Christmas day is so close it’s like you can reach out and almost touch it! Whew! It’s been an amazing holiday season and we want to thank all of our customers who have supported us this year. Working round the clock for the past month leaves little time to do much else, but come Christmas day, I’m ready to relax with the fam and just savor the moments of being together. Of course, it’s also a great time to throw together some holiday-inspired cocktails. Here are some of our favorite “winter drinks” to keep you toasty on Christmas day and through the new year. Cheers!
We have our fair share of cold, snowy days in Ohio, and when those days are upon us, a steaming mug of hot apple cider with a splash of bourbon is enough to warm a body clear through. But, we realize not everyone lives in the frozen tundra, so for those wanting the taste of boozy apple cider more suited for the tropics, here’s an apple cider-inspired Old Fashioned cocktail you’re sure to enjoy.
INGREDIENTS
½ cup of ice
2/3 cup apple cider
2 ounces bourbon
2 dashes bitters
Stir all ingredients in a glass until combined. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and apple slices.
Remember those days of grandpa always having a stash of Werther’s caramel candies in his pocket for you? The rich, buttery taste of caramel has always been a favorite of mine, so when I saw this recipe for a caramel hot toddy, I knew I had to try it. I’m not one for fancy drinks by any means, but I’ll make an exception for caramel.
INGREDIENTS
½ cup of caramel sauce
10 Werther candies, crushed
2 cups of water
10 Werther candies, whole
2 cinnamon sticks
1/3 cup lemon juice
6 ounces bourbon
Pour caramel onto a shallow plate, and crushed candies onto a separate plate. Dip the rims of 3 drinking glasses in caramel and then into crushed candies. Set aside. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water, whole candies, and cinnamon sticks. Stir constantly until candies are fully melted. Remove from the heat and add lemon juice and bourbon. Pour into glasses and garnish with lemon slices.
What is a holiday gathering without Eggnog??? Not much of a party, I say! I’ve been drinking Eggnog since I could hold a sippy cup (non-alcoholic, of course!). As soon as I see the commercial Eggnog out in stores, I know the holidays are upon us, but nothing beats a homemade glass of Eggnog the way it was intended to be made ~ with bourbon!
INGREDIENTS
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup sugar
2 2/3 cups of milk (the higher fat, the creamier)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup Cool Whip
½ cup spiced rum
1/3 cup bourbon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine first three ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously for 10-12 minutes until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to cool (about 25 minutes). Once cooled, stir in Cool Whip, rum, and bourbon. Pour into 6 glasses and top with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg in each one.