Three Cocktails To Drink This Holiday Season

“I gravitate toward drink cocktails that feature dark spirits during the holiday season, especially those with a smoke element,” says Anthony Caporale, ICE’s Director of Spirits Education. “I also like cream or egg-based drinks, like Brandy Alexanders and flips.” 

Other cocktails he's drinking this season? Bourbon toddies, syllabubs and traditional Sazeracs that feature a smoked star anise pod.

“The smoke will tend to focus our attention on the wood characteristics in the rye whiskey, as we associate smoke with wood,” Anthony says. “When we taste one, we look for the other.”

These beverages are sure to carry you through the winter season. Bottoms up!

Recipe

Bourbon Toddy

Recommended Glassware: Coffee Mug

Ingredients

• 1/2 ounce honey 
• 4 ounces fresh hot tea
• 1 ounce bourbon whiskey

Directions

1. In a coffee mug, add your honey and tea; stir briefly.
2. Add your bourbon whiskey and enjoy.

Smoked Sazerac

Recommended Glassware: Rocks Glass

Ingredients:

• Dried star anise blossom
• 2 scoops ice
• 1/4 ounce absinthe
• 2 ounces rye whiskey
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup
• 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters
• Lemon peel

Directions:

1. Invert a rocks glass over a smoldering dried star anise blossom.
2. Add 1 scoop ice to a mixing glass; stir to chill glass thoroughly.
3. Discard ice and add absinthe; stir to coat glass, discarding excess.
4. Add whiskey, simple syrup and 1 scoop ice. Stir to chill.
5. Remove smoked rocks glass from anise blossom.
6. Strain cocktail into smoked glass filled with fresh ice.
7. Add 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
8. Twist lemon peel over glass. Serve immediately.

Anthony's Syllabub

Recommended Glassware: Flip Glass or Large Mug

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce Applejack
• 4 ounces heavy cream
• 2 ounces egg beaters
• Juice of 1 orange
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 sprig lavender
• 4 ounces hard cider
• Nutmeg

Directions:

1. In a shaker tin half-filled with ice, add applejack, heavy cream, egg beaters, orange juice, sugar, vanilla extract, lemon zest and lavender. Shake well to thicken.
2. Add hard cider and swirl gently to incorporate.
3. Strain into glass and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.