Recipe Time #16: H.C. Summer Wine Fizz

A little fruity, a little efferverscent, a little spicy and super simple -- the H.C. Summer Wine Fizz has a little heat but is super cooling (thus the H and the C); I made this refreshing cocktail on a whim for a near-last-minute potluck that I attended this past weekend.

Totally easy to drink but with just a bit of zip to keep things interesting, this is definitely something I look forward to making over and over again for these hot summer months.

Ingredients (10-12 servings):
1 cup vodka (alternatively, light rum would work for an extra zing)
2 ripe mangos
12 oz. (2 cartons) blackberries
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
6 limes
1 750mL bottle light to medium-bodied white wine
1 750mL bottle sparkling lemonade (alternatively, 2 cans of lemon-lime soda)

Directions:
1. Day before, make the vodka infusion by combining the vodka with 6 oz. blackberries, 1 mango (diced) and the cayenne pepper. Muddle so that the berries and mango cubes are broken up, which helps release their flavors into the vodka. Cover up and store in refrigerator, along with the white wine and lemonade, overnight.

2. Just before serving, prepare the garnishes - dice up the other mango, slice 4 limes and skewer them w the remaining blackberries. Set aside.

3. In a pitcher, combine the vodka infusion (which should take on a rich ruby color by now, like above) with the juice of 1-2 limes, the sparkling lemonade and white wine (I prefer the more aromatic white varietals for this such as viognier or gewurztraminer, whose fragrances hold up well and complement the fruity smells of the infusion and also quite inexpensive at $9 or less a bottle.) If you have any extra lime slices leftover from the skewers, toss them into the pitcher too.

4. Fill glasses/cups with ice and pour, topping each glass with the blackberry-diced mango-sliced lime skewer and enjoy!

And of course, the best part of this "recipe" is that it's totally adaptable -- you can easily pretty much swap out any ingredient to match whatever's in season or to your taste preference; just keep it around 12 oz. of fruit infused in a cup of spirit with a little spice or fresh herbs, then mix with a bottle of wine and same amount of a sparkling mixer. So play around and have fun with different combinations, I definitely will!