, but I always fall back on something mysterious and catchy.

As many of you will recall, Aurora is Sleeping Beauty’s birth name in the Disney retelling of the fairy tale. Lovely, blushing and delicately sweet, just like this drink, I felt the name was all too fitting. Oh, and because of the splash of gin, it’s got a little bite (like a prick to the finger on a spindle?).

Maybe a stretch, as far as logic goes, but it works for me. Call it what you like- it’s beautiful, refreshing and delicious.

(‘Sleeping Beauty’ itself seemed a little iffy for a cocktail. A little to Cosby for my liking. Understandably, I vetoed that name early.)