Cape San Blas Cookbook

If you’re looking for something bubbly and festive to serve on New Year’s Eve give this a try.  Nina and I shared a pitcher over lunch at the Columbia Restaurant while vacationing in St. Augustine and decided this was pretty tasty and worth recreating on our own.  We watched carefully as they prepared it at our table, picked up the ingredients on the way back to our inn, and enjoyed several more rounds while playing cards.  (The Columbia didn’t use Freixinet, I suspect it was a cava of some sort, though, and I think Freixinet is the best tasting, best priced cava available. The black bottle is brut, or dry; if you prefer something less dry, try the clear bottle.)  Even people who think they don’t like champagne enjoy this.

1 bottle Freixinet (in the distinctive black bottle)
1 can Sprite
1/3 C Cointreau
1/3 C brandy
1 sliced orange
1 sliced lime

• Mix all of the ingredients together in a pitcher and pour into ice-filled glasses.  Garnish with additional citrus slices if desired.