When I first created this drink in honor of our beloved Eagles and their late-season resurrection, I considered calling it the Saint Nick Foles. But canonization is not going to resonate with a Jewish audience, so I rethought the idea and came up with this homage to Eagles fans.
Sure, we all bleed Eagles green, but our team, our fans and our beloved Nick, are all heart. The red color of this drink signifies that, and the blend of lemon (a little sour), Red Zinger tea (a little sweet and a little complex) and pomegranate juice (bittersweet) struck the right note.
We added locally distilled Stateside Vodka to our version, but any good quality sprit will do the trick. If you have youngsters or nondrinkers cheering the team on with you, this is swell without the vodka; you can spike it for those who prefer a high-octane beverage.
Makes about 1 quart
2 teabags of Red Zinger herbal tea
1½ cups boiling water
1½ cups good quality lemonade
⅓ cup pomegranate juice
½ cup agave syrup or simple syrup (see note below)
¾ cups vodka
1. Pour boiling water over the teabags and allow them to steep for 4 minutes. Remove the teabags and allow the tea to cool.
2. In a pitcher, mix the tea, lemonade, pomegranate juice, syrup and vodka, if using.
3. Mix well and serve over ice
To make syrup:
⅓ cup sugar or agave
⅔ cup water
Bring the ingredients to a low simmer in a small saucepan. Cook until the sugar is dissolved or the agave is melted, about 2 minutes. The syrup should be a uniform texture.
