Get into the festive spirit with our handpicked selection of four unique holiday cocktails. From Scandinavian-inspired flavors to warm and spicy mixes, these drinks are sure to tickle your taste buds and wow your guests. Whether you’re into a classic Champagne cocktail with a Nordic twist or a cozy, aromatic drink to beat the winter chill, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to sip and enjoy the season’s flavors with these delightful creations.
Don’t let the bright and bubbly exterior of this Scandinavian-inspired cocktail fool you. It packs a punch with savory Aquavit from Hardware Distillery Co. in Hoodsport, Washington. Swedish Punsch continues the Nordic tradition adding spice and a bit of sweetness. With notes of dill on the nose and caraway on the pallet, this Aquavit-infused Champagne cocktail will last as long as a Swedish day in the height of Summer.
Nordic Twilight
Makes 1 cocktail
1 ounce The Hardware Distillery Co. Aquavit
3/4 ounce Swedish Punsch
1/2 ounce Cointreau
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
2 ounces Champagne
Garnish: kumquat and freshly grated nutmeg
Combine all ingredients except for the Champagne into a mixing glass, fill with ice, cap and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and top with Champagne. Garnish with a kumquat and fresh nutmeg.
When the winter chill slowly creeps in, it’s time to get cozy. Warm and spicy drinks will keep you in high spirits and are ideal for fireside sipping. Pumpkin Spiced Liqueur from Bellewood Farms in Lynden, Washington, is the very essence of the holidays in a bottle. Made with real pumpkin and warm pumpkin spices, it matches perfectly with the bitter chocolate notes of coffee and the burnt sugars of rhum. Let this be your new PSL upgrade.
Coffee & Pie
Makes 1 cocktail
1-2 tablespoons Pumpkin Batter (recipe follows)
1/2 ounce Rhum J.M V.O
1 ounce Bellewood Farms Pumpkin Spiced Liqueur
1 ounce Kahlúa
2 – 3 oz strong hot coffee
Garnish with whipped cream and pumpkin spices
Add all ingredients to a tempered glass, top with whipped cream and spices, and serve hot.
Pumpkin Batter
Makes about 3-4 servings
4 tablespoons pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 ounces Tuaca
Pinch of salt
Combine all ingredients and give them a good stir. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
While there aren’t as many fresh ingredients to choose from during the winter months, it hosts many holiday celebrations for the cocktail enthusiast. Warm spices dominate with dried fruits, cranberries, and winter citrus. Spirit-forward beverages warm us during freezing temperatures. Easy to make and even easier to serve up, this spiced whiskey combines two northwest favorites: Merry Maker’s Punch by Steven Smith Teamaker and Bourbon from Freeland Spirits in Portland, Oregon. Smith’s hints of ginger, cloves, pink roses, and honey provide the perfect blend of herbs and spices to this festive cocktail.
Merry Maker’s Spiced Whiskey
Makes 10-12 servings
1 750ml Bottle Freeland Bourbon
1 orange, sliced into wheels
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 sachet Smith Teamaker Blend: No. 28 Merry Maker’s Punch
Combine all ingredients in a large glass jar and let steep for eight hours. Remove the sachet but leave oranges and raisins to steep longer; refrigerate for up to seven days. Strain solids and serve up or on the rocks.
Warm up with a rich and spirit-forward cocktail full of robust flavors. Midnight Forest Bourbon Whiskey by Spotted Bear Spirits is a collaboration between the distillery and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to support good whiskey and public lands. With the launch of this small-batch bourbon, Spotted Bear Spirits has crafted an artisanal spirit that appeals to nature lovers and bourbon connoisseurs alike. Combining whole bean coffee with the herbal sweetness of Ramazzotti creates a rich flavor that is balanced out by this beautiful bourbon – garnish with a flamed orange peel for an extra festive feel.
THREE STEPS FORWARD
Makes 1 Cocktail
TIP: The better the coffee, the better the infusion. They add a more dynamic flavor to anything
you want to infuse. I prefer medium to light roast.
2 oz Coffee Infused Midnight Forest Bourbon (recipe follows)
½ oz Benedictine
½ oz Ramazzotti
1 Dash Scrappy’s Chocolate Bitters
Garnish with flamed Orange peel
In a mixing glass, add all ingredients, top with ice, and stir for 20 seconds—strain over a large
ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with a flamed orange peel and serve.
COFFEE INFUSED BOURBON
Makes about 2 cups
16 oz Midnight Forest Bourbon
¼ cup whole bean medium roast coffee
Place whole bean coffee in a clean jar with 16 oz bourbon, infuse for 16 hours, strain, and store.
