White Wine Cocktail – The Eclipse
Sip to the magic of the eclipse with this crisp, lemon and ginger white wine cocktail. Made with ritual and garnished with a red juice ice cube sphere to mimic the moment, this white wine sour is just the eclipse drink to capture the magic.
White Wine Eclipse is part of my Practical Magic-Inspired series, as sponsored by Phantom Wine. Must be 21+. Please drink responsibly. Use code WITCHCRAFT at phantomwine.com for $1 shipping on your order, up to 1 case.
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Eclipses are immersed in cultural superstition. Surrounded by a myriad of myth and folklore, conflicting ideas on its meaning and symbolism, it’s only natural to want to mark such a magnificent occasion. And a ritually-crafted libation is the perfect way to do it, in my opinion!
I selected ingredients for this white wine cocktail recipe to match the folklore and superstition of this time, so that you can take in the energy of this momentous occasion with a delicious beverage in hand.
With simple ingredients, and an easy-yet-unique garnish (a blood orange sphere) you have a memorable, magical cocktail for the eclipse.
Creating an Eclipse Cocktail
Eclipse season is a tricky time, and I wanted this white wine cocktail to not just represent it visually but thematically as well. Many cross-cultural myths perceive eclipses as foreboding, and in modern day astrological and spiritual spheres, there is debate as to whether they’re times of power or when magic and manifestation can go awry.
But there IS consensus that eclipses tend to be periods of change, where one chapter ends (sometimes dramatically) and another begins. You might change career paths, end a relationship, or something may become clearer in your life’s journey. Somehow, it seems to snap you back to your life path in an important way.
If you want to learn more about eclipse magic (and magic for all the moon phases), I highly suggest my book the Modern Witchcraft Book of Moon Magick. There, I dive into the various energies of this time and how to best use them.
Given all this, I wanted a drink recipe that was somewhat easy (you know, for when sh*t hits the fan), but also held true to those eclipse themes of tuning within admits the chaos. I also wanted something to visually mimic the eclipse, and this white wine cocktail is the result! Let’s get into what you’ll need.
Ingredient Inspiration
Since eclipses are often spiritual times of momentous life changes, it’s natural to turn within. Hence, I chose ingredients that were simple, yet unique.
Disclaimer: I discuss the traditional associations of ingredients in magical folklore as the inspiration for why I chose them in this drink for informational and entertainment purposes only. I do not make any claims regarding their use.
- Ginger is fiery ingredient often used for power in witchcraft, and to inspire the movement of energy.
- Rosemary. In magical practices, rosemary is often referred to as an herb of remembrance and as a symbol of clarity and purification.
- Lemon is associated with the moon and cleansing (perfect for an eclipse drink) and compliments the white wine in the cocktail recipe.
- Simple Syrup is essential to balance the citrus. To make, just mix equal parts hot water and sugar.
- Blood Orange (alternatives below). To get the red sphere garnish, I froze blood orange into this round cube tray. You can also carefully layer it on top instead. Orange is associated with the sun, and the “blood” aspect matches the eclipse vibe.
- Phantom Wine Chardonnay is the alcohol base of this beverage, making for a light and crisp white wine cocktail recipe that is also lower ABV for easy sipping. Get $1 shipping with code WITCHCRAFT at phantomwine.com
- Optional: Absinthe Rinse. In a recipe infused with ritual, absinthe makes a perfect addition (skip if you don’t like anise or licorice flavors). Infused with herbs that are associated with psychic communication like anise and wormwood, we will use a tiny amount to lightly coat the inside of the glass as the start of our drink ritual.
More White Wine Cocktail Recipes
The Perfect Garnish for Eclipse Cocktails: Blood Orange Ice Cubes
The main attraction of this recipe is the red sphere at the center. Believe it or not, these blood orange ice cube spheres are an easy way to garnish your eclipse cocktails.
The only consideration is the time it takes to freeze. In such cases, you can gently layer 1/2-1 ounce of blood orange atop the strained drink.
I used these 2” spherical ice cubes molds. They are very sturdy and come with a little funnel for easy filling.
Substitutions & Variations
I really liked what blood orange added to this recipe. But in a pinch, other fruit juices can also produce a red sphere when frozen. You can also try:
- pomegranate juice
- cranberry juice (check out the frozen cranberry juice sphere I did in my Carnelian Drink Recipe)
- or a fun variation, try adding red cocktail glitter!
White Wine Eclipse Cocktail Recipe
Eclipse – A White Wine Cocktail
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- If preparing blood orange or alternative juice ice cubes, prepare at least 6 hours in advance. Pour juice into 2" spherical molds and place into freezer for 6 hours or longer. (When you use these, make sure to strain your drink BEFORE adding the spheres. If you strain the drink over the sphere, if will immediately behind diluting and turn your drink red before you get to enjoy the visual).
- OPTIONAL Absinthe Rinse: Start the drink ritual with an absinthe rinse, if using. This both chills the glass, and adds a thin layer of absinthe to enhance the flavors, but not overwhelm. To do so, add 1-3 ice cubes in your stemmed glass. Add absinthe, then swirl and dump out into your sink. Dump out as much as possible–you only want a thin layer so as not to overwhelm the chardonnay.
- To your shaker, crumble up ginger. Add rosemary, simple, then lemon for the moon and chardonnay. Add ice and shake hard, so that rosemary and ginger properly infuses into the recipe.
- Strain the drink into your chilled, rinsed glass. Gently place your blood orange sphere cube, or carefully layer 1/2-1 ounce fresh blood orange juice atop using the back of a spoon. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Consider pre-chill ing your chardonnay to reduce dilution
- Simple syrup: measure separately, then mix equal parts hot water and sugar. Let cool, then use as needed. Store in refrigerator and use before 2 weeks.
- If you cannot wait for the spheres to freeze, you can gently layer .5-1 ounce of the fresh juice atop the drink. If you do so using the back of a spoon to control the speed, it should layer atop the drink for a cool eclipse effect.
- If you cannot find blood orange juice, try cranberry and.or pomegranate juice.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t have absinthe, anisette liqueur also works. Otherwise, you can simply forego! A lot of people don’t like absinthe and/or anise flavors, so feel free to skip.
Any red juice should work to create a red spherical ice cube for the eclipse. I also tried cranberry and pomegranate juice, as well as a tidbit of red cocktail glitter for a sparkling effect!
Simply layer .5-1 ounce blood orange juice on top of the strained, finished cocktail. If you do so gently (using the back of a spoon), it should layer and rest on top of the drink, creating another great eclipse visual.
Don’t see your question here? Ask away!
For another Eclipse Recipe (one with a mocktail option), check out my Lunar Eclipse Sour.
Whatever eclipse season brings your way, I hope you traverse with ease. Cheers!
