Toast Wisconsin's 'Bachelor' with rose syrup cocktails
Milwaukee will get some reality TV attention Monday night as an episode of ABC's "The Bachelor" brings the leading man, Waukesha native Nick Viall, home for a string of dates in the Dairy State. While I'm guilty of getting sucked into the reality show regardless of where it's filmed, this hometown episode is ripe for a viewing party among fan and non-fan friends alike.
You could pop a bottle of wine or two (the franchise even introduced branded Bachelor wines this year), but if you want to go all-in, try a themed cocktail. For inspiration, look no further than the show's signature flower — the rose, bestowed each week to contestants who will advance to the next round of dates.
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Rose syrup is a variation on simple syrup that's infused with rose petals. It can add a mild floral taste and pink hue to a drink, depending on how much you use. It's also quite easy to make at home. Just boil sugar and water, then simmer lightly with pesticide-free rose petals and let it infuse for a bit.
About those pesticide-free rose petals ... you're not going to find them at a florist. Your best bet is to use roses from your own garden, but this time of year you'll need to use dried culinary-grade rose petals. I ordered a bag on Amazon with free one-day shipping. You could also use rose water, which is available at some grocery stores, like Whole Foods, but then you won't get that rosy color.
You can use rose syrup as a sweetener in myriad cocktails. In fact, it adds a nice touch to even standard recipes like margaritas. That's the beauty of infused simple syrups; they're an easy way to add a fresh touch to otherwise familiar drinks.
Here are three rose syrup cocktails perfect for sipping while seeing how Wisconsin is portrayed on "The Bachelor" — or on any other occasion, for that matter.
Recipes
Alison Sherwood can be reached at asherwood@journalsentinel.com, twitter.com/alisherwood or facebook.com/alisonsherwood.