It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s the pinnacle of the drawn out holiday season, which means ’tis the time of year to break into the whiskey stash and to celebrate the festivities with a good ol’ fashioned stiff alcoholic beverage. It’s hard to beat a well-crafted winter-inspired cocktail this time of year, but finding the perfect recipe for the drink that’s going to warm your soul this season isn’t always easy—unless, of course, you live in the boozy state of Colorado. With roughly 70 distilleries and a handful of nationally-recognized mixologists in the state, it was pretty easy to track down five amazing cocktails to enjoy this holiday season. From a classic old fashioned, to a sinfully good chocolate margarita, we bring you five holiday cocktails inspired by Colorado craft spirits, from the minds of the distillers and the mixologists that know them best.
Wood’s Hot Toddy
Recipe By: Woods High Mountain Distillery — Salida, CO
Featured Colorado Spirit: Wood’s Tenderfoot Whiskey
In hot mug, muddle 1 slice of orange
Add 1 TBS honey,
2 oz. Wood’s Tenderfoot Whiskey,
3 dashes of orange bitters (optional)
Top w/ hot water
Garnish w/ orange peel
291 Wintertime Old Fashioned
Recipe By: Distillery 291 — Colorado Springs, CO
Featured Colorado Spirit: Distillery 291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey
Build the following ingredients over ice in a rocks glass:
2 oz Distillery 291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey
1 oz Clove and Cinnamon infused simple syrup
.5 oz Cold Pressed Cranberry Juice (unsweetened)
2 dashes Orange Fee Bitters
2 dashes Fee Old Fashioned Bitters
Stir and add a garnish of fresh cranberry, orange peel and a cinnamon stick.
For Simple Syrup:
Mix 1 Tablespoon of whole clove and 6 whole cinnamon sticks into 1 cup of dry raw sugar. Let sit for 1 hour. Add 1 cup of boiling water to the sugar and mix until dissolved. Strain into glass container.
Cap Claus
Recipe By: Marble Distilling Company — Carbondale, CO
Featured Colorado Spirit: Cranberry-Infused Marble Vodka 80
Tall glass with ice
2 oz Cranberry-Infused Marble Vodka 80
1.5 oz Housemade Cranberry Juice
.75 oz Simple Syrup
Shake & Strain
Top with Soda Water
Lime Garnish
Egg Nog
Recipe By: DJ Riemer — Bar Team Leader at 24 Carrot Bistro in Erie, CO
Featured Colorado Spirit: Peach Street Distillers Colorado Straight Bourbon
5 large, fresh grade AA eggs, separated
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1 1/2 (12 fl oz.) cups of organic heavy cream
1 cup (8 fl oz.) Peach Street Distillers Colorado Straight Bourbon
3 tsp. pure almond extract
3 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground clove
1/8 tsp black pepper
pinch of salt
1.) Separate the eggs
2.) Whisk yolks until stiff
3.) Whisk egg whites with half the sugar until peaks form
4.) Slowly fold the whites and the yolks together
5.) Separately whisk the cream with almond extract, vanilla, the other spices, and the remaining sugar in a bowl until stiff
6.) Slowly fold in the cream with the egg mixture
7.) Add the rum or spirit of choice and stir gently
8.) Refrigerate overnight
Garnish: Grated nutmeg and cinnamon
Serves: 8-10
Chocolate Margaritas
Recipe By: Cholaca — Boulder, CO
Featured Colorado Spirit: Cholaca
1/4 cup Blanco Tequila
2 tbsp Cholaca
2 tbsp Cream or Half and Half
Splash Fresh lime juice
Splash Fresh orange juice
Shaved Cholaca Wafers for garnish
1.) Blend 5-6 Cholaca wafers together to make a powder for the rim and pour onto a flat plate
2.) Cut 4-5 Cholaca wafers into fourths for garnish
3.) Rim a chilled margarita glass with lime and Choloca powder
4.) Pour the liquors, juices, and Cholaca into a blender with one cup of ice
5.) Blend until smooth
6.) Pour into prepared glass. Top with Cholaca shavings
