We’re back with our Cooking the Books series, and this time Haley’s giving us the full scoop on the crazy good Kir Royale craft cocktail. This will definitely make your list of craft cocktails to enjoy on New Year’s Eve! Let’s dive in!
A few years ago, my husband and I decided that we wouldn’t be going out on New Year’s Eve anymore. For us it isn’t worth the hassle. We’re homebodies by nature. So, we really have practice on how to safely ring in 2021. We’re looking forward to staying home and making a few fancy craft cocktails and a really nice dinner.
Craft Cocktails is a recipe book from one of our favourite local distilleries – Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers. They call Niagara their home, and have been producing high-quality spirits for the better part of the decade. This recipe book is the perfect complement to any liquor cabinet. It features numerous cocktail recipes, separated by seasons. At the end of each season, there are a few recipes that pair well with the craft cocktails in that chapter.
For our cozy little New Year’s, I flipped through the winter section of the book to find the ultimate cocktail and appetizer.
For the cocktail, I chose the Kir Royale. It’s dead simple, but it feels fancy and celebratory. It’s easily made the list of my favorite craft cocktails.
Kir Royale Craft Cocktail
Ingredients
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½ ounce of cassis, a black current liquer
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3 ounces of dry sparkling white wine
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Lemon peel, for garnish
I adored this cocktail. I love any excuse to break out the champagne flutes. I also threw in a few frozen cranberries to help keep it cold without diluting it.
For the appetizer, we kept it simple with Blackberry-Topped Brie. I love cheese. Especially melted cheese. The blackberry compote on top added the perfect level of sweetness to the dish. Craft cocktails and creamy cheese? Yes, please!
Blackberry-Topped Brie
Ingredients
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2 cups fresh blackberries, more for garnish
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1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
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1 tablespoon liquid pure honey
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1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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2 dashes of ginger bitters
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1 wheel of brie at room temperature
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Handful of raw pecan halves
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Fresh thyme leaves, for garnish (optional)
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Crackers, for serving
The cocktail and appetizer were perfect together. They both played with sweetness and dry notes. I loved how berries carried throughout the two. I won’t be saving this pairing just for special occasions!
Want more craft cocktails? You can shop this Craft Cocktails cookbook HERE.
Yum! What craft cocktails are on your New Year’s Eve list? Let us know in the comments!
For More From Cooking The Books, Check Out:
Cooking The Books — The Amazing Dutch Baby From Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings
Cooking The Books – The Well Plated Cookbook’s Ultimate Mac & Cheese Broccoli Cheddar
