The Knockturnal’s Holiday Spirit Roundup

Celebrate the holidays with a nice cocktail

The holidays are finally here!  And whether you are hosting your own holiday party or celebrating with loved ones, there is no better gift than a great cocktail or bottled spirit.  The options to select from are endless.  And to make things easy, we have our holiday roundup which will highlight some of our favorite cocktails, spirits that we can’t do without, and some new finds we got to try that we want to share.

Gin

NOLET’S has added everyone’s favorite seasonal flavors to classic cocktails, the perfect addition to plus up all the holiday get-togethers planned for this year.

NOLET’S Holiday Gin + Soda

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. NOLET’S Silver Gin
• 3 oz. Soda Water
• Cranberries
• Fresh Rosemary

Method:

Pour NOLET’S Silver over ice in a balloon glass then add soda water and garnish.

NOLET’S Silver Peppermint Southside

Ingredients:

• 1.25 oz. NOLET’S Silver
• 0.75 oz. Lime Juice
• 0.75 oz. Simple Syrup
• Peppermint Leaves
• Crushed Candy Canes

Method:

Shake all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a crushed candy cane rimmed Martini or coupe glass. Garnish with a sprig of peppermint.

NOLET’S Pomegranate Yule Mule

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz NOLET’S Silver Gin
• 1 oz Unsweetened Pomegranate Juice
• 0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• Ginger Beer
• Pomegranate Arils, Mint, Cranberries, Lime Wheels or Rosemary for Garnish

Method:

Combine all ingredients over ice (if serving immediately), or when making ahead combine all but the Ginger Beer and ice. Pour cocktail over ice to serve, top with Ginger Beer and garnish.

And if you are a fan of canned cocktails, Finnish Long Drink is a perfect drink to try out.  The long drink is the top-selling category of alcohol in Finland and has made its way to America.  Having a variety of flavors including traditional, zero, strong, and cranberry, Finnish Long Drink is the perfect supplement for any holiday party or occasion

Tequila

For some amazing tequila based cocktails, we have some lovely ones from Prospero.

French MargIngredients:

• 1 oz Próspero Blanco
• 1 oz Chambord
• 2 oz Grapefruit Juice

Method:

Combine all ingredients into a shaker. Add ice & shake vigorously for about 10 seconds, or until the shaker is cold. Pour into a Martini glass.

Bang Bang DaiquiriIngredients:

• 2 oz. Próspero Anejo
• 1 oz. Fresh Golden Beet Pineapple Juice
• .5 oz. Oleo Saccharum (Lime Only)
• .5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 3 Dashes Orange Bitters

Method:

Combine all ingredients into a shaker. Add ice & shake vigorously for about 10 seconds, or until the shaker is cold. Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass. Garnish with dehydrated pineapple flower & lime wheel.

Another tequila brand we have fallen in love with is 818 Tequila.  And if you are a fan of the Kardashians, you might know that 818 Tequila is one of Kendall Jenner’s brand.  With delicious agave flavor that is smooth and flavorful. 818 Tequila is the perfect base for any tequila cocktail – be it a simple tequila soda, margarita, or something a bit more extravagant. You can check out 818 Tequila here.

And 818 Tequila also has a delicious cocktail recipe for the festive Tequila lovers out there.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. 818 Tequila
• 0.75 oz. Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• .75 oz. Grapefruit liqueur
• .25 oz Simple Syrup
• 3 oz Brut Champagne

Method:

Combine all ingredients into a shake minus the champagne and shake until chilled.  Double strain into a chilled coupe or champagne flute and top with champagne

Just in time for the holiday season, there’s a new limited edition bottle that tequila lovers will want to add to their collection: Tequila Cazadores 100 Year Estate Release.

Made exclusively to honor the 100-year–anniversary of the brand’s original recipe, this unique reposado blend was made with 100% Blue Weber Agave that was exclusively grown and matured on the Cazadores Distillery property in Los Altos de Jalisco.

