December 2021

We’re ready for the weekend with the help of three stunning cocktails!

Each of these fun and easy drinks are made using some of the spirits we’ll be gifting this holiday season. Mix one up for yourself and then head to our holiday gift guide and get a little something for everyone on your list.

Brockmans 75

Brockmans 75

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Brockmans Gin 
• 1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• Champagne or Prosecco

Preparation: Shake the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup with ice. Strain into a champagne flute and top with the sparkling wine. Garnish with a twist of lemon zest.

The Big Apple Rye Manhattan

The Big Apple Rye Manhattan

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 oz. Widow Jane Apple Wood Rye Whiskey  
• 3/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
• 2 dashes Bitters

Preparation: Stir all the ingredients in a mixing glass with ice then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Coit Orange Lemon Gin Cooler

Coit Orange Lemon Gin Cooler

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Coit Cape Gin 
• 2 oz. orange juice
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• 1 oz. lemon juice

Preparation: Shake ingredients together and strain into a glass with fresh ice. Top with seltzer. Garnish with orange wedge.

The post Must Mix: 3 Cocktails With Bottles Worth Gifting appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Get ready for the holidays with Ron del Barrilito’s recipe for a rich and delicious Coquito.

Using a blend of canned, evaporated, and coconut milk, the Coquito is a favorite in Puerto Rico. The drink adapted from eggnog and is a great option for anyone uneasy about drinking eggs. It’s a delicious holiday treat that has been rapidly making its way into American cocktail culture. While Ron Del Barrilito usually recommends enjoying their rum neat, in this it brings a unique flavor to the mix.

Ron Del Barrilito’s Coquito

Coquito

Recipe with Ron del Barrilito

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. Ron del Barrilito Two Stars
• 2 oz. Ron Hacienda Santa Ana
• 1/2 can of Condensed Milk
• 1 can of Evaporated Milk
• 1 can of Coconut Milk
• 1 can of Coconut Cream
• 1/2 spoon of Cinnamon Powder
• 1/4 spoon of Vanilla

Preparation: This recipe will make TWO bottles worth of Coquito, each bottle being a standard 750ML size.

The post Drink Of The Week: Ron del Barrilito’s Coquito appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Get ready for the holidays with Ron del Barrilito’s recipe for a rich and delicious Coquito.

Using a blend of canned, evaporated, and coconut milk, the Coquito is a favorite in Puerto Rico. The drink adapted from eggnog and is a great option for anyone uneasy about drinking eggs. It’s a delicious holiday treat that has been rapidly making its way into American cocktail culture. While Ron Del Barrilito usually recommends enjoying their rum neat, in this it brings a unique flavor to the mix.

Ron Del Barrilito’s Coquito

Coquito

Recipe with Ron del Barrilito

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. Ron del Barrilito Two Stars
• 2 oz. Ron Hacienda Santa Ana
• 1/2 can of Condensed Milk
• 1 can of Evaporated Milk
• 1 can of Coconut Milk
• 1 can of Coconut Cream
• 1/2 spoon of Cinnamon Powder
• 1/4 spoon of Vanilla

Preparation: This recipe will make TWO bottles worth of Coquito, each bottle being a standard 750ML size.

The post Drink Of The Weel: Ron del Barrilito’s Coquito appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Did you know that the French drink more whisky a year than any other country?

The average person drinks over two liters of whisky each year, more than the average of any other country. Most distilleries use methods of production similar to Scotch, but there are a few differences that help create a flavor profile that’s uniquely French.

Bastille 1789 Hand-Crafted Whisky

The Daucourt family has been making spirits for the last four generations. Inspired by their Irish mother, Edouard, Charles, and Jean-Marc Daucourt decided to create a whisky using their traditional gooseneck pot still­–the result was two award winning whiskies.

Bastille 1789 includes two expressions—a French Blended Whisky and a Single Malt. Both varietals are made using a water from the Charente springs, a 120-year-old yeast strain, and are distilled twice in Charente copper stills. The Bastille 1789 French Blended whisky starts with a 50-50 blend of malted barley and raw grain and is aged in Limousin oak barrels that previously held Sauternes and Cognac. Bastille 1789 French Single Malt Whisky is made from 100% malted barley and aged in Limousin oak barrels that once held Sauternes, Sherry, and Red Burgundy.

Bastille 1789 Hand-Crafted Whisky

Armorik Distillery

Dating back to 1900, the Armorik Distillery has been crafting high-quality spirits in Lannion Brittany, they were also the first modern French distillery to begin making whisky starting in 1983. The brand carries a range of award-winning whiskies including several aged and cask finished expressions. The line crafted using 100% French Malted Barley, pure granitic water from the Rest Avel, and is double distilled in traditional copper pot stills before being aged. While the finishing varies by expression, the majority of the Armorik line is aged in refill American Oak Bourbon casks and some Spanish Oak refill Sherry butts.

