Panier

RECIPE: THE HIGH PRIESTESS

Deeply bittersweet body with complex herbal notes and a lightly tart finish.

prep time: 30 minutes active, 6 hours passive serves: 8 difficulty: medium

INGREDIENTS

  • ¾ cup (180 ml) plus 2 tbsp (30 ml) water
  • ¼ cup (60 g) white sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) root beer
  • 1 cup (125 g) cranberries, fresh or frozen
  • 1 tbsp (8 g) walnuts, toasted at 300°F (150°C) for 10 minutes until lightly browned
  • 12 (2 Tbsp or 2 g) sage leaves, fresh
Champagne coupe filled with amber coloured liquid and a floating sage leaf. Surrounded by sage leaves, walnuts, and cranberries.

DIRECTIONS

Cranberry Shrub (yields 1 cup or 240 ml)

  1. In a small, high-sided pot over medium heat, combine 2 Tbsp water and sugar, stirring briefly to mix.
  2. Without disturbing the pot, let sugar caramelize to a dark amber, then immediately remove from heat.
  3. Angling the pot away from you, slowly pour in ¼ cup water, apple cider vinegar, root beer, cranberries and walnuts. Beware of splashback and steam as the water hits the molten sugar.
  4. Return to heat and stir to loosen and dissolve caramelized sugar.
  5. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the cranberry skins have split.
  6. Remove from heat and let sit to cool. 
  7. Seal and refrigerate to infuse flavours for 4-6 hours or overnight.
  8. Strain out solids and refrigerate the liquid for up to four weeks. (Optionally, reserve the solids for later use; see notes.)

Sage Tea (yields ¾ cup or 180 ml)

  1. In a small pot over high heat, bring ½ cup water to a boil.
  2. Remove from heat, add sage leaves and cover.
  3. Let infuse for 5 minutes, then strain out leaves and let tea sit until cool.
  4. Seal and refrigerate for up to one week.

High Priestess Potion (yields 2¾ cup or 420 ml)

  1. In a large bottle, combine Sage Tea and Cranberry Shrub, shaking gently to mix. 
  2. Seal and refrigerate for up to three weeks. 

Per Serving

  • 3½ oz (105 ml) High Priestess Potion, chilled
  • 1 sage leaf
  1. Into a champagne coupe or martini glass, pour High Priestess Potion. 
  2. To garnish, lightly slap the sage leaf between your palms to release its aroma and place in the cocktail. 

Notes

  • You can use the leftover solids from the Cranberry Shrub as a sauce or add to your favourite cranberry sauce for another dimension of flavour!