Get out your diaries because 14 July is Bastille Day… a day for enjoying French cuisine such as Bouillabaisse and Coq Au Vin and indulging in more baguettes and cheese than is polite. We say celebrate liberty, equality and fraternity in style by keeping the cocktails and mocktails flowing – and if you’re looking for inspiration, our recipe for French Fizz is truly fabulous!
C’est Magnifique!
How to Make French Fizz
You’ll need: ½ cup blueberry syrup, ½ cup fresh grapefruit juice, 2/3 cup vodka, 1 (750ml) bottle sparkling rosé wine, ½ cup fresh blueberries for garnish, grapefruit zest in strips for garnish, ice
Blueberry Syrup: ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, 2/3 cup fresh blueberries, 1.5cm piece fresh ginger
METHOD
Make blueberry syrup. Bring water, sugar, blueberries, ginger to a slow boil until sugar is dissolved, stirring and smashing berries. Turn heat down and simmer on low for 5 minutes. Strain into a small bowl and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Mix syrup, grapefruit juice and vodka together with 1 cup of ice in a Le Creuset Pitcher, stir to combine. Top with sparkling wine.
To serve: Fill each Le Creuset Tumbler with ice, a strip of grapefruit zest and a few blueberries, then pour the sparkling cocktail over ice into each glass.
5 Tips for Setting up the Best Cocktail Bar
Set the scene with a cocktail bar that’s ready to rumble!
Gleaming Glassware sets a sophisticated tone – before guests arrive, arrange all the glasses you need neatly on a table or tray.
Changing Places Don’t be afraid to change things up! Make your cocktail tray even more visually appealing by serving wine-based cocktails in tumblers and bubbly based cocktails in oversized wine glasses.
Tray Chic Set out a tray with everything guests need to help themselves – a pitcher full of the cocktail of the moment, another pitcher for water, bottle openers if wine is needed and of course an ice bucket for keeping things cool!
Mocktail Magic For your guests who don’t drink alcohol, mix up an elegant alcohol-free mocktail with all the trimmings so that they too can enjoy a beautifully styled drink.
Gorgeous Garnishes are a must for cocktails with clout! Whether you opt for speared green olives for Aperol Spritz, a citrus twist for your favourite crafted gin or a sugar cube in an elegant champagne flute, don’t skimp on the edible details. The colour purple is making a comeback, so why not tap into global trends by setting out bowls of blueberries and blackberries to pop into and colour your bubbly or gin cocktail.
Pitcher Perfect
Expecting a crowd? Set up your bar with a few pitchers of pre-mixed drinks so that guests can help themselves. Le Creuset’s versatile stoneware Pitcher also doubles as the perfect décor accessory – why not fill one with flowers or swizzle sticks at your next cocktail soiree? The Pitcher is available in selected Le Creuset hues, including new on-trend Provence – a lovely purple that takes its inspiration from the lavender-lined fields found in the south of France.
Celebrate Bastille Day in style – head on over to our recipe site where you’ll find classic inspiration for an authentic French celebration. To shop the new range of perfect purple Provence stoneware, visit your nearest Le Creuset Boutique Store or shop online at https://www.lecreuset.co.za/ where delivery is free.
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