Armorik Distillery

Brenne French Single Malt Whisky

This certified Organic whisky starts with two types of heirloom barley grown on a third-generation farm distillery in Cognac. The mash is malted and mixed with a proprietary strain of yeast before being twice distilled in an alembic Charente still. The result is a fruit-forward spirit with floral notes. The brand currently has two aged expressions, Brenne Estate Cask aged fir a minimum of six years, and Brenne Ten, a limited annual release aged for ten years.

Brenne French Single Malt Whisky

The post 3 Need To Know French Whisky Distillers appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Glen Scotia, winner of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition’s Best in Show and Best Whisky in the World for 2021, has been named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year.

The distillery has been scooping up award after award this year with this latest win a crowning jewel in their roster. Glen Scotia is the first distillery to win the annual distillery award and the Best Whiskey in the same year.

Glen Scotia Festivle Bottling

Along with being a huge win for Glen Scotia, the brand is enthused to have the spotlight back on its home of Campbeltown. The area was once a world-renowned home of whisky production. Today, only three distilleries still operate out of the original 30. But with the slew of awards the brand hopes that global whisky lovers will once again have eyes on the region.

“From the Victorian era until the present day, whisky has always been at the heart of this community”
– Master Distiller and Distillery Manager Iain McAlister

“The techniques and craftsmanship that make our whisky so unique have been passed through generations, and I am thankful that we have managed to revive the whisky-making heritage of Campbeltown long after many of its distilleries fell away. Our distillery is small, but this allows us to focus on quality, and it is so humbling to once again be recognized for our craft.”

Glen Scotia Wins Distillery of the Year

Several of the brand’s expressions took home medals and placed this year, but these two awards overshadow the rest in significance. McAlister added, “To win Best Whisky in the World for our Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old and to now achieve the status of Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year is beyond anything we imagined 2021 would bring. It has been a good year for Campbeltown whisky but we’re not stopping here. We are witnessing the town’s renaissance and it is truly wonderful.”

The post Glen Scotia Named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

December is here and that means it’s time to swap out your cocktail menu!

There are tons of holidays to celebrate this month, from Repeal day to Sangria Day to National Bake Cookies Day there is a lot you can use to inspire specials. We’re sharing five cocktails we think you’ll want to make this holiday season!

National Cotton Candy Day 12/7

Celebrate this sweet holiday with a take on Cosmo from The Sugar Factory! Using a base of Cotton Candy vodka this comes together in a snap. Want to make your own spin? Try creating your own cotton candy vodka. Using a maple syrup cotton candy would allow you to make it more seasonal and celebrate two national days with one cocktail.

Cotton Candy Cosmo

Cotton Candy Cosmo

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Cotton Candy Vodka
• 1 oz. Orange Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Triple Sec
• 1 oz. Lime Juice
• 1 oz. Cranberry Juice
• Cotton Candy Pop Rocks and Cotton Candy (for Garnish)

Preparation: Mix in a cocktail shaker. Garnish with cotton candy pop rocks rim and top with a cotton candy ball on skewer.

National Gingerbread Day 12/12

Who doesn’t love gingerbread over the winter? This fun and easy cocktail uses a house made gingerbread syrup that can be created to your needs. What we love about this is that once you have the gingerbread syrup, you can create a whole number of different cocktails.

Gingerbread Martini

Gingerbread Martini

Ingredients:

• 3 oz. Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
• 3 oz. Irish Cream
• 2 tsp. Gingerbread Syrup (or to Taste)
• 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 2 oz. Cream
• Whipped Cream & Crushed Gingerbread Cookies (for Garnish)

Preparation: In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Smirnoff Vodka, Irish cream, gingerbread syrup, vanilla extract, and cream. Shake, shake, shake. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with whipped cream and crushed gingerbread cookies.

National Maple Syrup Day 12/17

Who doesn’t love a good drizzle of maple syrup over the holidays? Good quality maple syrup is an excellent way to add flavor, sweetness, and a light change in viscosity to your cocktails. This Maple Old Fashioned starts with a Rye whisky aged in maple casks for an additional hit of maple flavor.

Maple Old Fashioned

Hudson Maple Old Fashioned

The original whiskey cocktail with a Hudson Valley twist and hint of maple goodness.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Hudson Maple Cask Rye
• 1/2 tsp. Good-Quality Maple Syrup
• 2-3 dashes (to Taste) Aromatic Bitters-pronounced notes of clove and cinnamon make the Fee Brothers Whiskey
• Barrel-Aged Bitters, a great choice.
• Apple Slice & Cinnamon Stick for Garnish

Preparation: To an Old Fashioned/rocks glass, add maple syrup and bitters, then ice and Maple Cask Rye. Stir until well-chilled and garnish with a couple thin slices of freshly-sliced apple and a cinnamon stick.

National Candy Cane Day 12/26

Is it possible to go through December without a Candy Cane or mint-themed cocktail? We think not! A small amount of brandy adds depth and layered flavor to this otherwise simple cocktail.

