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Tart cranberries, toasty spices, some piney gin, and a topper of bubbly.
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Why It Works
- Cranberry cordial and grapefruit juice give the drink a tart, refreshing taste and the prettiest blush color.
- Warm spice notes and citrus make it holiday-worthy.
A sparkling co*cktail is the perfect drink for holiday gatherings. They’re festive, spritzy, and simple to make. If you’re making a co*cktail with sparkling wine, a bit of juice, and some spirits, you’re riffing on the classic French 75 (made with gin and lemon juice).
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20231204-SEA-TwoBites-MinnesotaGoodbye-12-8e08d5c8453549549b06db0a48d80857.jpg "A Minnesota Good-Bye (Cranberry French 75) Recipe (2)")
Here’s a tart and blushing variation from Nathaniel Smith of Spoon and Stable in Minneapolis. It requires a little more effort, but it hits all the right holiday notes: warm spices, like star anise, cinnamon, and clove; fragrant citrus peels; and simmered tangy cranberries, with a little dry Cava to perk it all up. You'll start by making an easy homemade cranberry cordial, which can be batched up and stored in the fridge for several weeks. Toasting the spices for the cordial helps bring out their flavors, and the mix balances sugar with bright lime and the popped berries.
The mixed co*cktail can be pre-batched, too: You'll measure out gin and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, add the cranberry elixir, then stash it in your fridge before your guests arrive. Each ice-filled glass gets a little of the co*cktail mix, a little of the bubbly, and, if you want to get extra fancy, a little cranberry garnish on top.
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The name, says Smith, refers to a local custom: "A Minnesota good-bye is a standoff in manners; basically, no one can leave first for fear of being rude. It's annoying." But, he adds, "during the holidays, it's welcome, to spend those last few minutes with cousins, a few more hugs with family, making plans with friends. This co*cktail is for celebrating, and taking those extra few minutes with loved ones."
Also try these festive sparkling co*cktail riffs: a Salzburg 75, Silver Daisy, or Bellisimo Aceto.
December 2016
Recipe Details
A Minnesota Good-Bye (Cranberry French 75) Recipe
Active20 mins
Total2 hrs
Serves8 servings
Ingredients
For the Spiced Cranberry Cordial (see notes):
3 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
2 whole star anisepods
5 cardamom pods
3 whole cloves
1 cup (240ml)water
2 cups (400g)sugar
Peel of one orange (use a vegetable peeler to remove zest only)
2 cups (225g)cranberries
1 cup (240ml) fresh juice from about 8 limes
3/4 teaspoon (3g)kosher salt
For the co*cktail Mix (8 Servings):
1 cup (240ml) spiced cranberry cordial (see notes)
1 cup (240ml) freshly squeezed juice from 2 pink grapefruits
1 1/2 cups (360ml) London Drygin
To Serve:
1 bottle (750ml) chilled Cava or other dry sparkling wine, to top
Fresh cranberries threaded on co*cktail picks, for garnish
Directions
For the Spiced Cranberry Cordial: Add cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom, and cloves to a saucepan and toast over medium heat, shaking pan frequently, until fragrant; make sure not to let them burn. Add water, sugar, orange peel, cranberries, lime juice, and salt and stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer and cook, using a wooden spoon to smash fruit against side of pan, until all of the cranberries have popped. Remove from heat and let cool completely, 1 to 2 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a resealable container. Cordial can be kept up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
For the co*cktail Mix: Up to 2 hours before serving, mix cordial, grapefruit juice, and gin in a pitcher, bottle, or resealable container. Use immediately or store up to 2 hours in the refrigerator. co*cktail mix makes 8 servings; feel free to double the recipe.
For Each co*cktail: Fill a Collins glass with ice and add 3 1/2 ounces (105ml) co*cktail Mix and 2 ounces (60ml) chilled sparkling wine. Stir gently and garnish with skewered cranberries.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20231204-SEA-TwoBites-MinnesotaGoodbye-Step1-226d1f45ca7040c5a68e3ff5297294cb.jpg "A Minnesota Good-Bye (Cranberry French 75) Recipe (4)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20231204-SEA-TwoBites-MinnesotaGoodbye-step2-7df61fd3f9bc46c7a03d4d99ff6620e7.jpg "A Minnesota Good-Bye (Cranberry French 75) Recipe (5)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20231204-SEA-TwoBites-MinnesotaGoodbye-step3-28b6b75d8ec34678b2c9d21718172c1e.jpg "A Minnesota Good-Bye (Cranberry French 75) Recipe (6)")
Special Equipment
Fine-mesh strainer
Make-Ahead and Storage
The spiced cranberry cordial can be kept up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
Notes
The cranberry cordial recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups (600ml), so you can double the co*cktail mix recipe if you're expecting a large group. Extra cranberry cordial is also nice with club soda and a squeeze of orange or grapefruit.
Read More
- French 75
- Salzburg 75 (Grapefruit Radler French 75 Variation)
- Silver Daisy (Sparkling Rum co*cktail)
- Bellissimo Aceto (Lambrusco-Amaro co*cktail)
- 25 Classic co*cktail Recipes Everyone Should Know
- New Years
- Cranberry
- Grapefruit
- Lime
- Champagne
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 254 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 28g | Carbs |
| 0g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 8 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 254 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 55mg | 2% |
| Total Carbohydrate 28g | 10% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 3% |
| Total Sugars 22g | |
| Protein 0g | |
| Vitamin C 18mg | 89% |
| Calcium 18mg | 1% |
| Iron 0mg | 2% |
| Potassium 146mg | 3% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
