Blood-Red Sangria Cocktail

By MJH

Ingredients

• Sangria Simple Syrup:
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup red wine, such as Merlot or Zinfandel
• 1 cup dark sweet cherries, stemmed, pitted and halved
• 1 stick cinnamon
• Strips of orange peel from 1 medium orange (orange part only)
• Sangria Martini Cocktail:
• Ice cubes
• 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 oz) citron (citrus) vodka
• 2 tablespoons (1 oz) clear orange-flavored liqueur
• 2 tablespoons (1 oz) sangria simple syrup, chilled (above)
• 1 dark sweet cherry on a cocktail pick

Details

Adapted from bettycrocker.com

Preparation

Step 1

To make simple syrup, in 1 1/2-quart saucepan, mix sangria simple syrup ingredients.
Heat to boiling over medium heat.
Simmer 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat; let cool 30 minutes.
Strain mixture through fine mesh strainer; discard solids.
Cover and chill sangria syrup until ready to use.
Makes about 1 1/2 cups.


To make cocktail, fill cocktail shaker with ice.
Add vodka and orange liqueur to cocktail shaker; cover and shake. Strain into martini glass.
Drizzle sangria syrup into cocktail in glass.
Garnish with cherry.