The holidays are full of times of festivity, and nothing says festive more than a great glass of Champagne or a cocktail engineered specifically for the season. To take that idea one step further, we've decided to present three amazing holiday cocktail ideas that you can replicate in your own bar, restaurant, or even your home.
Old Fashioneds are some of the most popular cocktails around. They have been for a while thanks to the likes of Don Draper. But as the Old Fashioned evolves, it is taking on new flavor profiles like this Cranberry Old Fashioned courtesy of Inspired By Charm.
3 ounces quality bourbon whiskey
1 ounce cranberry simple syrup*
3 shakes Angostura bitters
Garnish with orange peel, Ocean Spray® Fresh Cranberries, and rosemary
In a serving glass with ice, stir together the bourbon, cranberry simple syrup, and bitters. Garnish with orange peel, fresh cranberries, and rosemary.
*Cranberry Simple Syrup - In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water, 1 cup of sugar, and one cup of fresh cranberries to a boil. Once boiling, cook for 4-5 minutes. Strain with a fine mesh sieve. Cool before serving.
Nothing says winter holidays like the flavor of mint. At the same time, we're also seeing a resurgence of the famous ice cream cocktail called the Grasshopper. What mixologist Victoria Damato-Moran did with the Holiday Hopper, is take these concepts one step further and added an unexpected, but welcome, accompaniment thanks to The Spruce Eats and Midori.
1 ounce Midori Melon Liqueur
1/2 ounce green creme de menthe
1/2 ounce white creme de cacao
2 ounces half and half
2 mint leaves (for garnish)
Garnish: raspberry
Pour the ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a mint leaves and a raspberry.
Sometimes the blending of unexpected ingredients like wine and bourbon can lead to unexpected results. When you find yourself enjoying one of those rare nights in Florida with the wind whipping off the waterway, the moon reflecting off the whitecaps, you might consider enjoying this riff on a traditional yuletide mulled wine from Cotter Crunch.
4 cherries, pitted (fresh or in jar)
1.5 ounces merlot wine
1 oz bourbon ([url] gluten free bourbon list ∞http://urbantastebud.com/gluten-free-whiskey-list/[/url])
2-3 tbsp fresh orange or clementine juice (more if desired)
1-2 tsp maple syrup
ice
dash of cinnamon or nutmeg
lemon zest/peel
Juice the orange and remove pits from cherries. Place cherries is a tall glass then muddle the cherries (if no pitter, just remove pits after muddling). This is basically just pressing the cherries with a spoon or a tool called a muddler to extract the juice. Keep the cherries once muddled. Add your orange juice, maple syrup, merlot, bourbon and mix again. Pour into an old fashion glass with handful of ice. Stir then tip with lemon peel and dash off with grated nutmeg or cinnamon. Notes: If you don’t have merlot, make sure to use a bold red wine. Honey or agave can replace maple syrup if needed. The more orange juice you use, the sweeter.
To make the most of your cocktail program in the holiday season or any season, be sure to assemble a bar that is built for maximum efficiency and profitability. Browse the Perlick Bar & Beverage Guide to get some ideas.
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