Spirited Spirits: Fire Starter
Ah, Valentine’s Day. The celebration of romantic love in all of its forms, whether young or old, new or well aged. It is a day for couples to celebrate each other, to celebrate their bond, and to celebrate their past and futures together. As outside stresses take their toll on us as individuals, often they collectively take their toll on us as partners and together as a couple as well. We start simply going through the motions to distance ourselves from the doldrums of daily life; our work and home lives become routines, passively floating through our environments instead of actively engaging with them. Valentine’s day makes a great opportunity to break away from these routines, and celebrate each other with the intensity you all deserve. Let’s take a look at a great recipe to share to key in on their celebratory aspect, as well as reinforcing the connection you share and a spark to help get things going again.
The Drink
This drink is a couple steps removed from a French 75: a mixture of a spirit, sugar, and sparkling wine. The drink starts off being great for our intentions here, with sparkling wine being one of the most notable ingredients for celebrations, and sugar figuratively sweetening the intentions of the drink. Let’s take this one step farther, and really make this the kindling for a fiery night.
Whiskey: This distilled and barrel aged grain spirit naturally lends to abundance, and anyone telling you there is such a thing as too much love in this context is just wrong. More importantly though, specifically using a barrel aged spirit is adding the intention of things get better with time. As you and your partner grow together, as you spend more and more time together, make sure the bonds you share strengthen over time instead of deteriorate. For newer couples or couples that aren’t committed to each other yet though, I would recommend silver rum to aid in sweetening intentions towards each other even further.
Cherry: Akin to many stone fruits, cherries are intimately tied to love and beauty magicks. Being one of the first fruits available in spring, they are also linked to renewal and rebirth. Not only is it reinforcing your love for each other, the beauty you see in each other, but the renewal aspect can apply to everything from renewing vows, renewing a commitment or focus to each other, or even as simple as round two that night.
Vanilla: This wonderful orchid is a common inspiration for love around the world, most known for its capacity for gentle workings. Care for each other, embrace each other, and forgive each other as you look towards your future together.
Red Chili Flakes: Peppers, especially those of the hot variety, are known for aiding in lustful ventures, as well as acting as a quickening agent in many workings to help get them started. Beyond that, red chilis specifically aid with strength and vitality. Let’s just say that if everything goes according to plan here, you’ll need that strength and vitality to keep going pretty quickly.
Sparkling Wine: Valentine’s day is first and foremost a celebration of love. Toast to yourselves, toast to your future, and toast to what you’ve achieved together.
To all the couples out there, enjoy your Valentine’s Day together, and let us know your favorite dishes to share when you’re celebrating with that special someone. Until next time, take care.
Fire Starter
Ingredients
- 1 oz Whiskey
- 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz Cherry Cordial
- Chilled Sparkling wine to fill
- 125g Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate
- 125g Water
- 250g Sugar
- 2g Red Chili Flakes
- 5ml Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Add the whiskey, lemon juice, and cherry cordial to the bottom of a champagne flute.
- Add a couple of ounces of sparkling wine, and allow to settle.
- Once it's settled, fill with sparkling wine. Stir if needed.
- Add the water, sugar, tart cherry concentrate, and red chili flakes to a medium sauce pan.
- Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
- Reduce to a simmer, and allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and allow to come down to room temperature.
- Add water to make up for any reduction, bringing back up to 500g.
- Strain out the chili flakes, add the vanilla extract, and bottle.
- Will last 2-4 weeks refrigerated.