Shirazerac - Holiday Cocktail Recipe

1. 1

   Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice and set aside to chill.

2. 2

   Cut the lemon rind to a circle about the size of a quarter, without pith.

3. 3

   Stick a toothpick through the star anise and into the lemon rind until only a small bit of the toothpick shows from the top, breaking off the extra beneath the lemon.

4. 4

   Set garnish aside.

5. 5

   In a separate glass, put shiraz syrup at the bottom of the glass and cover with the rye whiskey and the bitters.

6. 6

   Stir to dissolve the syrup.

7. 7

   Stir briefly.

8. 8

   Empty the chilled glass and add the Absinthe substitute to it, swirling around to coat it and leaving a small pool of what is left at the bottom.

9. 9

   Strain the cocktail into that glass and add the Star Anise as a floating garnish.

10. 10

    **Shiraz Syrup**

11. 11

    Equal Parts Light Brown Sugar and Shiraz (one cup of each will yield approximately A 1/2 cup of syrup).

12. 12

    Place Shiraz in a sauce pan on medium heat and bring to a boil.

13. 13

    Slowly add sugar while stirring with a whisk.

14. 14

    After all sugar has been diluted, bring to a slow boil and reduce heat.

15. 15

    Repeat bringing it to a boil and cooling back down 2 or three times until the mixture is reduced to a thickness that sticks to the bottom of the pan when you lean it forward.

16. 16

    Allow to cool for a few minutes and transfer to a serving bottle.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.