Boasting a smooth and sweet taste with a citrus and vanilla finish and an aroma of intense cooked agave with fruity and spicy notes, this approachable reposado can be enjoyed neat or in your favorite cocktail. The Tequila Cazadores 100 Year Estate Release is now available in limited quantities on Cazadores.com and ReserveBar. (SRP: $39.99)

Rum

And if you are a fan of quality rum, the best present we could recommend is Flor de Cana.  And luckily there are a few options to select from when shoppin.  The ultra-premium Flor de Caña 30 ($1,200) is perfect for rum collectors, while Flor de Caña 25 ($165) is best for spirits enthusiasts who enjoy a neat pour. Flor de Caña 18 ($55) and 12 ($44) are also available for those who enjoy spirits on the rocks or in a cocktail. Pick up a bottle at your local liquor store or gift a bottle via Drizy or ReserveBar this holiday season.

Whiskey

If you are a fan of the darker spirits like I am, we have a few options to try out.

The first option comes from WhistlePig Whiskey and this latest offering makes cocktail making easy, and can also be something you offer people who prefer a dry cocktail.They have recently launched two ready-to-drink cocktails: Dry Orange Fashioned and Wet Orange

• Crafted with WhistlePig 100% Rye Non-Whiskey, Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup and Sunkist Orange Essence, WhistlePig’s ready-to-drink Dry Orange Fashioned offers the well-balanced flavor of a classic Old Fashioned cocktail, without the proof. Bottled at <0.5% ABV. Includes 10% of your daily value of Vitamin C so you can stave off scurvy with fewer orange-garnished Old Fashioneds served during Dry January.
• WhistlePig’s Wet Orange Fashioned is crafted with the same ingredients, but swaps out the non-whiskey with the real deal – WhistlePig PiggyBack 100% Rye Whiskey – to enjoy post-January renewal. Bottled at 35% ABV.

The next recipes come from Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey.  And we have something both hot and cold in case you wanted to switch things up.

Ketch’s Hot Cider

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey
• 4 oz spiced apple cider
• .5 oz lemon juice
• .25 oz honey simple syrup (2:1 ratio raw honey to water)
• .25 oz cinnamon syrup (recipe below)
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters
• 2 dashes black lemon bitters

Method:

• For each serving, heat spiced cider, lemon juice, honey syrup and cinnamon syrup until piping hot but not boiling.
• Pour 2 ounces of whiskey into a mug, add the cider mixture and bitters and stir to combine.
• Garnish the drink with a cinnamon stick and dried citrus.

For the spiced apple cider:

• simmer local apple cider with a few cloves and allspice.
•  Let it slowly simmer for 15-30 minutes to pick up all the flavors.

For the cinnamon syrup:

•  combine one cup sugar, one cup water and 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon.
• Bring to a simmer and stir periodically.
• As soon as it starts boiling, take it off the heat and continue stirring to ensure the sugar is dissolved.
• Strain through a coffee filter or cheesecloth to remove excess cinnamon and refrigerate until needed.

Morgan’s Holiday Spiced Whiskey Sour

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey
• .75 oz cinnamon syrup (recipe below)
• .75 oz. cranberry juice
• .50 oz. lemon juice
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• 1 dash cranberry bitters
• Orange peel and fresh cranberries for garnish

Method:

• Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
• Add ice and shake until chilled.
• Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
• Garnish with orange peel and cranberries.

And if you are looking for gift some whisky, we recommend BEARFACE Whisky.  BEARFACE Triple Oak is a single grain Canadian whisky, elementally aged in the Canadian wilderness producing complex flavors developed through exposure to the fluctuating temperatures of the changing seasons. Whether you’re looking for something new to gift the whisky lover in your life, a flavorful spirit for holiday cocktails, or a unique bottle for your bar cart, BEARFACE is the go-to for all your fall and winter whisky needs.

Another option we can recommend comes from Redbreast Irish Whiskey.  And recently. Redbreast has partnered with actor Chris O’Dowd to bring awareness to bird conservation.  And they have released a fun video for you to check out too!

