“The Champagne Conspir-Fizzy” Cocktail

Check out this cocktail inspired by Ellen Crosby's The Champagne Conspiracy, and then make sure you're signed in and comment at the bottom for a chance to win a copy of the latest Wine Country Mystery!

While prohibition-era speakeasies and classic cocktails are all the rage, I'd prefer to do my drinking legally and in the open comfort of friends and friendly strangers. 

So speak easy and drink fizzy with this week's Pick Your Poison—where we create a cocktail inspired by a recently published mystery, thriller, or crime novel—“The Champagne Conspir-Fizzy” cocktail, inspired by Ellen Crosby's upcoming Wine Country Mystery, The Champagne Conspiracy!

The Champagne Conspiracy by Ellen Crosby is the 7th Wine Country Mystery, featuring a nearly century-old mysterious death and an explosive family secret (Available November 1, 2016).

Winter has come to the Montgomery Estate Vineyard in Atoka, Virginia. Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori have decided to make champagne, a first for the vineyard.

But then Gino Tomassi, Quinn’s uncle, turns up on their doorstep one afternoon, demanding help in solving the mystery of what happened to Zara Tomassi, the first wife of his grandfather, who died in a San Francisco hotel in 1923 under suspicious circumstances. And it seems there’s no coincidence that her death came the day after President Warren Harding passed away in that same hotel. Gino needs answers before his blackmailer takes him for all he’s worth―or exposes an explosive family secret.

Lucie searches for what happened almost a hundred years ago as she delves into Prohibition-era Washington, D.C.―a town of bootlegging and duplicity, jazz clubs and speakeasies. But then the investigation turns deadly, threatening Lucie, her relationship with Quinn, and the vineyard, as they realize someone is still out there nearly a century later who will go to any lengths to keep the truth about Zara’s death a buried secret.
 

PICK YOUR POISON

“The Champagne Conspir-Fizzy”

Ingredients:

– 5 oz. champagne
– 1 sugar cube
– Angostura bitters
– 1 lemon (garnish)

How to make the cocktail:

  1. Drop a sugar cube into a champagne flute.
  2. Splash 2-3 dashes of bitters onto the sugar cube to soak it.
  3. Slowly pour champagne into flute.
  4. Cut a slice of lemon peel and squeeze the oils on top of the drink.
  5. Rub the rim of the glass with the peel and drop into the drink.
  6. Watch the bubbles subside and enjoy!
     

Let the bubbles go straight to your head with “The Champagne Conspir-Fizzy” cocktail, and don't forget to pick up your copy of The Champagne Conspiracy by Ellen Crosby!
 

Comment below for a chance to win a copy of The Champagne Conspiracy by Ellen Crosby!

To enter, make sure you're a registered member of the site and simply leave a comment below.

TIP: Since only comments from registered users will be tabulated, if your user name appears in red above your comment—STOP—go log in, then try commenting again. If your user name appears in black above your comment, You’re In!

The Champagne Conspiracy Comment Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A purchase does not improve your chances of winning.  Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 United States, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years or older as of the date of entry.  To enter, complete the “Post a Comment” entry at https://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2016/09/the-champagne-conspir-fizzy-cocktail-comment-sweepstakes beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) September 2, 2016. Sweepstakes ends 4:29 p.m. ET September 16, 2016. Void outside the United States and Canada and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules here. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010.

 

To learn more or order a copy, visit:

Buy at iTunes

Buy at Barnes and NobleBuy at Amazon

 

 


Ellen Crosby is the author six books in the Virginia wine country mystery series, which began with The Merlot Murders. She has also written a mystery series featuring international photojournalist Sophie Medina (Multiple Exposure and Ghost Image). Previously, she worked as a freelance reporter for The Washington Post, Moscow correspondent for ABC News Radio, and as an economist at the U.S. Senate.

Comments

  1. Vicki May

    I’m always ready for anything with champange and the next Ellen Crosby book.

  2. Jane Wherry

    Sooooooo looking forward to The Champagne Conspiracy!!!!

  3. Jim Collins

    Being a publishd author is a wonderful thing, but having a cocktail that you inspired–that’s a whole ‘nother level! best, Jim

  4. Laurent Latulippe

    I can’t wait to read this! Sounds great!

  5. Joyce

    I am so glad there is another book in the Virginia vineyard series. Love the characters and have learned a lot about wine….but the champagne drink sounds delicious too!

  6. Louise Pierce

    Champagne is my favorite drink!

  7. Deanna Stillings

    A nice light drink to enjoy.

  8. Betty Geyer

    Love to drink and read!

  9. patricia gibby

    Don’t think I have ever had Champagne

  10. Lori P

    Love a good bubbly and love a good book! Must combine the two ASAP.

  11. lasvegasnv

    interesting drink

  12. Alyson Widen

    I’ve developed a taste for wine, after going through the cheap ones when younger. And I went to a Bonnie and Clyde party in Washington DC where we all rented flapper costumes and drank our booze from tea cups. Even the sliding glass door had “pretend” bullet holes in it. Looking forward to seeing how your prohibition or depression research reveals itself in the book.

  13. bearcollector

    Can hardly wait. I’ve enjoyed this series since the first book.

  14. Caren Luckie

    Can’t wait to try the drink and read the book!

  15. Martina Norelli

    So excited to have another Wine Country Mystery to read. Big fan of the series, and the author, from the beginning when I was living in the Virginia region close to her and the vineyards. Always good to have another of her books to read.

  16. vicki wurgler

    mysterious death-sounds good!

  17. Laurianne Borsari

    I have been patiently waiting for the new book in this series. I live in Virginia and visit wineries all the time. I love going up to the are where her books are based. I can’t wait to read this new one, but first I need to purchase the ingredients for the “Champagne Conspir-Fizzies” so I can sip on it while enjoying her new story

Comments are closed.