Calling Creative Cocktailians!
By now, you've hopefully had time to dream up a winning recipe for the
Averna Cocktail Contest. Averna is one of Europe's most popular bitter
liqueurs, and it’s quickly becoming a star in bars across the U.S. Now it's
time for you to get in on the action. All you have to do is roll up your
sleeves and submit your most delicious cocktail using this unforgettable
bittersweet liqueur and you become eligible to win a trip to Sicily and a
$1,500 American Express gift card! For inspiration, try this recipe created
by one of our favorite mixologists, Duggan McDonnell of San Francisco's Cantina. Good luck!

Vertigo
2 oz. Averna
1/2 oz. lemon juice
2 oz. Ginger ale
Ice cubes
Glass: highball
Garnish: lemon and lime wheels

Stir lemon juice and ginger ale over ice in a chilled glass. Add Averna and garnish.

Click here to enter today for your chance to win!

Celebrate Valentine's With a Year's Worth of Drinks
Love is in the air this week, but what's in your glass? How about something that pairs well with a chocolate? Pinot Noir, aged tequila, El Salvadoran coffee and nutty stouts are a few of our favorites. Or give your favorite people something more lasting: a one-year subscription to Imbibe. Twelve months of Imbibe offers six delicious issues packed with drink recipes, reviews, news and culture, plus more great-tasting pairing ideas. Order by February 14 and your gift will start with our March/April issue, arriving in 4 weeks. Announce your gift with a bottle of Pinot or a pound of coffee, because one perfect match deserves another.

Plus, since giving more saves you more, you can also share Imbibe with your friends who lend an ear when Cupid's not on your side.

Beat the Winter Blues With Mulled Wine
By this time of year, we’ve had just about enough of the cold and blustery winter weather, so to get us through the rest of sweater season, we’ve been cozying up with mulled wine. This comforting recipe, contributed by Jim Clarke in our Sept/Oct 06 issue, will fill your kitchen with the wonderful aromas of spices, wine and fruit.

Wrap the spices and citrus zest in a large piece of cheesecloth, tying a knot to seal the bundle. Place the spice sack in a non-reactive 2-quart saucepan (stainless steel, enamel or anodized aluminum). Add the wine and brandy into the pan. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally. When the mixture is warm, stir in the sugar, syrup or honey. Don't let the mixture boil, or you risk cooking out the flavors. Leave over low heat for about 30 minutes while the flavors meld and continue stirring occasionally. When the liquid is steaming lightly, it is ready to serve. Ladle into warm mugs. Have lemon wedges and extra sugar on hand so guests can squeeze in extra acidity if they want to cut the sweetness or add more sugar to indulge a sweet tooth.

Note: Adjust ingredients and proportions to personal taste, but don't let the sweetness overwhelm the wine's acidity or the drink will be cloying. Also, the best wines for mulling are fruity varieties that aren't aged in oak, like Portugal's touriga nacional, American Zinfandel or from Italy, montepulciano. There's no need to spend more than $10.

Tasting Notes: Localize It
Interesting events from wine tastings to cocktail conventions are happening all over the country, and we’d love to let you know about what’s coming up in your neck of the woods. Please take a moment to review and complete your profile here so we can send you a customized edition of our Tasting Notes e-newsletter with local announcements in the future.