Old English Sparkling Borage Wine Cup Recipes

The precursor to the Pimm's Cup, the old Claret Cup employs a wine base to make a drink that is light and redolent of additions such as borage, cucumber, or strawberries. There are multiple recipes, but we like a simple one that modifies wine with just a bit of sherry (or even vermouth, in a pinch). Claret was what the English used to call wines from Bordeaux. Really, any red jammy wine will do-Cabernets or even Syrah, although a decent Côtes du Rhône or a Beaujolais is what we use most often. Don't overthink it-use whatever fruit you've got in the fridge and see what you prefer. In fall, it's lovely to grate a little nutmeg and cinnamon on top.

Provided by Tenaya Darlington

Categories     Summer     Cocktail     Red Wine

Yield Makes 1 cocktail

Number Of Ingredients 7

• Ingredients

Borage is one of my favourite herbs, and I always find room for it in my herb garden; in fact, I grow it amongst my flowers in the herbaceous border. Its pretty vibrant blue star-shaped flowers (Borage is sometimes called the Star Herb) are wonderful when added to salads and drinks. The leaves, which taste of cucumber, are also an essential ingredient to soups, salads, drinks, creams and butters. I often add borage flowers when serving alcoholic drinks and fruit drinks. Borage is especially good with claret cup or wine cup, as in this recipe. You can also add borage leaves and flowers to hot or iced tea or lemonade. Borage is an excellent culinary herb and can be used in a variety of ways. Borage is far better when used fresh, as the flavour and colour deteriorate when it is dried and some essential oils are lost. Traditional recipes recommend borage leaves and seeds, together with fennel in salads for increasing the milk supply in nursing mothers. The leaves and flowers are also added for flavour and garnish to wine cups, Pimms and gin-based summer cocktails and the flowers are still candied for confectionary as cake and ice cream decorations.

Provided by French Tart

Categories     Punch Beverage

Time 5m

Yield 2 litres, 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

Nutrition Facts : Calories 372.6, Fat 0.1, Sodium 12.1, Carbohydrate 18.9, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 16.2, Protein 0.3

• Ingredients