Candy Cane Cooler

Candy Cane Cooler

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Belvedere Vodka
• 1/4 oz. Brandy
• splash of White Crème de Menthe
• 1/2 oz. Half and Half
• 1 tbs. Crushed Soft Peppermint Candy

Preparation: Combine the vodka and crushed peppermint. Stir to dissolve. Add the remaining ingredients over crushed ice, stir and garnish with a peppermint stick and mint sprig.

National Bacon Day 12/20 

Bacon as a personality trait has (fortunately) is a long time gone, but there are still some recipes from those dark year’s worth revisiting. This house Bacon infused St. Germain may sound odd, but it’s a recipe worth trying for National Bacon Day.

Basil Hayden’s Bacon Sour

Basil Hayden’s Bacon Sour

Recipe by Patricia Richards

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 parts Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon
• 1 part St-Germain® Liqueur Infused with Applewood Smoked Bacon (recipe below)
• 1 part Freshly Squeezed and Strained Lemon Juice
• 1/2 part Diluted Maple Syrup (1:1 ratio of Vermont Grade A Medium Amber Syrup to water)
• 1 dash Peychaud’s® Bitters
• 1/4 part Pasteurized Egg White

Preparation: Combine bourbon, bacon-infused St-Germain®*, lemon juice, diluted maple syrup, bitters and egg white into a mixing glass and shake vigorously with ice. Strain over fresh ice into a double-old fashioned glass. Garnish with an orange slice and a piece of the St-Germain® infused Applewood smoked bacon.

Bacon Infused St-Germain

• 9 Thick Slices of Applewood Smoked Bacon
• 2 750 ml bottle of St-Germain® Liqueur

Preparation: Cook bacon in the oven until it is crispy on the outsides but still chewy in the center. Place bacon on paper towel to remove some of the rendering. Place cooked bacon in a glass jar with two 750 ml bottles of St-Germain® and allow it to infuse for 24 hours at room temperature. Remove bacon. Place liqueur in the freezer so renderings congeal and you can remove them. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and cheese cloth to remove as much rendering as possible. Repeat freezer step if needed and strain again. Refrigerate until ready for use.

The post 5 Essential Cocktails To Make For December appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

With a history dating back to the 13th century, it’s no wonder Eggnog is celebrated with its own national month.

Love it or hate it, eggnog has been a favorite at the holidays since at least the 1700’s. Over the centuries the recipe has changed as different spirits, spices, and ingredients have become available.

Eggnog got its start in the monasteries of 13th century great Britain where monks created a punch of warm ale, figs, and eggs. This first cocktail was called “Posset” and transitioned over time. Aristocracy swapped the ale for sherry and added milk or cream turning the punch into an indulgent and, at the time, expensive treat only the upper class could afford to enjoy.

By the 1700’s Eggnog made its way to American shores where ample access to eggs, cream, and cheap Caribbean rum made the drink a favorite across class lines. Since then, the recipe has changed depending on where its served. In the Southern US you’re just as likely to find whiskey in your nog as you are sherry or rum. In Puerto Rico you’ll find a version called the Coquito, and in Mexico you’ll find a highly spiced variety called Rompope. Regardless your favorite eggnog recipe, December is the perfect time to enjoy it!

RumChata Eggnog Latte

RumChata Eggnog Latte

Ingredients:

• 2 parts RumChata
• 2 parts Low fat eggnog
• 2 parts Streaming espresso
• Nutmeg

Preparation: Steam RumChata and eggnog in espresso maker, or heat in pan on stove or in microwave, stirring constantly. Pour into a coffee mug; add espresso and dust with nutmeg.

Drambuie Scottish Eggnog

Drambuie Scottish Eggnog

By National Drambuie Brand Ambassador, Claire Needham

Ingredients:

• 4 Egg Yolks
• 4 Egg Whites
• 1 pint Whole Milk
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• 12 parts Drambuie
• 2 dash Vanilla
• 1 tsp. Freshly Grated Nutmeg

Optional: 4 parts of Glenfiddich 12 Year Old if you’d like more of a kick

Preparation: In a bowl, beat the egg yolks until the color lightens. Add the Drambuie, milk, cream, nutmeg, and vanilla. Place the egg whites in a bowl and beat into stiff peaks. Whisk the egg whites into the mixture. Chill in the fridge one, two, or three days, serve in a punch bowl and sprinkle with grated nutmeg.

The Bluebird Eggnog

The Bluebird Eggnog

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Bacardi Rum
• 1/2 oz. Sherry
• 1/2 oz. Water
• 3/4 oz. Simple Syrup
• 1 1/2 oz. Heavy Cream
• 1 Whole Egg

Preparation: Shake all ingredients vigorously and serve in a rocks glass with light ice. Garnish with “egg” made from white chocolate cups and boozy egg yolk foam.

“Egg” Garnish

Melt down good quality white chocolate then form it into a hollow half circle or the shape of a cracked egg. Fill cracked egg with “yolk,” which consists of whipped cream mixed with Suze Herbal Liqueur.

The post 3 Cocktails To Celebrate National Eggnog Month appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News