Friday Night Drinks: Vol. 5
It isn’t hard to find exceptional cider, wine, beer and craft spirits being produced across Nova Scotia by passionate artisans. Check out this week’s Friday Night Drinks blog to help inspire your inner mixologist, get recommendations for your next local purchase, and celebrate the people behind these fantastic local products.
This month we have a recipe that will help you celebrate all things fall, as well as new products from Lightfoot & Wolfville Winery, Lake City Cider, and Maritime Express Cider.
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Harvest Punch
It’s officially autumn, and with the change in season comes cooler weather, vibrant fall leaves, harvest goodies and time to gather with friends and family. Spice things up at your next get together with this Harvest Punch recipe, featuring apple pie moonshine and Nova Scotia red wine. Think sangria… but with everything you love about fall wrapped up into one glass. With hints of cinnamon, cranberries and orange, you won’t be able to keep this recipe to yourself!
Ingredients
| 1 bottle | Nova Scotia red wine |
| 2 bottles | Propeller Ginger Ale |
| 1 ½ cups | Cranberry juice |
| ½ cup | Still Fired Distilleries Granny Apple Pie Moonshine |
| 1 cup | Frozen cranberries |
| ½ | Orange, sliced |
| ½ | Apple, sliced |
| 2 | Cinnamon sticks |
Directions
Make: one pitcher
- Take a large pitcher and add cranberries, sliced fruit and cinnamon sticks.
- Pour in red wine, ginger ale, cranberry juice and moonshine.
- Give the mixture a light stir to combine ingredients.
- Serve over ice and enjoy!
Recipe provided by: Lindsey MacDonald
Local Source Guide
Wineries: Avondale Sky Winery, Blomidon Estate Winery, Grande Pre Wines, Gaspereau Vineyards, Jost Vineyards, Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards, Luckett Vineyards, L’Acadie Vineyards, Planters Ridge Winery, Petite Riviere Vineyards, and Sainte-Famille Wines.
Local cranberries and apples can be sourced from Noggins Corner Farm Market, Masstown Market, Stirling Fruit Farms Ltd., and any of the Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia.
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New Products
Not in the mood to whip up this delectable recipe? Don’t worry – we have you covered with a few local beverages released this month!
Egg Nog Rum Cream
Coldstream Clear Distillery presents their holiday must-have. This liqueur has notes of caramel, vanilla and hints of specialty spices for the perfect spiced egg nog to sip during all your holiday activities.
Autumn Gins
The Autumn GiNS from Compass Distillers is made from entirely from Nova Scotian ingredients! It’s distilled from wheat grown in the Annapolis valley and botanicals from almost every corner of the province. The peppery and crisp flavour gives a perfect touch for cool nights.
Terroir Series Sauvignon Blanc
Lightfoot & Wolfville Winery’s 2018 Terroir Series Sauvignon Blanc is an ultra-small-lot wine grown in Avonport on the south-facing slopes of their “Oak Island Vineyard”, sheltered by the Minas Basin’s coastal breezes. This wine is hand crafted and fermented in old French oak with six months lees aging.
Pumpkin Chai Cider
Maritime Express Cider Company has released something special for those in the mood for a fall flavoured treat! With hints of warm baking spices, and crisp apple flavours, this Pumpkin Chai Cider fully embodies the season of fall.
Darkside Rosé
Yes please! Lake City Cider has fermented dark berries into a delicious dry wine and blended it with their Darkside Dry. A touch of Nova Scotia honey rounds out this beautiful tart rosé.
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Friday Night Drinks is a 2019 monthly feature profiling local beverages written by Lindsey MacDonald.
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