On Behalf o’ Your Riffraff : Nicole is coming your way with a recent delightful sip that she’s had, and as a bonus how she turned that sip into a splashin’ fun cocktail!

What We Love : Rosé du Cidre • Tag + Jug : is Brut Cider blended with Divergent Vine Rose’ of Zinfandel from 60+ year-old vines in Contra Costa County. The rose’ was spontaneously barrel-fermented and aged for 10 months before being blended 22% into neutral French Oak barrels and aged with 78% Brut Cider for an additional three months.

Why She Loves It : “As a gluten-free agent (see what I did there?) for almost ten years now, I’ve been on quite the rollercoaster ride with my cider relationship. It’s been so sweet when produced in the US, but has recently gotten dryer, ‘nattier, and overall BETTER. Tag + Jug has always been a brand I’ve enjoyed, but what’s in this can is trippy and delicious! It’s their first ever cider-wine blend, featuring their estate rosè made from all three red grape varietals (Syrah, Primitivo, and Tempranillo) and co-fermented with the same fresh pressed cider juice that’s used for their Brut Cider. The result? Straight crushable.”

Why WE Love It : A barrel-fermented cider blended with multiple varietals of grapes and a Brut Cider from vines we trust, love, and have carried for a long time? Say no more!

PS: Here’s a link to a fun, QUICK cocktail recipe that Nicole used (the one in the pictures) and a reminder that tonight is Nathan Corsi’s last WEEKLY stint at the Pairing so go and celebrate him! He’ll still be playin monthly, but we’re shifting how we handle our live music during the summertime season. More details to come! But for now, go and buy that man a glass of wine for a job well done. Or maybe a super delish can of cider/wine.

The cocktail recipe mentioned at the beginning:

A quick riff on one of my favorites with what I had around – a seasonal take on a French 75!

2oz. Gin (I used Lifted Spirits Bold Gin)

1oz Orange-Thyme Simple Syrup**

1oz Lemon Juice

3 dashes Orange Angostura Bitters

2oz (or splash to taste) of the cider of your choice (I used Tag + Jug Rosé du Cidre)

Simple Syrup**

To make simple syrup, you will need a saucepan, water, and sugar. You’ll want to use a ratio of one cup of water to one cup of sugar. Add the water and sugar to the saucepan and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Then, turn up the heat and bring the mixture to a simmer, adding 2 orange’s worth of peels and 6 thyme sprigs. Once it reaches that simmering point, remove it from the heat and let it cool. That’s it! Your simple syrup is now ready to use. Keep refrigerated, and your simple syrup without any infusion is good for up to three weeks once bottled.