Ratafia

Have you come across Ratafia, the preferred tipple of heroines in Regency novels? It is a gentle mix of fruit juice and hard alcohol, usually composed of three parts grape juice to one part marc, Cognac, or Armagnac, the trio of spirits distilled from the grape. The resulting aperitif is pleasantly fruity, particularly when made with the favorite French Chasselas table grapes, with an eye-opening kick in the aftertaste. In cider-making areas, a version of the aperitif, using the same three-