Raspberry + Thyme Frosé

This frosé screams SUMMER! It is just what these hot summer nights beg for.

You know something else it screams? THE BEST WAY TO ADULT IS TO FROSE!

This boozy, fruity slushee is light, refreshing, and for grown-ups only.

I am on the fence about calling it frosé, though. I chose to use Merlot over rosé because it has more body and can hold up to the infusion of thyme. Instead of frosé, shouldn’t it be called Merlotsé?

Raspberry + Thyme Merlotsé. Let me think about it…

So about the thyme…At first I made regular raspberry frosé, and it was delicious. But I thought a hint of peppery thyme might up its game a bit, and I was right. So Raspberry + Thyme Frosé (Merlotsé ) it is!

When my girls and I enjoy these trendy drinks on the deck, I remember when wine spritzers were all the rage among my mother and her friends. The ladies imbibed spritzers on the patio while the men chatted each other up around the grill, and we red-faced kids chased each other around the yard.  I recall one time taking a time-out from tag and asking Mom for a sip of her pretty drink. That’s precisely when her friend Louise suggested, “Why don’t you kids go play in the traffic?”

She was a charmer.

Now that I am an adult, I get what Louise was implying. It’s nice to sit in the chaise, feet up + drink in hand, and enjoy the solitude. This frose Merlotsé can help you reach that magical place.

NOTE: The alcohol content keeps the wine from completely freezing, making it pretty easy to scoop into a glass or blender.

This is also a delicious treat to serve between courses to clean the palate.

Cheers!

XXOO AB

If you make this Merlotsé I’d love to hear all about it!  Leave a comment below and tag #nakedepicurean on Instagram so we can celebrate together!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (750-ml) bottle merlot
• ½  cup thyme not-so-simple syrup
• 2 cups raspberries + some for garnish
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour merlot into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish and cover. Freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight.
2. Scrape the frozen wine into a blender along with the thyme syrup, raspberries, and lemon juice. Blend well until smooth.
3. Transfer blender jar to freezer; freeze until merlotsé is thickened, 25–35 minutes. Blend again until merlotsé is slushy. Divide among glasses. Top with fresh raspberries and a sprig of fresh thyme. Then serve to your eager guests!

Merlotsé can be frozen up to 1 week ahead. Store in the freezer until ready to use. Then zip it through the blender to slush it up again before serving.

If you like this drink, you may also like this Blueberry + Creme + Lavender Frose-Merlotse.
B