Midnight Sangria

As we turn the corner into fall (my favorite, favorite time of year), I feel inclined to revive our Black Sangria recipe from last year, only…I wanted to go darker with it. Adding in a little (or a lot of) black vodka will do that quite nicely. Besides, I like my alcohol with a side of alcohol. And a little fruit.

For a pitcher, you’ll need:

• 1 bottle cabernet

• 1 cup black vodka

• 1/4 cup of Crème de Cassis (black currant liqueur)

• A mixture of dark fruits (whatever is in season and fresh!), I used blueberries, black grapes (sliced in half), blackberries, black plums, and sliced figs. The more the merrier!

Mix all the alcohol in your pitcher, then fill with as much fruit as possible. Let it sit in your fridge for several hours; the longer it sits, the more boozy and black the fruit becomes. To serve, fill a glass with ice (I prefer one large cube or ball), pour liquid to fill 3/4 of the glass, then spoon in some fruit over the top. Pairs well with a black chicken.