Tis The Season To Sip On Delicious Holiday Cocktails

December is the season of holiday parties, entertaining, and celebrations with friends, family and loved ones. And of course, it is not a holiday celebration without delicious food and festive cocktails! Reyka Vodka, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Drambuie, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Monkey Shoulder Whisky and Hudson Whiskey have delicious cocktails to get you in the spirit for the jolly season. I have some of the most delicious cocktail recipes for the 2016 Holiday Season!

Reyka’s Winter Solstice

• 1½ parts Reyka Vodka
• ½ part Lemon Juice
• ¼ part Simple Syrup
• 2 parts Pear Juice Top Champagne

Combine all ingredients into cocktail shaker except champagne. Shake, serve in a coupe, top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

Sailor Jerry’s Ginger Punch

• 1 part Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
• ¼ part fresh lemon juice
• ¼ part homemade ginger syrup
• 3 parts black tea

Combine all ingredients into cocktail shaker. Serve over ice.

Drambuie’s Hot Honey Butter

• 2 parts Drambuie
• 1 Heaping tbsp Natural Apple Butter
• ½ tbsp Unsalted Butter
• 6 parts Steamed Whole Milk (Or choice milk-base)
• 1 small pinch Kosher Salt
• 1/8 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp Ground Nutmeg
• Garnish with steamed milk foam and Cinnamon Stick
• Serve in small mug/teacup

Steam milk, apple butter and spices together until hot. Double-strain into cup over butter. Stir in Drambuie. Top with additional milk foam. 

Ancho-Jito

• 2 parts Ancho
• 1 part Fresh Lime Juice
• ½ part Simple Syrup (1:1)
• 7-9 leaves of fresh Mint
• 3 Lime wedges
• Soda water

Add mint, lime wedges and simple syrup into a shaker tin. Lightly smash the ingredients together. Add FDC, Ancho Reyes, lime juice and ice and shake. Strain all contents into a double rocks glass. Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel.

Thé Fumée (Smoked Tea Cocktail)

• 1 part Montelobos
• ¾ part dry sherry
• ¾ part jasmine tea infused Dolin blanc
• ½ part St Germain liquor
• 2 dashes grapefruit bitters

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and stir well. Strain into a nick & nora or martini glass, garnish with a dried flower.

Smoke Stack Sazerac

• 1 ½ parts Monkey Shoulder
• 1/5 part Sugar Syrup
• Dash Peychaud’s Bitters
• Dash Absinthe
• Top Peach Smoke

Add all ingredients to mixing glass. Add cold dry ice and stir. Once dilution is reached strain into glass. Top with Smoke and garnish with peach smoke.

Hudson Whiskey’s Stone Ridge

• 1 ½ parts Hudson Manhattan Rye
• 1 ½ parts fresh apple cider
• 4 parts Q Ginger Beer
• 2-3 dashes (to taste) aromatic bitters
• Apple slice

Build over ice in a Collins glass (or tumbler/rocks glass if you prefer): apple cider, then whiskey, and fill up with ginger beer. Finally, add a few dashes of aromatic bitters. Garnish with apple slice, and serve with a straw.