Prosecco, a sparkling wine from northern Italy, has come to be instantly recognisable as a celebratory drink – light, fizzy, and great with fruit and different flavours. Birthdays, weddings, and Christmas parties are all occasions where you’d expect this tipple to turn up. But have you thought about elevating your Prosecco with other ingredients? Adding some extras can turn your go-to fizzy tipple into a special occasion, and some of the best add-ons are things you might already have in the fridge.
Prosecco goes excellently with many different types of fruit, herbs, and liqueurs, as well as lending itself to sweet flavours. So, there are many different ways that you can liven up the sparkling wine for a special occasion, or to add a nice touch to a cosy night in.
To help you celebrate Christmas and New Year in style, glassware experts Forever Crystal have picked out a few of the most unique ways to add to your Prosecco and make it into a special drink. David Cooper, from Forever Crystal, says: “Everyone loves Prosecco. But, with these ideas, it will be easy to elevate your Prosecco to a whole new level this Christmas.
“With some fruit, syrups, and garnishing herbs, you can bring some new flavours to your usual beverage and create a quick cocktail or an after-dinner treat – perfect to enjoy throughout the festive season.
When it comes to celebration drinks, presentation is key. Make sure you have some fancy serving glasses to hold your drinks – most Prosecco is served in a Champagne flute, but some Prosecco-based cocktails will suit a wider-rimmed wine or gin glass.”
Christmas spice syrup
Though an unusual flavour, this one is the quintessential taste and smell of Christmas!
To make the syrup, combine 100g sugar, 300ml water, 1 clementine, 4 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, a small piece of fresh ginger, a grating of fresh nutmeg, 1 star anise and 2 cardamom pods in a small pan and heat gently for around 20 minutes until all the sugar is dissolved. Leave to cool and then strain.
To make your Christmas cocktail, add a small amount of the fragrant syrup to your flute and top up with prosecco, garnishing with a fresh piece of orange peel.
A Sgroppino
A Sgroppino is a simple cocktail that goes back years in Italy, but is relatively unheard of in the UK – and therefore is a great way to wow your guests. Just add one shot of vodka, and a scoop of lemon sorbet to a glass (clementine sorbet is a great seasonal twist), then pour over your usual serving of Prosecco. This is a great sweet drink, and can even be used in place of a dessert at the end of a meal – a useful idea for a quick and easy dinner party dessert.
You can serve this in a classic Champagne flute, or experiment with different types of crystal glass to make the Sgroppino look more like a dessert.
Cranberry Prosecco
Ruby-red cranberries are a firm favourite at Christmas time, often found in sauces and stuffings. However, cranberries don’t have to accompany the turkey, why not make the most of the tart berries by creating a new drink?
Add a handful of cranberries, a splash of cranberry juice and a dash of an orange liqueur into a flute and fill with Prosecco. To garnish, add a few sprigs of rosemary to each glass of Prosecco, and then enjoy the blend of berries and herbs.
Prosecco Pomander
For another Christmas twist, try adding some orange flavours to your Prosecco. Squeeze the juice of one clementine into each glass, and combine with one part orange liqueur and three parts Prosecco.
This drink is a sweet cocktail making use of the festive fruit bowl favourite, the clementine. The Prosecco Pomander is extremely easy to make, and will be a refreshing addition to any Christmas gathering, or a luxurious night in. Try garnishing this drink with a clove-studded slice of clementine and a sprig of rosemary for an extra festive taste.
Gingerbread Prosecco
The comforting scent of gingerbread doesn’t have to always come in cookie form. Try mixing half of your usual glass of Prosecco with ginger ale in a chilled flute, and gently sprinkle cinnamon on the top. Give it a stir and the cinnamon flavours will begin to blend with the ginger and Prosecco as you drink, giving a warming taste of gingerbread.
You could even decorate with a mini gingerbread man for an extra special finish.
