It’s almost the middle of January and the lights and Christmas decorations are packed away. The house seems bare and the days are short and dark. There are no more holiday parties to attend and it’s back to the daily grind.
Who else finds it challenging to transition from the warmth of the festive season, into the first month of the year?
On Sunday, to help brighten-up the weekend, we opened a couple Port and Tonics and paired them with salty snacks. It was the perfect combination and these delightful cocktails helped remind me of the warmer months to come.
These ready to drink cocktails are delicious, even in the winter, but when the weather gets better they would be fun to take out on the patio or pack along on a picnic.
If you would prefer to mix your own cocktail, Taylor Port recommends using ⅓ Port to ⅔ of your favourite tonic water; serve over ice and garnish with mint, lime or orange. If you are opting for a White Port and Tonic, seek out a dry one, such as Taylor’s Chip Dry White Port or Fonseca Siroco White Port; both of these would also make a lovely apéritif.
Taylor Fladgate Chip Dry & Tonic
Chip Dry & Tonic has notes of lemon preserves, hard lemon candies, yellow grapefruit pith and hints of marmalade. Chip Dry & Tonic paired best with lupini beans. If you’re unsure what these are, or haven’t tried lupini yet, these salty beans are like a healthy substitute for peanuts; you can even shell them, which is my preferred method for consumption.
Croft Pink & Tonic
Croft was the first Port producer to make a Rosé Port and this cocktail is a blend of their Rosé Port with tonic. Notes of pink grapefruit pith, raspberries, dried orange slices and cherries. Croft Pink & Tonic paired nicely with olives, cheeses and cured meats.
If you want to mix your own Pink & Tonic, Croft recommends mixing 70ml of Croft Pink and 200ml of your favourite tonic water; serve over ice and garnishing with lemon peel and mint leaves.
Saúde!