The Sangria Experiment

For the party on Wednesday I decided it might be fun to serve some sangria - it's a fun summery drink that can be made in advance in large quantities. It also happens to be just about the only drink I will willingly order at a restaurant nowadays. Let's pretend that didn't influence my decision to make it for the party. The reason I'm calling this a "sangria experiment" is because I am posting how to make this now, but I can't actually try it until Wednesday. It needs to sit and become all sangria-y. I'll be sure to update you on how it tastes later!

I'm making a double recipe, so please ignore half the ingredients in this picture if you only want to make one pitcher. To make it you'll need club soda, honey, OJ, a lime, an orange, a lemon, white wine, red wine, and rum. This isn't a traditional recipe, btw.

First, make your husband open all the bottles of wine because you are incompetent and not good at opening wine.

Then slice up one lime, one lemon, and one orange (or two of each in my case). Make sure you remove any seeds. Don't these look like those fruit candy slices? I could go for some of those right now.

Now take a big ole pitcher you bought from Crate and Barrel an hour ago and pour in a bottle of red wine.
Then pour half a bottle of white wine into the same pitcher. Then hold up an empty bottle of white wine and take a picture pretending to pour wine.

Now pour in two tablespoons of honey. I'm excited about this step because I like my sangria pretty sweet.

Now pour in 1 cup of rum. Is it just me or did anyone else not realize there was liquor in sangria?

Top if off with 1/2 cup of orange juice (by the way I have spelled orange wrong just about every time I have typed it in this post).

Now throw in all those fruit slices and you are done! Well done for today. You put plastic wrap over the top and let it sit for several hours or preferably for a few days. Sorry about that. Also, please note that you will think "Wow this pitcher is so empty, I could make two batches in one pitcher." But once you pour in the fruit you will realize that is not the case. You have been warned.

Here is pitcher numero dos. It was also bought today from Crate and Barrel. We had a successful day there today.

So when you take you sangria out of the fridge in a few hours/day - you will then top it off with 2 cups of cold club soda and some ice. Just wanted to add that here today in case I forget to tell you later.

Update: The sangria was delicious and I fully recommend this recipe. Next time I will try to add in smaller, more edible fruit chunks, because people love to eat the drunken fruit at the bottom of the cup.

Here is the full recipe. Bottoms up!

Sangria
2 tablespoons honey
1 750 mL bottle red wine
1/2 750 mL bottle white wine
1 cup rum
1/2 cup orange juice
1 orange, thinly sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
2 cups club soda, cold

Pour 1 bottle red wine and 1/2 bottle white wine into a large pitcher. Add 2 T. honey and stir. Add 1 cup rum, 1/2 cup orange juice, sliced orange, sliced lemon, and sliced lime. Cover and refrigerate mixture for a few hours or preferably a few days. When ready to serve, pour 2 cups cold club soda in pitcher and serve sangria over ice.