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Cocktail History
The Wild Rose is a modern cocktail that was first published in The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book by Lou Bustamante. It was created as a variation of the Prince of Wales that calls for sparkling wine, pineapple, cherry, and bitters but uses whiskey as the base spirit instead of tequila. The drink was named for Lady Rose MacClare, one of the more fun-loving and rebellious female characters in the television show Downton Abbey, and according to the book, it uses tequila because it was a spirit that would’ve been known in 1920s England but less common because it was from the Americas, where Lady Rose eventually moves.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Sparkling Wine: This is a carbonated wine made with white or red grapes. I used Villa Bellezza Winery Brillante.
Tequila Blanco: This is a spirit made with unaged agave and water. I used El Jimador Tequila Silver.
Pineapple Gum Syrup: This is a sweetener made with pineapple juice, white sugar, gum arabic powder, and citric acid. I made mine using this sous vide recipe.
Maraschino Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with Maraschino cherries, honey, herbs, spices, sugar, and alcohol. I used Luxardo Maraschino Orginale Liqueur.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Aromatic Bitters.
Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-02-14.

Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Pale pink-yellow color
• Aroma: Cherry and wine
• Taste: Tingly sparkling wine flavor with notes of tequila, pineapple, and spices
• Finish: Strong cherry notes
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “Between this variation and the classic Prince of Wales, I think I like the Wild Rose a bit better. The rye in the original is just a too spicy and overpowering, in my opinion, while the tequila does a better job of blending in. This combination of flavors still isn’t quite my favorite, so I don’t know that I would make another, but it is unique. And I love any chance I get to use a delicious homemade pineapple syrup.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book: Appropriate Libations for All Occasions by Lou Bustamante.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-02-14.
Wild Rose
The Wild Rose is a modern cocktail that was first published in The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book by Lou Bustamante. It was created as a variation of the Prince of Wales that calls for sparkling wine, pineapple, cherry, and bitters but uses whiskey as the base spirit instead of tequila. The drink was named for Lady Rose MacClare, one of the more fun-loving and rebellious female characters in the television show Downton Abbey, and according to the book, it uses tequila because it was a spirit that would've been known in 1920s England but less common because it was from the Americas, where Lady Rose eventually moves.

Ingredients
Method
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Add tequila, pineapple gum syrup, maraschino liqueur, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Top with sparkling wine.
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Garnish with orange twist.