Muscat Spritz

There is a particular kind of afternoon that calls for a Muscat Spritz. The kind where someone suggests sitting outside and suddenly two hours have passed and nobody has moved. Light, aromatic and completely dangerous, this is the cocktail we reach for when the weather is warm and the company is good.

Rutherglen Muscat brings something to a spritz that prosecco alone never quite manages: depth, sweetness and a complex aromatic quality that feels like it took years to develop, because in many ways it did. Combined with the bubbles and freshness of a dry sparkling wine and a splash of soda, the result is a drink that is greater than the sum of its very simple parts.

Use our NV Rutherglen Muscat here, the entry-level tier. It is fresh, fruit-forward and exactly what you want in a long drink. Save the Grand and Rare for sipping neat.

Serves 1. Ready in 2 minutes.

Ingredients

●     45ml NV Rutherglen Muscat

●     90ml chilled prosecco or dry sparkling wine like our NV Estrela Cuvee

●     30ml soda water

●     Large ice cubes

●     Orange peel and fresh thyme sprig to garnish

Method

1.  Fill a large wine glass generously with ice.

2.  Pour in the Muscat, then the prosecco.

3.  Top with a splash of soda water.

4.  Express the orange peel over the glass, run it around the rim, then drop it in.

5.  Finish with a sprig of thyme and serve immediately.

Tip: Use a big, generous glass and plenty of ice. This is a wine-bar drink, not a dainty one. The thyme is worth including; it adds an herbal note that makes the whole thing feel considered.

Which Muscat to Use

NV Rutherglen Muscat is the one. Fresh, fragrant and approachable, it brings just enough sweetness and complexity without overwhelming the bubbles. Classic Muscat works too if you want a slightly richer, more layered spritz. Shop the range at stantonandkilleen.com.au.