The holidays and great flavors just go together. From warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to Yuletide classics like peppermint and festive sugar cookie, flavors like these just feel like home come December.
Don’t let these scrumptious tastes of the season linger in the kitchen. Bring them to the bar cart as well with one of these delicious holiday-themed cocktail recipes featuring Limestone Branch Distillery’s finest spirits.
Bourbon with a Side of Cranberries
Forget the can-shaped cranberries of your youth. This bourbon-centric cocktail puts fresh, zingy cranberry flavor at the forefront; no canning required. The cranberry pairs well with the warming flavors of bourbon and some bright citrus and holiday spices for a drink that’s light enough to appeal to even the not-typically-bourbon-drinkers on your guest list.
To make this Bourbon Cranberry Christmas Cocktail, you’ll need the following:
- 5 ounces bourbon, such as Yellowstone Bourbon, with its soft cherry, caramel, and brown sugar notes
- 5 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice
- 1 ounce of simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce fresh orange juice
Fill your favorite cocktail shaker with ice, add all of the above ingredients, give it a shake and then strain the mixture into your favorite whiskey glass. Garnish with a sprinkling of fresh nutmeg and an orange slice.
Gin-gle Bells
We all know carole and now we have the perfect companion cocktail to dash through the snow with. This delicious Bowling & Burch Gin drink delights in everything merry and bright, while reminding us oh how fun it is to sing a sleighing song all night.
You can order the Gin-gle Bells cocktail at Minor’s Lounge Cocktail Bar located at Limestone Branch Distillery (come visit us)! But if you can’t make it out, we’ve got the recipe for you.
For the cocktail you’ll need:
- 2 ounces Bowling & Burch Gin
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- Splash of lime juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- Club soda (to top with)
- Lime for garnish
- Sparkling branch for garnish
For the sparkling branch garnish:
- Sugar
- Simple syrup
- Fresh rosemary
- Fresh cranberries
Trim your rosemary sprigs to 1 inch longer than the width of your cocktail glasses. Remove and discard some of the lower leaves, leaving the stem intact. Using a toothpick, poke a small hole all the way through the cranberries. Thread two cranberries onto each stem.
Place the assembled branches in simple syrup, turning them to coat. Remove one branch at a time, gently shaking off excess liquid. Sprinkle sugar over the branch.
For the cocktails, add gin, cranberry juice, lime juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into two glasses with fresh ice. Top with club soda, stirring gently to combine. Garnish and serve.
Whiskey-Infused Butterscotch Eggnog
What’s the holidays without a glass or two of eggnog, right? If you’re not typically one to partake in this classic Christmastime beverage, maybe you’ll change your mind after you get a sip of this tasty version that takes full advantage of the butterscotch notes you’ll taste in Limestone Branch’s Minor Case Rye Whiskey.
For this upgraded eggnog, you’ll need:
- Your Favorite Brand of Eggnog
- Minor Case Rye Whiskey
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Sugar
While this recipe is certainly enjoyable enough on your own, it really can be the star of any holiday get-together when you offer your guests a build-your-own eggnog bar.
To start, you want to combine your eggnog and rye whiskey (the rye whiskey creates a lovely butterscotch-esque — but also slightly spicy — flavor) at a ratio of five parts eggnog to one part whiskey. If you want to keep things simple, dip your glass rims in sugar for a festive touch and after you’ve mixed your eggnog and whiskey in a shaker with ice, simply strain into each glass and garnish with fresh cinnamon and nutmeg.
However, for a more hands-on, fun experience, offer your guests a selection of mix-ins and toppings, such as vanilla, honey, maple syrup, coffee, or pumpkin pie spice.
A Fizzy Way to Start the New Year Right
Pear is a seriously underrated and underutilized holiday flavor. Bring it to your bar cart with a pear gin fizz for the New Year. This sparkling, slightly sweet, and a fresh cocktail isn’t just tasty, it’s also sure to delight your senses as it fills your home with the aromas of the season while you whip up the easy pear-infused simple syrup on the stovetop.
Here’s what you’ll need for the pear simple syrup:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup chopped pear
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
To create the simple syrup, mix all of the above, boil it in a medium saucepan, and let the sugar dissolve. Then, turn off the heat and let the mixture sit for at least half an hour. Then, strain the liquid into another container for safekeeping.
To make the pear gin fizz, you’ll need:
- 2 ounces Bowling & Burch Gin
- 1 tablespoon pear simple syrup
- Tonic water
Add the gin and simple syrup in a glass filled to your preference with ice. Then, top it with tonic water and give it a quick stir. You could use pear slices, thyme sprigs, or star anise for garnish. You can also coat the rims of your glasses with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.
Are You Stocked Up for the Holidays?
Before you can mix up any of these festive and fun beverages this holiday season, you’ll need to stock up on all the necessary spirits from Limestone Branch Distillery.
Find Limestone Branch Distillery spirits at a store near you.