Kyle has developed a mild to moderate obsession with summertime wine (and cocktails containing wine) slushies. OK – fine, I’m obsessed too. With any version of a wine slushie you can come up with, I’ll be totally psyched about it. Think about it, they are the ultimate summer libation. They are not overly sweet, like a frozen daiquiri or a pina colada, especially when you make them at home and have complete control over the sugar content. Plus, wine slushies require few ingredients and are fairly simple to make, allowing you to beat the heat from the comfort of your patio or front porch.
Our wine slushie obsession began with the Aperol Spritz Slushie, followed by last year’s Strawberry Rose Slushies. This year, Kyle made the very important decision to prepare the French 75 Cocktail in slushie form. The French 75 dates back to the World War I era and got it’s name from the French 75mm field guns used during the war. The cocktail consists of gin (one can also use cognac, but we love our gin), lemon juice, sugar and sparkling wine.
The French 75 Cocktail is ice cold, slightly tart and refreshingly balanced – the perfect base for a slushie adaptation. Just like the Aperol Spritz Slushie, Kyle made a frozen treat out of all the ingredients except the sparkling wine – that gets reserved for the delicate pour right over the sorbet to top off the frozen heaven in a glass.
Crafting the sorbet is very simple and it consists of only three ingredients (four, if you count water): gin, fresh lemon juice and agave. Kyle chose agave instead of sugar, otherwise one would have to heat and dissolve the sugar. This method creates the need to wait until the mixture cools down before churning it in your ice cream maker. Who wants to wait? Not me.
For the French 75 Slushies, Kyle used a more generous amount of the sparkling wine than is traditionally used in the cocktail. The first few sips of the drink consist entirely of bubbly. Then, as the sorbet slowly melts into the cocktail, the notes of the gin and lemon take charge and then the French 75-ness of the cocktail really shines through.
No ice cream maker? Do not fear! There is a simple fix to that conundrum. Simply freeze the lemon-gin mixture in a shallow baking dish for several hours. Your frozen concoction will have an icier texture than sorbet – much like a granita, however, the final product will be equally satisfying!
The French 75 Slushies are a great crowd-pleaser, and they are easy to serve to a get together with a large guest list. Just mix up a batch of the sorbet ahead of time, store it in the freezer and just scoop and serve. Your summertime soiree will be hopping in no time!
Wine slushies are a summer cocktail must for us – and once you try the French 75 Slushie, you’ll be hooked too! It is a superb beverage for your entertaining this summer. Cheers!
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4 to 5 large lemons)
- 1 cup gin
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup plus 1 tbsp. agave nectar
- 1 750-mL bottle sparkling wine
- In a large bowl or pitcher, combine the lemon juice, gin, water, and agave nectar. Strain through a sieve to remove any rogue lemon seeds.
- Freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Alternatively, freeze mixture in a shallow pan overnight.
- Scoop ⅓ cup to ½ cup lemon sorbet mixture into serving glasses, and fill with a few ounces of sparkling wine. If you're feeling fancy, garnish each glass with a sprig of mint.
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