bourbon

The Best Holiday Whiskey Cocktails

Published

2 hours ago

December 18, 2024

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At this year, every one wants to indulge a bit – here are some fun cocktails to make the season merry and bright

Whiskey is the most popular liquor in most US states, and sales increased 9.4% in 2022 compared to 2020. Monks help introduce the world to whiskey over 1000 year ago after. What not blend this booze in the best holiday whiskey cocktails? It is a crowd pleaser.

Whiskey is a general term for a distilled, barrel-aged spirit made from fermented grains, while bourbon is a type of whiskey that meets specific requirements. It is made from a mashbill that’s at least 51% corn, while whiskey can be made from a blend of grains like corn, rye, barley, or wheat. The corn in bourbon gives it a distinctive sweet flavor. It must be aged in new, charred oak barrels, while other whiskeys can be aged in a variety of barrels, including those previously used for other spirits. It cannot contain any additives or colorings. Bourbon is primarily produced in Kentucky, though it can be made anywhere in the world. To be designated “straight bourbon whiskey,” bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels for at least two years.

A Slushy Bourbon Milk Punch

A holiday favorite, it is a similar to a rich, flavorful, creamy milkshake with a kick.

Ingredients

3 parts Whole Milk
2 parts Half and Half
1.5 parts Bourbon
1 part sifted Sugar, Powdered
Vanilla extract
Fresh Grated Nutmeg
Cinnamon Stick

Create

In a pitcher, whisk together milk, half-and-half, bourbon, sugar and vanilla

Freeze until slushy and ready to serve

Stir before serving it in a chilled glass

Finish with a few gratings of fresh nutmeg

Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Maple Bourbon Coffee

Seen in the movie Elf, this morning delight it perfect hone hosting holiday guests, prep for tailgating or after a morning of shopping.

Ingredients

4 cups coffee, strongly brewed
4 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
9 ozs Maple Bourbon
Whipped cream
Grated cinnamon

Create

Add coffee, milk, vanilla extract and ground cinnamon to a slow cooker
Heat on low for 1 ½ hours
Add in bourbon
Serve in heat safe glasses and top with whipped cream and cinnamon

Christmas Old Fashioned Cocktail

Having some friends over and want to impress them? What about a pitcher of this festive elixir? It bring some holiday cheer to even the meanest Scrooge.

Ingredients

3 Cranberries
2 oz Whiskey
1 oz Ginger Syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
1 Orange Slice
1 Rosemary Sprig

Create

Crush cranberries in a rocks cocktail glass
Add whiskey, ginger syrup and bitters
Fill glass with ice, garnish with orange slice and rosemary sprig

Cranberry Bourbon Kiss

This is a bend of the rich flavor of bourbon, the fresh feel of citrus, and a dollop of holiday spirit. Enjoy.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups bourbon
1 cup sweet vermouth
2 cups orange juice
1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice
½ cup simple syrup

Create

Add the cranberry, orange juice, bourbon, vermouth, simple syrup to a cocktail shaker
Add 1 handful ice then shake until cold
Pour into a lowball glass over ice or serve up in a martini glass
Garnish with fresh or frozen cranberries.

Hope you enjoy the best holiday whiskey cocktails

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The Best Cocktails For An Easy Festive Thanksgiving

Published

4 weeks ago

November 22, 2024

admin

Why just have wine or beer for your Thanksgiving gatherings? Why not have a fun, festive cocktail around Turkey Day.

Whether a family affair, a Friendsgiving, or just having fun on the long holiday weekend, why not spice it up with something delicious to drink? Here are the best cocktails for an easy, festive Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Margaritas

Most people indulge in pumpkin pie during the holidays. Why not mix it and wow the taste buds with the classic flavor mixed with a a favorite drink? While making the pie, set aside a little of the pumpkin and use it to make defiantly a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

Start by adding brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and water to a saucepan on low-medium heat
Whisk to combine and bring to a very low simmer
Once the sugar has dissolved, take the pan off of the heat
Pour the syrup into a container and place in the fridge to cool for 10-15 minutes
Add a handful of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker
Pour in the tequila, cointreau, pumpkin syrup, lime juice, pumpkin puree, and 3 dashes of angostura bitters
Close the lid tightly and shake for 15-30 seconds
Remove the lid from the cocktail shaker and gently strain the drink into ice filled glasses
Garnish with any herbs and spices like cinnamon sticks, freshly grated nutmeg, or rosemary

Amaretto Sour

The Amaretto Sour was likely created in 1974 by the importer of Amaretto di Saronno as a promotional push. The original recipe was two parts amaretto liqueur to one part lemon juice.

