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The Valencia

A.J. Rathbun offers up this festive cocktail, bubbling with sparkling wine or champagne. From his book, Good Spirits: Recipes, Revelations, Refreshments, and Romance Shaken and Served with a Twist, he shares this recipe from the chapter "Unburied Treasures." Fresh orange juice, apricot brandy and sparkling wine or champagne along with the sometimes under-appreciated flavoring of bitters, produce a brilliantly colored and absolutely delicious cocktail.

About AJ Rathbun

A.J. Rathbun is a cocktail writer, home entertaining wiz, and poet. His books include Good Spirits: Recipes, Revelations, Refreshments, and Romance Shaken and Served with a Twist, Wine Cocktails, Luscious Liqueurs, Party Snacks, Party Drinks, and Want (a poetry collection from ZYZZYVA/Creative Arts, 2000). His web site, www.ajrathbun.com, has information about his books and dogs, links for picking up A.J. apparel, his blog, Spiked Punch, and more. He’s had work in a number of magazines and anthologies, including Tin House, Everyday with Rachael Ray, Fine Living, a host of literary magazines, and other on-and offline magazines, and he’s also does national and local television, radio, and print interviews (including interviews with The Knot, The Seattle Times, Martha Stewart Radio, USA Radio, The Arizona Republic, Fox Boston, and others) about entertaining, drinks, snacks, and kitchen products. All of A.J.’s videos are directed and shot by Brad Kosel, top dog at Artificial Khaos productions, http://www.artificialkhaos.com/.

Recipe

Ingredients

2 oz apricot brandy
1 oz freshly squeezed orange juice
3 dashes orange bitters (AJ uses Gary Regan's Orange Bitters No. 6)
chilled champagne (or sparkling wine)
ice cubes
orange twist for garnish

How-to

Fill a mixing glass or cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Add the apricot brandy, orange juice, and orange bitters. Stir well with a long spoon
Strain the mixture into a champagne flute. Top with champagne and stir once more
Garnish with an orange twist