It’s me here bemoaning the end of summer – somehow, yet again, I was unprepared for this September grayness as soon as it hit New York. Luckily, we are going back to France on Friday, and I am hoping to recapture some sunshine there.

This “end of summer cocktail” – to me – is just that, in a glass. It is beyond drinkable, light, and a nice balance of tart and fruity.

Make these for yourself or your guests tonight and feel a bit better, momentarily, about the change in seasons.

Also, yes, I do think rose is for drinking (almost) year round. Fun fact: the rose wine I used to make this summer cocktail is from Sainte-Victoire. The artist Paul Cezanne painted that surrounding hillside area extensively in his latter years, and the pink-orange tones in his studies reference the high clay content of the surrounding soil, which also brings out the red-fruit flavors in the local roses.

ps. Use any seltzer you like – I prefer Spindrift for this because of its lighter carbonation. And the lavender sugar rim is completely optional, but it sure is pretty, isn’t it?

End of summer cocktail

Saffron & Honey

A light, balanced, rose-based cocktail to see you through the end of summer.

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Ingredients

1/3 part Provencal rose wine
1/3 part lychee juice
1/3 part grapefruit sparkling water
1/2 teaspoon good grenadine syrup I used Morris Kitchen
lavender sugar optional

Instructions

In a wine glass, combine juice, wine, and grenadine. Stir together with a cocktail stirrer.
Top with sparking water.
If desired, garnish rim with lavender sugar.