Baby, It’s Cold Outside! Your 2016 Holiday Spirits Guide features seasonal imbibing ideas to jingle all your bells.
By Mikey Rox
It’s time for those holiday cocktail parties to kick into high gear, and we are here for you. Sing your holiday carols with a slur thanks to these full-proof recipes, gift ideas, and party accessories with a tipsy twist.
Minty Orchard
4 oz Angry Orchard Crisp Apple
1 oz vodka
1/2 oz crème de menthe
1/4 oz lemon juice
Shake and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Top with Angry Orchard Crisp Apple. Garnish with a small candy cane and mint sprig.
Café Con Caliente
Created by mixologist Cassandra Rosen for Jimmy’s No. 43 restaurant in NYC
1/2 oz Soltado Spicy Añejo Tequila
4 oz cold brew coffee
1 oz Irish cream liqueur
2 oz cinnamon cream
Cinnamon garnish
Add the coffee, Soltado Tequila, cinnamon cream, and Irish cream to a shaker with ice; shake. Pour into a tall glass. Top with cinnamon. Can also be made hot.
Livorno Fizz
1 part Galliano liqueur
1/2 part cranberry juice
4 parts sparkling wine
Prepare in glass or pitcher. Garnish with fresh cranberries.
Icelandic Hot Chocolate
1 1/2 oz Reyka Vodka
6 oz of Swiss Miss hot chocolate
3/4 oz Ancho Reyes
1 dash of Angostura Bitters
Build ingredients in Hot Toddy glass. Garnish with mini marshmallows or whipped cream.
Gingerbread Man
1 2/3 oz La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge
6 oz ginger ale
Garnish with an orange twist
Serve over ice in a highball glass.
Casa Cider
2 oz Casamigos Reposado
1/2 oz apple cider
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz agave nectar
1 pinch of cinnamon
Combine all ingredients into tin shaker. Add ice. Shake vigorously for 8 to 10 seconds. Strain into rocks glass. Add fresh ice. Garnish with an apple slice, thyme sprig, star anise and sprinkle of cinnamon.
Winter Break
Created by Public School 303 restaurant in Denver, Colorado
2 oz Shipwreck Spiced Rum
1 oz heavy whipping cream
1/4 Licor 43
1/4 cinnamon maple syrup
1 egg white
Dry shake all ingredients. Add ice, shake, and double strain into glass milk carton. Garnish with ground cinnamon.
Cranberry Moscow Mule
2 oz FRESH Cranberry Vodka
1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
Ginger beer
Ice
Lime slice for garnish
Fill a mule mug with ice. Add vodka and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with lime slice and serve.
Salted Caramel Apple Martini
2 oz Blue Ice Vodka
3 oz apple cider
Salted caramel dessert topping
Kosher salt
Apple slice for garnish
Drizzle the inside of each martini glass with caramel sauce. Coat the rim of each glass in the caramel and then lightly in the kosher salt. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and mix together the cider and vodka by shaking well. Pour the cocktail into each glass. Top with apple slice and serve.
Old Camp Harvest Sour
1 oz Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey
1 oz 100 Proof Applejack
3/4 oz fresh lemon
1/2 oz local honey syrup*
*Honey syrup: Add 1 cup local honey and 1 cup hot water in a bowl and stir until mixed well. Cover and place on counter to cool, roughly 20 min.
In a mixing tin, pour in whiskey, Applejack, lemon and honey syrup. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with dried fall flowers.