Shake Things Up For National Happy Hour Day

As National Happy Hour Day fast approaches on November 12th, celebrate by switching things up with a brand-new cocktail of choice. From the festive to the classic, it’s never the wrong time for a cocktail -- after all it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere. Check out these exclusive cocktails recipes from Hudson Whiskey, Fine & Rare, Montelobos, Reyka Vodka, Ancho Reyes, Drambuie, Monkey Shoulder, Sailor Jerry and Q Drinks, perfect for the autumn/winter sipping season.  … just for Pop Culture Shock readers! Oh if you’re looking for more fun filled content, check us out on YouTube!

Hudson Maple Old Fashioned

2 parts Hudson Maple Cask Rye

1/2 teaspoon good-quality maple syrup

2-3 dashes (to taste) aromatic bitters

Apple slice & cinnamon stick for garnish

Method: Into an Old Fashioned/rocks glass, add maple syrup and bitters, then ice and Maple Cask Rye. Stir until well-chilled and garnish with a couple thin slices of freshly-sliced apple and a cinnamon stick.

Hot Whisky Toddy

1½ Parts Monkey shoulder

2 Bar spoon Sugar/Honey

2½ parts Boiling Water

1 clove

Method:

Add sugar of honey to heat proof glass

Add boiling water and allow to infuse

Now add Monkey Shoulder and stir until sugar/honey is dissolved and cloves infused

Garnish: clove studded lemon wedge

Apples & Honey

1 ¼ parts Drambuie

2 parts Kosher Pressed Apple Cider

¾ part Lime Juice

1 sm pinch Kosher Salt

1 dash Angostura Bitters

1 part Kosher Sparkling White Wine (For dryer Cocktail 2 parts Sparkling wine)

Garnish with thinly sliced apples and mint

Double Rocks glass

Method: Combine liquid ingredients and salt minus wine into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain over ice. Top with Sparkling wine and garnish with thin apple slices and mint.

Garden Mule

4 slices cucumber

16 blueberries

6 mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish

2 ounces Reyka Vodka

1 ounce lime juice

6 oz Q ginger beer

1 piece candied ginger

Method: Put the cucumber, 8 blueberries and mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Muddle until crushed and juicy. Add a handful of ice, gin and limejuice. Cover shaker and shake for about 15 seconds, until the shaker develops a nice coat of condensation on the outside. Fill a highball glass with ice. Strain the liquid from the shaker into the glass. Top with ginger beer and 4 blueberries. Thread 4 more blueberries and a piece of candied ginger onto a toothpick. Garnish with a sprig of mint and the toothpick of berries and ginger.

Icelandic Lady

1 part Reyka Vodka

½ part Aperol

½ part honey syrup

¼ part fresh lemon juice

Top with champagne or prosecco

Method:

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.

Serve in a flute, top with champagne or prosecco.

Garnish with a lemon peel.

Fine & Rare Smoked Whiskey Old Fashioned

2 oz. Knob Creek Rye

4 dashes of Angostura bitters

1 Demerara sugar cube

Method:

Gently muddle the sugar cube with the ingredients and stir.

Strain into a wine glass with a giant ice cube or sphere.

Garnish with an orange twist.

Cover the wine glass with a piece of wood, a book, whatever you have lying around and use a wood smoker gun to fill the wine glass with smoke. Take the hose from the smoker out and let the drink sit covered for about 30 seconds.

Uncover the drink and enjoy.

El Rey de Reyes

1 part Ancho Reyes Verde

1 part Ancho Reyes Original

1 part fresh lime juice

1/3 part rich simple syrup (2:1 sugar:water)

Small pinch salt

1 dash Angostura bitters

Method:

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, add ice, shake hard and strain into a cocktail coupe.

Juan to Juan

1 part Montelobos Mezcal

1 part Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur

¾ part fresh lemon juice

½ part simple syrup

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Method:

Shake and serve in a coupe glass.

Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Apple-Ginger and Jerry

1 ½ parts Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

2 ½ parts apple juice

½ part fresh limejuice

Ginger Ale

Method:

Serve on the rocks.

Garnish with apple slice and cinnamon stick.

Please remember to ALWAYS drink responsibly!