“You’re only here for a short while.  Don’t hurry, don’t worry and be sure to smell the flowers along the way.“

These words of inspiration greeted me on a glass mirror as I walked into one of Amsterdam’s best French-Moroccan restaurants. The meal I was about to have would provide me with inspiration for what is now one of my favorite pre-dinner drinks. Ice cold champagne poured over beautifully perfumed rose syrup. The drink is finished with a single rose petal for an elegant touch. What could be better? Read on to get this champagne cocktail recipe.

My brother and sister in law lived in Amsterdam for several years.  During that time I made every effort to spend as much time in The Netherlands as possible.  Each time I landed in the city they would eagerly share a curated list of restaurants for us to try together. Normally options consisted of traditional Dutch cafes, Indonesian restaurants (Indonesian food is alive and well in Amsterdam due to the old spice trade), and iconic Amsterdam staples – such as the infamous Piet de Leeuw that spent 63 years secretly serving customers horse steaks instead of beef steaks.  Insane, right?

With enough time spent in Amsterdam to cross the majority of “must do” restaurants off the list, there was room to go rogue and check out the city’s less explored side. Just down the street from my brother’s flat was a charming French-Moroccan restaurant, Mamouche. It was close to home and off the beaten restaurant path so we added it to the list. We booked a table several weeks out (apparently it was popular) and hoped for the best. 

On the evening of our reservation, we walked up to the unassuming but inviting restaurant.  The interior was simple but beautiful and elegant.  The waiter commenced our evening by offering a selection of Moroccan wines and apéritifs to choose from.  I internally questioned the quality of the Moroccan wine option as my limited experience with Moroccan wine had not been one to remember.  I assumed that while the Moroccan soil is ideal for producing grapes, because the majority of the country doesn’t drink – it must not a truly cultivated product. But, I’m about immersive experiences so we went for it: Moroccan inspired apéritifs and a bottle Moroccan red.

The apéritif, which I affectionately now refer to as the Rose Royale, was simple, crisp and literally perfect.  A dry sparkling wine perfumed with just enough rose water to make the drink feel exotic and special. It was a sublime first sip.  I won’t bore you with the details of our three hour meal, but the rest of the evening continued in the same exceptional fashion.  Meat seasoned with cinnamon, sugar and almonds wrapped in flaky pastry.  Confit de Canard served over fluffy couscous with dried fruits.  And that bottle of Moroccan red – fruity, jammy and a rival to some of the very serious wine producers on the other side of the Mediterranean.

While I still remember the entire evening as enjoyable – the rose apéritif was the most memorable part of the meal. I knew leaving the restaurant that evening that I would be heading out to the grocery store the next day to pick up rose water and a bottle of bubbles to test my hand at making something similar at home.

If you’ve never used rose water before it is used to flavor desserts and beverages throughout The Middle East and North Africa. Nowadays, it can be found in many grocery stores and certainly found in Middle Eastern markets. If all else fails, you can order it online! First time users beware – a little goes a long way!

I recommend using a brut sparkling wine (white or rosé). You’ll be adding just a little simple syrup to your cocktail, so you want the bubbles themselves to be on the dry side. Save the good stuff to drink on its own – this recipe works wonderfully with a nice bottle of Processo or Cava. Serve the drink in a coupe champagne glass for a chic touch.

For the full Moroccan experience, pair the drink with an assortment of mezze or small Moroccan salads. Try my Caramelized Fennel and White Raisin Salad or my Cannellini Bean “Hummus.” You won’t be disappointed.

Has this post sparked your interest in Moroccan wine? While the majority of Moroccans don’t drink, you can definitely taste your fair share of locally produced wine in Morocco. Check out my Marrakech non-tourist city guide (spoiler alert – it includes a restaurant recommendation with an extensive Moroccan wine list). 

If you try the recipe for my Rose Royal – let me know what you think! Would love to hear from you in the comments below.

Santé!