Add a Colorful Twist to Cinco de Mayo

Rosangel lends its pink hue to this sangria, made with fruit, white wine and club soda.

It’s been almost 15 years since we hosted our first Cinco de Mayo get-together, which, for us, is more of a celebration of good friends and warm weather than a reflection upon the Mexicans’ surprise win over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

We typically make Mexican and Tex-Mex food — and mix some cocktails, of course. But for a twist on the usual margaritas and sangria, we thought we’d try to stir things up with Rosangel, the new Gran Centenario Reposado Tequila.

Ten-year-old agave plants are used to make the tequila, which is then aged for 10 months. Then the tequila is infused with hibiscus flowers and aged in port casks for two additional months, giving the alcohol a pink hue. Since the tequila is flavored by the hibiscus infusion, the alcohol doesn’t have the sugar added to many artificially flavored liquors.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that tequila was the drink of choice for spring-breakers, doing ill-advised shots among frat boys wearing tees with such snippets of wisdom as, “One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.” Lately, however, we’ve seen it grow more sophisticated, with brands such as Patrón, Don Julio and Herradura and the term “sipping tequila.”

Tequila also is finding its way into high-end, retro cocktail places, such as Clover Club in Brooklyn, NY, where Gran Centenario filmed a short clip about Rosangel with bar owner and mixologist Julie Reiner and F. Paul Pacult of Spirit Journal. The video’s musical background is “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” — and while we can’t personally say that tequila has always been our BFF, it’s no surprise that pink Rosangel, sporting an angel label and infused with a flower, is marketed to women.

Below is a recipe that’s perfect for a Cinco de Mayo celebration — a twist on sangria with plenty of fresh fruit. Get a head start and prepare it the night before. For a variation, swap the grapes and apple for a sliced peach, ¼ cup raspberries and ¼ cup blueberries. To find establishments that sell and serve the liquor, click on “Find Rosangel” on the spirit’s site.

Rosangel Pink Sangria
½ bottle of Rosangel
½ bottle of white wine (any type is fine, though wines such as Reisling might be too sweet)
2 ounces cranberry juice
1 ounces orange juice
2 oranges (sliced)
1 lemon (sliced)
1 lime (sliced)
½ cup of white sugar
1 bunch of grapes (sliced)
1 apple (diced)
½ liter of club soda

Pour Rosangel, white wine, cranberry juice and orange juice into a pitcher. Squeeze the juice from the citrus fruits into the pitcher and place fruit aside. Add sugar and stir. Add citrus fruits, sliced grapes and apple to the sangria and stir again. Chill overnight (or for at least two hours). Add club soda just before serving.

Serves 6, two 8- to 10-ounce glasses per person.

We also plan to stock up on some Corona and limes for Cinco de Mayo, since the beer company has our favorite Cinco de Mayo commercial. How will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

Tags: Alcohol, Brooklyn, Cinco de Mayo, Clover Club, Cocktails, Cranberry juice, Distilled beverages, Don Julio, F. Paul Pacult, Flavored liquor, food, Food and drink, Hospitality/Recreation, Julie Reiner, Margarita, New York, pitcher, Puebla, Sangria, Soft matter, Spirit Journal, Tequila