Snow Day

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Cocktail History

The Snow Day is a winter cocktail that was created by food writer and author Jessica Strand and was first published in Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season. The original recipe combined elderflower liqueur with dry sparkling white wine and a garnish of frosted blueberries for a light, festive touch, but this updated version elevates the drink by incorporating a homemade sous vide blueberry syrup, which deepens the fruity flavor while maintaining the original’s elegant simplicity. The result is a refined yet approachable cocktail perfect for snowy winter evenings.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Sparkling Wine: This is a type of wine made with white or red grapes and infused with carbon dioxide. I used Schramsberg Vineyard Mirabelle Brut.

Elderflower Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with elderflowers, citrus, herbs, sugar, alcohol, and water. I used Edinburgh Gin Distillery Elderflower Gin Liqueur.

Blueberry Syrup: This is a sweetener made with blueberries, white sugar, gum arabic powder, citric acid, and water. I used this sous vide recipe.

Sugar: This is white sugar that has been processed, crystallized, and dried so the crystals don’t clump together. I used C&H Pure Cane Granulated Sugar.

Blueberries: This is a small, blue fruit that’s known for its sweet-tart flavor and high antioxidant content.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.

Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring, layering, and reaching the bottom of tall cocktail glasses. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes. I used one from the Homestia Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.

Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed, shallow, wide-bowled glass that’s designed to enhance aroma and presentation. I used the Libbey Capone Coupe Glass.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Bright pink-red color

• Aroma: Wine and florals

• Taste: Straightforward flavor of fizzy wine with floral notes

• Finish: Fruity berry notes

Kendall’s Take: “The original recipe for this drink only called for sparkling wine and elderflower liqueur, which didn’t really scream ‘winter’ to me in any way. It was obvious that the star was supposed to be the candied blueberry garnish given that was the only truly unique ingredient, so I chose to mix in some blueberry simple syrup to add some complexity and play up the berry flavor a bit more. Just that one change along with dialing the elderflower way back made the cocktail much tastier. Plus, it turned the Snow Day a brilliant bright pink hue. I still don’t know if it’s really ‘wintery,’ but the frosty garnish does add a bit of snow-inspired flair.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the book Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season by Jessica Strand.