There are still many people who associate Port wine only with moments of tradition and somewhat formal tasting rituals. If you are one of those people, prepare to be surprised.
In this article, we'll introduce you to the more relaxed and irreverent side of this wine, which appears as the star of many summer cocktails.
We also show you some of the
Port wine cocktail recipes that you can easily make at home. Open the doors to a whole new combination of flavours with our proposals, ideal for refreshing yourself on hot summer days.
Port wine: the perfect ingredient for distinctive and elegant cocktails
Due to its characteristics, Port wine can be used in various ways to create cocktails, resulting in creative and surprising suggestions.
See the 5 main reasons that make it an appealing ingredient in any bar:
1. Rich and complex flavour
Notes of red fruit, spices, coffee or nuts. These are some of the sensory characteristics that we can find in the different types of Port wine. This diversity and complexity of aromas and flavours is a distinctive feature that helps to give cocktails greater depth, making them more interesting and sophisticated.
2. Variety of styles
We've already told you about the various Port wine families, such as Ruby, Tawny, White and Rosé.
Each of these styles brings unique characteristics that can serve as inspiration to create a vast list of different cocktails, from the driest and freshest, to the sweetest and most full-bodied.
3. Natural sweetness
Being a fortified drink, due to the addition of brandy during its fermentation, Port wine is naturally sweet. This well-balanced sweetness is another of its great attributes, which makes it an appetising choice for creating harmonious cocktails, in combination with more acidic or bitter ingredients. A well-known example of this balance is the classic and refreshing Port Tonic.
4. Versatility
Port wine can either be used as the main base of a cocktail, or as a complementary ingredient and flavouring element, adding an extra layer of complexity to the taste of the drink.
5. Iconic and authentic character
As a wine with centuries of history and tradition, the use of Port wine in cocktails allows not only to add a touch of sophistication and authenticity to drinks, but also to enhance the promotion of national cultural and oenological wealth.
Cocktails with Port wine: refreshing and easy to make at home
Choose your favourite type of port, follow the recipes and try to impress your guests with these flavourful cocktails.
White Port Wine
White Port is known for its balanced acidity and citrus notes. These characteristics give lightness and freshness to cocktails, making it a perfect choice for warmer days.
Suggestion:
Port Mojito
Ingredients:
-
60 ml dry white port wine
- 30 ml white rum
- 1 lemon cut into slices
- 10 mint leaves
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- sparkling water
- ice
Steps to follow:
1. Place the lemon slices, mint leaves and sugar in a tall glass.
2. Using a pestle, pound the ingredients well in the bottom of the glass to release the essential oils from the mint and lemon juice.
3. Add enough ice to fill about 2/3 of the glass.
4. Pour the port and white rum over the ice.
5. Stir gently with a long spoon to mix the ingredients.
6. Top up the glass with sparkling water.
7. Garnish with a mint leaf and a slice of lemon, if desired.
Rosé Port Wine
Rosé Port has an elegant and fruity profile, suitable for softer and more delicate summer cocktails.
Suggestion:
Rosé Spritzer Port
Ingredients:
- 60 ml rosé port wine
- sparkling water
- ice
- orange slices for garnish
Steps to follow:
1. Put the ice in the glass.
2. Pour the rosé port over the ice.
3. Top up with sparkling water.
4. Stir gently.
5. Decorate with orange slices.
Tawny Port Wine
Tawny Port is characterised by its more intense notes of dried fruits and spices, inspiring cocktails with a more sophisticated touch.
Suggestion:
Negroni Port
Ingredients:
- 30 ml tawny Port wine
- 30 ml bitter
- 30 ml red vermouth
- ice
- orange or lemon peel for garnish (optional)
Steps to follow:
1.Fill a lowball glass with ice cubes to chill it.
2. In a mixing glass add the port wine, bitter and red vermouth.
3. Add ice to the mixing glass and stir the ingredients well.
4. Discard the ice from the lower glass and refill it with the contents of the mixing glass using a strainer.
Ruby Port
Ruby Port brings more fruity and intense notes, being a good option for bolder and slightly more full-bodied cocktails.
Suggestion: Sunrise Port
Ingredients:
- 45 ml ruby Port wine
- 45 ml orange juice
- 15 ml grenadine syrup
- ice
- sliced orange and cherries (optional)
Steps to follow:
1. fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Pour the ruby port into a glass.
3. Gently spoon the orange juice over the wine to create a separate layer.
4. Add the grenadine syrup, which will create a red layer at the bottom of the glass.
5. If desired, garnish the glass with a slice of orange and a cherry.
6. Stir lightly before drinking to blend the flavours.
Let yourself be inspired by Port wine and create irresistible cocktails
Let Port wine shine this summer!
Add a new dimension of flavour and sophistication to your cocktails and surprise your friends with fresh and unexpected creations.
The recipes we've shared are just the starting point. Now all you have to do is get creative and experiment with other combinations, according to the flavours you like the most.
Count on our help and check out the Port wines we've selected for you at the UVA Wine Shop. Here's to summer!