Wine

And there is nothing quite like celebrating the holidays with a nice glass of wine or prosecco.

The first recommendation we have is Cinzano.  Cinzano also happens to be the official prosecco used in the infamous Negroni Sbagliato cocktail.  Whether you are making that or clinking glasses when the clock strikes midnight, Cinzano is a tasty, and affordable, option to look out for.

And if you aren’t too savvy on wine yet but want to gift the best wine, Argaux has the perfect solution for you.  Premium wine lifestyle e-destination Argaux releases its new Wine 101 Tasting Kit for Beginners and other interactive, experience-based gift offerings for the 2022 Holiday Season.  More than a wine company, Argaux is dedicated to providing white glove service and highlighting unique, under-represented wines from around the world.  Each unforgettable, customizable gift is curated by the Argaux sommeliers, your friends in wine, stars small production, family-owned and responsibly farmed wines, and is finished with the most personalized touches.

Interested in wine, but not sure where to start?  Argaux’s educational, engaging and experiential wine gifts are perfect for the novice and aficionado alike, including the all-new Wine 101 starter kit (or refresher course!)  This Holiday season, let Argaux open eyes, hearts and taste buds to the wonderful world of wine.

For the wine curious:

*NEW – the Argaux Wine 101 Tasting Kit includes four (4) bottles of wine and an exclusive “Wine 101” Tasting Guide created by the team of Argaux Sommeliers.  Taste through a lineup of the four most common grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, for a fun and easy to understand experience to start or refresh your wine journey! – $95

For the hostess with the mostess:

The best-selling Argaux Blind Tasting Kit is sure to impress even the most discerning guest.  Experience new wines and bring the unforgettable sensory experience of a Sommelier-guided blind wine tasting right into your own home! – $85+

For the newly engaged or newlywed:

Toast to all those first moments with the Argaux Year of Firsts happily-ever-after collection.  Each bottle of premium, sustainably-sourced wine is hand selected by the Argaux Sommeliers based on your preferences and finished with personally curated milestone gift tags to help couples celebrate before, during and well after the wedding. – $100+

For the foodie:

Can’t make it to Italy this Holiday season?  The Argaux Italian Food & Wine Gift Box can help bring the taste of Italy to you!  For those that love all things food, this amoré-inspired kit includes imported Italian wine, organic Tuscan olive oil, gourmet pasta and Ciao Pappy Marinara Sauce – perfect to warm up a winter night. – $100+

For the girl boss:

In honor of the incredible ladies changing the viticultural game worldwide, Argaux’s Women in Wine Tasting Set features our ‘gaux-to wines by our favorite female winemakers. – $125

For the do-gooder:

Looking for a gift that gives back?  The proudly female-founded/run Argaux will donate a portion of proceeds from its athleisure-inspired ‘Gaux Play Après 3-pack to Play Like a Girl!®, a 501(c)3 charitable organization on a mission to level the playing field for girls in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM+) – $65

Additional Holiday offerings from Argaux can be found here.

And if you’re a fan of a sake, WESAKE is the perfect canned drink to try out.  Recently, WESAKE has partnered with Brooklyn Peltz Beckham where he has featured WESAKE on his series ‘Cookin’ With Brooklyn.’  WESAKE has an ABV of 13%, is non-GMO, vegan-friendly, gluten-free and best served chilled. It is crisp, smooth and presents fruit-forward aromas and flavors. WESAKE is available nationwide through their website and at retail in select markets such as CA, CO, GA, IL, NV, NY, and TN with an SRP of $19.99 for a four-pack of 200ml cans. Find WESAKE near you at https://wesake.co/.

And lastly, there is nothing better than a good wine and cheese board.  And we can strongly recommend the pairing of Sandeman Port with some delicious Jasper Hill cheese.  This delicious ruby red port has a beautiful sweetness that pairs wonderfully with most cheeses, both soft and firm.  You can find some Sandeman options on their site here