Sex & Cocktails

If you're like half of the country (I'm talking the female half), you've probably seen the new Sex & The City movie this weekend or planning to go see it soon. It is long (2.5 hours) but was lots of fun, like an afternoon of catching up with some old girlfriends you haven't seen for a while named Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda. And I was glad to see Jennifer Hudson adding some color to the mix.

Not to give anything away, but their quintessential cocktail - The Cosmopolitan - makes an appearance again in a key scene or two.

I love Cosmos, but in the interest keeping things fresh and since I'm the Bubbly Girl, I created a new version that's more in line with current cocktail mixing trends. My Sparkling Watermelon Cosmo uses fresh watermelon juice (just toss it in the blender, puree and strain) and gin - the new white spirit - topped with bubbly, in this case Piper Sonoma Brut sparkling wine.

Enjoy!

Sparkling Watermelon Cosmo
Makes 1 cocktail
2 ounces cold sparkling wine or champagne
2 ounces fresh watermelon juice
1 ounce gin
1.5 ounces Alize Red Passion
Juice of 1/8 lemon
Lemon twist

Add cold bubbly to a martini glass. Add watermelon juice, gin, Alize Red Passion and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker and shake 30 times or until your hands are freezing. Strain into the martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Oh Jaaames...

I've been so busy lately, I'm probably one of five people in North America who hasn't seen the new James Bond flick Casino Royale yet. It's the story of how James Bond went from regular spy to a licensed to kill 007. In Bond creator Ian Fleming's original 1953 Bond book by the same name, we learn of all of Bond's favorite things: the Walther PPK, martinis shaken-not-stirred and Bollinger Champagne.

Now I know why he's been drinking the stuff for the past 50 years or so; it's probably the most marvelous champagne I've ever tasted. My friend Jan invited me to a champagne and sparkling wine tasting at the University Club in downtown San Diego.

It was crowded, and by the time I made it over to Bruno, the Bollinger rep, he was down to his last bottles. First I tasted the Special Cuvee, which caught me off guard with its striking balance of toasty aged character mixed with golden fruits.

I was still pondering and savoring this wine when Bruno told me to drink up. He wanted me to have the last taste of La Grande Annee. The current vintage of this wine, which is Bollinger's prestige cuvee, is from 1997. I was mesmerized by the most beautiful symphony of flavors: it was like eating buttery golden brioche wrapped around caramelized apricots.

That was a week ago, and I'm still in its thrall.