The Amaretto Sour became popular in the 1970s and 1980s. It was a favorite among bartenders and patrons because of its distinct almond flavor and refreshing sourness. It is a cozy drink perfect for a small gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving.

1 1/2 ounces amaretto liqueur
3/4 ounce cask-proof bourbon
1 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 teaspoon simple syrup
1/2 ounce egg white
Garnish: lemon twist
Garnish: 2 brandied cherries

Create

Add amaretto, bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to a shaker and dry-shake (no ice) for 15 seconds
Add ice and shake again until well-chilled
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice
Garnish with a lemon twist and 2 skewered brandied cherries

Apple Pie Bourbons

What is more Thanksgiving than apple pie and bourbon? While not settle into a nice drink contain both of them. A rich, luscious, flavor to enjoy watch football or as a pre drink before the big meal.

Ingredients

2 apples (green and red), chopped
1 1” piece fresh ginger
1 whole nutmeg, slightly shaved
4 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish
1 1/2 cup bourbon
3 sugar cubes

Create

Fill a mason jar with bourbon, apples, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.
Let mixture sit 2 to 4 days. (Taste after 2 days and let sit longer as desired.)
Pour mixture into shot glasses and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Rose Kennedy

This cocktails also known as a “VSS” (vodka soda splash) is about refreshing as possible, and a low calorie alternative to other options. Developed in DC in the late 80s, the original Rose Kennedy was garnished with lemon only and contained only enough cranberry to make the drink barely pink making the squeezed lemon and cranberry flavors faint but equal. At the time, the use of a lime made it an Ethel Kennedy.

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka
1 1/2 ounces soda
1/2 ounce of cranberry

Create

In a glass filled with ice, add vodka and soda
Splash cranberry juice and garnish with a lemon wedge

Apple Cider Margaritas

While apple pie is the third favorite holiday (behind pumpkin and pecan), it is a delicious flavor to mix into the classic margarita…it give it an autumn feel and pairs perfectly with the tequila.

Ingredients

1 medium lemon
2 ounces Reposado or silver tequila
1 1/2 ounces apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
1/2 ounce maple syrup
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 cinnamon stick or thin apple slices for garnish

Create

Juice medium lemon until you have 3/4 ounce
Place the lemon juice, 2 ounces tequila, 1 1/2 ounces apple cider, 1/2 ounce maple syrup, and 1 pinch ground cinnamon in a cocktail shaker
Fill the shaker halfway with ice Seal the and shake vigorously, about 20 seconds.

Pour through a strainer into the glass

Garnish with a cinnamon stick and thin apple slices if desired

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amaretto

The Best Cocktails For A Fun Labor Day Weekend

Published

4 months ago

August 30, 2024

admin

Nothing is better to toast the twilight of summer than these easy cocktails.

Summer fun is dwindling, but there is a three day weekend to celebrate and enjoy the last bits. Whether at a bbq, camping or just hanging at the house, these are the best cocktails for a fun Labor Day weekend. The holiday was an organized to celebrate the working man. As labor and union movements grew, their leaders proposed that day celebrate labor. Oregon was the first state ti make it an official public holiday. And when it became a federal holiday in 1894, 30 states had recognized it and made it a thing. Now you can kick back and enjoy a cool drink and a relaxing three day weekend!

Mai Tai

While it is a huge travel weekend, not everyone can slip away. But this cocktail will let you mentally escape to the tropics. It is said it was concocted in 1944, according to Victor Jules Bergeron, aka Trader Vic, the owner of a tiki restaurant of the same name and one of the founders of tiki culture. Apparently he took a flavorful Jamaican rum and needed to mix it with something, so he took a fresh lime, some orange curaçao, a dash of rock candy sugar, and a bit of French orgeat syrup. He shook the mixture with shaved ice, placed half the lime shell on top of the drink and added a branch of mint to it to represent an island. The guest tasted it and declared, “Mai Tai-Roa Aé,” which means “Out of this world-the best” in Tahitian. There is where he decided to call the drink Mai Tai. Here is an easy version to enjoy.

