12/30/2013

After a week filled with family, celebrations, and delicious dish after delicious dish, Aaron and I landed back in LA late last night.  Can we all just agree that there is no sleep like that which occurs in your own bed?  It felt really good to wake up this morning tucked into my own sheets with my head on my favorite pillow.

Since New Year’s Eve is tomorrow, I thought we should squeeze in one last champagne cocktail recipe before we bid this year adieu! This ombre-colored bubbly cocktail (and the super chic champagne flute) is just as delicious as it is easy on the eyes. Keep reading for the recipe below… and before to drop us a note in the comments. We would love to know what is your favorite champagne cocktail recipe!

We first used this acrylic tray for our fall sangria post and it has continued to come in handy ever since.  A little bit of gold star confetti and voila: a total NYE appropriate serving tray.  I had these luxe leather coasters sitting out during our team holiday party and so many people commented on how great they were.  They’re classic and chic and add another layer of texture to a table.

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Cocktail Hour / Blackberry Thyme Sparkler

• Author: Jen Pinkston

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Description

Blackberry Thyme Sparkler

(Makes 4 Cocktails)

New Year’s Eve Champagne Cocktail

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Ingredients

 

• 1 c. blackberries + 8 more for garnish
• 1 c. Water
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 bottle of champagne
• 4 ounces or 1/2 c. gin
• 4 long sprigs of thyme
• 1 c. ice
•  gold baking sugar for the rim
• champagne glasses

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Instructions

In a small saucepan, bring blackberries, water, and sugar to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until the blackberries are soft and the simple syrup has turned to a bright pink/redish color.

Remove from heat, drain blackberries, and allow to cool.  This step can be done well in advance as the syrup will keep for at least a week in the refrigerator.

Prepare your champagne glasses.

Okay, so here is a dirty little secret of getting those beautiful salts and sugars to stay atop the rim: butter.  It adheres perfectly. Place the tiniest amount between your fingers and rub just around the rim of the glass before dipping the glass into the gold baking sugar.

Next, begin by adding 1 ounce of gin to each champagne glass.

Next drop two blackberries in each glass, followed by 2 ounces of homemade blackberry simple syrup.

Fill the rest of the glass with champagne and top with a sprig of thyme in each glass. Voila!

Photography by Melissa Valladares

Dress by Ingrid and Isabel

Leather Coasters, Cocktail Shaker, and Acrylic Tray by Mark and Graham