Last Tuesday at New York City's Anfora wine bar, industry folk gathered to celebrate and taste the Fonseca, Croft, and Taylor Fladgate 2009 Vintage Ports. The fortified wine from Portugal only has a vintage declared in exceptional years, making for an excellent excuse to throw a party. Guests had the opportunity to taste ports back to 2000, but port cocktails were a real highlight of the night. The drinks were created to showcase entry-level ports and are a fun way to make port a part of your cocktail culture, or to use up that old bottle hiding in your liquor cabinet.
The recipes below hail from the event and are ideal for pre-dinner sipping.
Pink Port Cocktail
Pink Port is technically a Ruby Port, but with less skin contact to produce a lighter color. The fresh lemon and grapefruit juices help give this cocktail some serious afternoon drinking cred.
Reserve Port Cocktail
The richest of the three, Reserve Port is a Ruby Port that usually blends several different vintages and is ready to drink upon release. This cocktail plays on the intense berry and chocolate notes with the addition of bourbon and cassis.
White Port Cocktail
A refreshing summer drink, White Port is perfect for mixing. This recipe adds a summer flair with rum and basil.
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