Ingredients

1 cup ice cubes
3 fluid ounces pineapple juice
2 fluid ounces orange juice
1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger spiced rum
½ (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger coconut-flavored rum
1 teaspoon grenadine syrup
1 Maraschino cherry

Create

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes
Combine pineapple juice, orange juice, spiced rum, coconut rum, and grenadine in the shaker then shake vigorously
Strain into a glass full of ice
Add cherry for garnish

Soju

The Amazon

Soju is Korea’s most iconic and consumed alcohol. While the average Korean downs 53 bottles a year, it is just becoming popular in the US and Canada. Made from distilled grains, it has 12 to 25 percent ABV (although there are stronger ones). It’s the best-selling liquor in the world, with 100 million nine-liter cases sold in 2022, which out-sold Smirnoff vodka. This is a popular drink in cities across North America and named after the company whose employees made it so.

Ingredients

2 oz Soju
1 oz Sprite
1 oz Grapefruit juice
Orange slice

Create

Fill cocktail glass with ice
Pour in Soju, Sprite and grapefruit juice and mix
Add orange slice as garnish

The Paloma

Known as the working man drink, what better thing to drink this weekend? It’s believed the drink was named after the 1860s folk song “La Paloma,” Spanish for “the dove.” And who doesn’t need a little peace after a long day’s at work?

Ingredients

2 oz tequila
1/2 oz grapefruit
1/2 oz soda

Create

Fill rocks glass with ice
Combine ingredients in glass, stir
Enjoy

The Godfather

“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse, a delicious, strong drink which will make you forget about the fall. The Godfather can deliver the goods with its namesake cocktail. It peaked in the 70s and 80s, but still delivers the goods.

Ingredients

2 ounces blended scotch or bourbon
1/4 ounce amaretto

Create

Fill a mixing glass 2/3 full of ice. Add the scotch and amaretto and stir until well-chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

Sip into the weekend with these drinks and have a great time.

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bourbon

The Best 4th Of July Cocktails

Published

6 months ago

June 28, 2024

admin

Independence Day is time for fireworks, family, bbqs, travel and fun! The biggest holiday during the summer is also one of the booziest – and here are the cocktails to enjoy!

The Fresh Toast – Here are the best 4th of July cocktails to enjoy at every event. These are easy and will be a big hit!

July 4th is the big holiday in the summer and people make the most of it! Travel, bbqs, fireworks, parades all on the buffet of fun! And the centerpiece for most is a good drink….it is the 4th booziest holiday of the year. It is also a big weekend for marijuana, but with gatherings, most people reach for something cold. Here are the best 4th of July cocktails embracing the hot weather, tasty flavors and simple classic.

Watermelon

Watermelon is the perfect summer fruit – crispy, flavorful and hydrating, it has been a sticky favorite for years. This cocktail gives it a great twist for outdoor actives. Just be careful – it can be lethal!

Ingredients

Firecracker Shots

This could be the most delicious shot to celebrate Independence Day. A little effort will make a big splash when you arrive these taste treats! Great to kick-off the party or an extra special dessert!

Ingredients

Blue Layer

One 1/4-ounce envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup Blue Curacao liqueur
1/2 cup vodka

Red Layer

One 1/4-ounce pouch unflavored gelatin
3/4 cup grenadine
1/2 cup vodka
Whipped cream, homemade or store-bought, for garnish

Create

Squeeze the grapefruit segments into a shaker and drop in the fruit (or add fresh juice)
Add the gin, sweet vermouth and Campari to the shaker with ice, and shake until well-chilled
Place ice in a rocks glass and curl the grapefruit peel around the inside of the glass
Strain into the prepared glass

Rosé Spritz

Quick, easy and delicious – this is good for small and large groups as it can be assembled on the fly.

Ingredients

3 ounces pink Prosecco
2 ounces seltzer
1 ounce bitter orange liqueur, such as Aperol
1/2 ounce grapefruit juice
1 grapefruit twist
Mint for garnish

Create

Fill a white wine glass halfway with ice
Add Prosecco, seltzer, orange liqueur and grapefruit juice and stir
Garnish with a grapefruit twist and a sprig of mint

Mint Julep

The Mint Julep is an All-American classic drink celebrating horse racing, morning drinking and good bourbon! What better beverage to have at 4th of July BBQ?

Ingredients