December 12, 2014
In the Spirit: Holiday Cheers!
Kristen Siebecker READ TIME: 6 MIN.
Tis the season for imbibing! Perhaps you're raising a glass at the office party or friendly gathering. Or maybe you want that extra nip to survive being home for the holidays. Regardless of the reason, consider spicing up your cocktail with some festive, seasonally inspired spirits.
When we think of this time of year certain flavors come to mind like cranberry, pecan and cinnamon. Those flavors are not only are great for pairing with holiday cookies, pies and cakes, but they also work deliciously in cocktails to keep you warm through the night. These seasonally appropriate selections are also terrific as special gifts for the booze lover in your life as well as to serve at your own holiday festivities.
Here are EDGE's five top holiday tipple picks:
GrandTen Distilling Craneberry Liqueur
What better way to start off an evening than with a sparkling wine cocktail? Begin with your favorite bubbles then add a distinct flavor of the season: Cranberry. (Think winter version of a Kir Royale.)
GrandTen Distilling in Massachusetts brings us their Craneberry Liqueur named after the crane-like appearance of the cranberry flower. The Cape Cod cranberries are infused into white rum and aged in Cabernet Sauvignon casks.
Craneberry and Bubbles
1 part Craneberry Liqueur
4 parts dry sparkling wine of choice (Prosecco, Cava or Champagne)
Clear Creek Eau de Vie of Douglas Fir
Clear Creek's founder Steve McCarthy has been making fruit Eaux de Vies (French for water of life) from local Pacific Northwest fruit since 1985.
Their Douglas Fir Eau de Vie has an intense nose and taste, and would generally be sipped as a digestif at the end of a meal. Its focused aromatics of fir will bring you right inside the Christmas tree. We suggest sipping in a small cordial glass after your meal, but this could also be creatively used mixed with gin. Prepare yourself for a botanical bonanza on the palate!
Timber Punsch
3?4 oz Clear Creek Eau de Vie of Douglas Fir
11?2 oz London dry style gin
1?2 oz lemon juice
1?2 oz maple syrup
Art in the Ages Ginger Snap
Art in the Age uses all organic ingredients in their hand made, small batch cordials. Along with other flavors such as root, sage, and rhubarb, the Ginger Snap sings holidays. The flavor profile is particularly fresh and not as sweet as you might expect in a cordial. Then they add Blackstrap Molasses to bring the sweetness to the spice for your cocktail.
You can also visit their brick and mortar store in Philadelphia, where in addition to spirits they offer other unique and small production items such as clothing, chocolates and fragrances. They also host exhibitions and performances for local artists.
All the flavor varieties of the cordials come with a booklet of recipes, but this one is a favorite.
Dark & Snappy
1 part Ginger Snap
1 part Sailor Jerry Rum
4 parts ginger beer
Lime wedge
Hush Cinful Caramel Apple Cocktail
Shhh. The secret is just between us. Actually, you should be telling everyone about Hush Moonshines, as they tout a secret refining method used in the distilling process. The result is a super smooth and clean moonshine to start and the perfect foundation for fresh ingredients. This season calls for their Hush Spiced Apple flavor that utilizes fresh apples and cinnamon sticks. Try this cocktail combo:
Hush Cinful Caramel Apple Cocktail???
By Spirit Cocktails?
1 1/2 oz Hush Spiced Apple Moonshine?
?1/2 oz butterscotch schnapps???????
?1 oz Rumchata???????
William Wolf Pecan Flavored Bourbon
New to the market this year is the William Wolf Pecan Flavored Bourbon made in Holland. If you're looking for something sweet and nutty to end your meal, or maybe even pour over ice cream, this should do just the trick.
The creation of spirit importer Jimmy Goldstein marries together Kentucky bourbon and pecans. The resulting beverage has a profound pecan flavor that will tickle your palate and be a sweet and nutty finish to any meal.
William Wolf Sour
1 egg white
Dash of peach bitters
Dash of Angostura bitters
1/2 oz maple syrup
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1 stem thyme
William Wolf Pecan Flavored Bourbon
Kristen Siebecker is a Certifed Sommelier and lover of cocktails. She is the co-host of I Feel Vine, a weekly podcast about the power of positive drinking. She also hosts recreational wine classes under the title, Popping Your Cork. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter at @WineWithKristen.
