Royal Jack

By sdubbs

Ingredients

• Ice
• 2 ounces applejack (recommended: Laird's Bonded)
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon homemade grenadine, recipe follows
• 3 ounces brut Champagne
• Sliced or diced apple or red apple peel

Preparation

Step 1

Fill a cocktail shaker or small pitcher with ice. Add the apple jack, lemon juice, and grenadine. Cover and shake vigorously until thoroughly mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up.) Strain into 2 Champagne flutes. Top each drink off with 1 1/2 ounces Champagne. Garnish with the apple. Drink.

Homemade Grenadine:
2 cups unsweetened pomegranate juice

3/4 cup granulated or turbinado sugar

Put pomegranate juice in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and continue to cook until liquid is reduced by half. Stir in the sugar to dissolve thoroughly, and simmer to thicken slightly. Cool. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Yield: approximately 1 1/3 cups