December Cocktail

1 1/4 oz. Chivas Regal 12 yo
Dash Cinnamon Syrup
2 oz. Apple Juice

Build all the ingredients in an Old Fashioned glass and add ice cubes. (Cinnamon Syrup can be made by mixing equal parts of powder sugar and warm water. Heat with a stick of Cinnamon and let rest until cold, when the Cinnamon will have infused fully).
Garnish with a pinch of Cinnamon powder, flamed.

Vanilla Hazlenut Blazer

2 oz. Chivas Regal 12 yo
2 tsp Brown Sugar
2 Hazelnuts
2 drops Vanilla Essence

Heat a brandy balloon over hot water with the whisky, sugar, vanilla and nuts. Set liquid aflame and twist glass to soften ingredients (about 30 seconds). Meanwhile, fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice. Pour flaming liquid over the ice. Garnish with 2 Hazelnuts & 2 Almonds.

courtesy Chivas Regal

‘Tis the Season to Eat, Drink and Be Merry! These cocktails from SKYY Infusions do well for the “drink” part of the equation, leaving your guest all the more merry. We even have some suggestions for the “eat” part.

Candy Cane Swirl

The Candy Cane Swirl is designed to add a simple, yet festive element to your larger holiday parties, utilizing familiar ingredients easily mixed in larger quantities.

1 oz. SKYY Infusions Raspberry
3 oz. Red Cranberry Juice
0.5 oz. Grenadine
0.5 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
Lemon Lime Soda
Candy Canes

Rim martini glass with crushed candy cane. Combine SKYY Vodka, Peppermint Schnapps, Cranberry Juice and Grenadine into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into martini glass. Top with Lemon Lime Soda and garnish with small peppermint candy cane.

Mele Kalikimaka Martini

A creative twist on a Bing Crosby classic, the Mele Kalikimaka Martini is ”Hawaii’s way to say Merry Christmas to you.” Turning a classic cocktail, contemporary using SKYY Infusions Pineapple and Coconut Cream, the martini adds a personal touch to your typical eggnog and is a surefire way to impress a more sophisticated, adventurous crowd.
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Winter Slumber

1 part Whiskey or Bourbon
1/2 part Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice Liqueur
1/4 part Chai
1-1/2 part Heavy Whipping Cream
Cinnamon & Sugar for Rim Garnish

Place liquids in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake to blend and chill.  Strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with cinnamon and sugar. 

Rocky Mountain Ginger Crisp

1 part Premium Whiskey
1/2 part Hiram Walker Gingerbread Liqueur
1-1/2 part Apricot Nectar
1-1/2 part Sparkling Sake
Skewered Crystallized Ginger Round Garnish
 
Combine whiskey, Hiram Walker Gingerbread Liqueur and apricot nectar in a mixing glass.  Stir.  Pour into a highball glass over ice.  Top with measurement of Sparkling Sake.  Garnish with skewered crystallized ginger.

Minted Snowfall

1 part Espresso Vodka
3/4 part Hiram Walker Peppermint Schnapps
1 part White Chocolate Liqueur
1 part Heavy Whipping Cream
Crushed Peppermint Rim
Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Stick Garnish -optional

Rim Old Fashioned Glass with white chocolate liqueur. Dip rim of glass in crushed peppermint.  Set aside.  Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake to blend and chill.  Strain into peppermint rimmed old fashioned glass over fresh ice.  Garnish with chocolate dipped peppermint stick.

recipes created by Cheri Loughlin courtesy Hiram Walker

Earlier this week the folks at Campari held their Holiday Bitter Bash at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco. It was night of Negronis and other tasty Campari cocktails. Upon entering the bar we were greeted by some of Santa’s Helpers with a bowlful this wonderful punch created by mixologist Jon Gasparini of Rye on the Road

Campari Nicaraguan Punch

15 oz. Campari
10 oz. Flor de Cana 7 year
7 1/2 oz. Cinzano Rosso
10 oz. Grapefruit Juice
2 1/2oz. Honey

Combine juice of ten lemons and 30 cloves in a Tupperware container or cake mold and freeze. Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl with flavored iced block.

From there we were treated to several more Campari cocktails in the Library including the classic Negroni, and it’s naughty cousin, the Naughty Negroni made with equal parts of Grapefruit Vodka, Campari, Sweet Vermouth and Pama pomegranate Liqueur. One of my favorites was the Sanguinello, a refreshing of Campari, Limoncello and Blood Orange juice from the Peninsula Hotel in New York.

Sanguinello

1 oz. Campari
3/4 oz. limoncello
2 oz. blood orange juice
Blood orange wedge for garnish

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain onto fresh ice in a highball glass.

Garnish with a blood orange wedge.

The evening was complimented by a trio of singers belting out the holiday classics. We even had Christmas cookies!

Recipes courtesy of Campari
more Holiday Cocktails & Punches

Normally, when I pick a scotch, it’s single malt all the way. But Black Bull 12 year blended scotch was a Whiskyfest find that I wouldn’t mind finding wrapped up for me under the tree this year!

Bottled by Duncan Taylor, which has a great stable of whiskies, this scotch is very mellow. The light vanilla and sherry nose gives way to a slightly peaty honeyed scotch that goes down smooth.

So if you have a scotch lover who isn’t a scotch snob on your list, send this unepxected treat their way. They’ll hopefully thank you by sharing a glass!

Black Bull 12 year

Here’s something different for the stylish wine lover in your life. These handblown wine glasses by design hotshot Maxim Velcovsky are crafted to look like a disposable cup.

Enjoy your Cabernet while enjoying the irony of an item lovingly handcrafted to mock something mass produced. Aside from looking cool, the shape and weight of the glasses make them fun to drink from.

Sommelier Wine Glasses @ A +R Store

Decanters not only let your wine and booze open up, they also look great at your bar.

This Kai Decanter from Crate and Barrel is a simple yet elegant gift find. It’s handblown glass with clean, classic lines …

then at the stopper there’s a little effervescence in the form of tiny bubbles!

Oh, and for about $40 it won’t make your wallet cry.

Kai Decanter @ Crate and Barrel