Holiday Inspired Cocktails With Classic Herbs and Spices

Holiday Inspired Cocktails With Classic Herbs and Spices

There are plenty of incredible recipes out there that really accentuate the flavors and aromas of Winter time. Show off your mixology skills during the holiday festivities with these surefire cocktail recipes that will have your guests talking about it for weeks! 

The Classic Bee’s Knees

If you love earthy cocktails with hints of mint and eucalyptus, this cocktail with fresh and dried sage is a wonderful option for you. The mild peppery notes of the sage paired with the piney flavors of gin make for a pleasant party on your taste buds. 

Ingredients (serves 1)

Honey Syrup:

• ● ½ cup honey
• ● ½ cup cold water

Cocktail Base:

• ● 1 ½ ounces gin
• ● ½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ● ½ oz honey syrup
• ● 1 teaspoon dried sage
• ● 2 sage leaves
• ● Ice

Garnish

• ● 1 sage leaf
• ● Optional: 1 teaspoon dried sage to create fun holiday shape with a stencil
• ● Optional: lemon peel

Instructions:

1. 1. Create the honey syrup concoction by bringing equal parts honey and water to simmer in a small pot or saucepan until honey dissolves
2. 2. Let the syrup cool down before using
3. 3. Grind dried sage into a powder like texture
4. 4. Make Bee’s Knees Cocktail by combining gin, lemon juice, and 2 sage leaves, dried sage powder, and the homemade honey syrup into a shaker
5. 5. Fill halfway with ice and shake thoroughly for 10 seconds
6. 6. Strain into a cocktail glass (brownie points if it’s chilled)
7. 7. Place the remaining sage leaf as a garnish on top.

If you’d like to mix up the garnish and add a little charm to your cocktail, you can get a barista or cocktail stencil and gentle pour the sage powder over a fun holiday themed stencil instead of pouring the powder inside the drink. 

Christmas Spiced White Russian

Get into the holiday spirit with a creamy Christmas cocktail of your wildest dreams. This take on a White Russian is a creative way to infuse holiday spices into a tried and true cocktail classic.

Ingredients (serves 8)

Christmas-Spiced Syrup:

• ● 2 cups sugar
• ● 1 cup water
• ● 1 tsp vanilla
• ● 1 tsp ground ginger
• ● ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ● 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Milk & Cream Base:

• ● 2 cups full cream/whole milk
• ● 2 cups whipping/heavy cream

White Russian

• ● Ice
• ● 1 part Christmas-Spiced syrup
• ● 2 parts Kahlua/Coffee liqueur
• ● 1 part Vodka
• ● 2 parts milk & cream base

Garnish

• • ○ Optional: cinnamon stick, brown sugar, or candy cane rim

Instructions:

1. 1. 1. Create the Christmas-Spiced Syrup by pouring the ingredients into a saucepan and brining to a simmer
   2. 2. Let simmer for 10 minutes, then reduce heat until it cools
   3. 3. In a shaker, add white Russian ingredients and milk and cream base, and shake well
   4. 4. Place ice into chilled glass, and strain contents of shaker over ice
   5. 5. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, brown sugar or candy cane rim!
   6. 6. Serve and enjoy!

Hot Spiced Drunken Apple Cider

Get into the holiday spirit with a creamy Christmas cocktail of your wildest dreams. This take on a White Russian is a creative way to infuse holiday spices into a tried and true cocktail classic.

Ingredients (serves 8)

Hot Spiced Drunken Apple Cider:

• • ● ½ gallon apple cider, unfiltered if preferred
  • ● ¾ bottle of white wine (preferably not dry, semi sweet recommended)
  • ● 4 oz of whiskey
  • ● 4-5 sticks of cinnamon
  • ● 3-4 cloves
  • ● ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ● 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • ● 3-4 tbsp honey (depending on how sweet you like it and how sweet the wine you use is)
  • ● 1 cup fresh cranberries (alternate options: cubed apples or cubed pears)

Garnish

• • ○ Optional: cinnamon stick

Instructions:

1. 1. 1. Create the hot cider mixture by combining all the spices and cider in a pot and bringing to a boil
   2. 2. Let simmer for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to low
   3. 3. Add in white wine, and leave on low
   4. 4. Add your fruit of choice (cranberries, pears, or apples) and let simmer for 3 additional minutes or until the liquid’s color changes slightly
   5. 5. Remove from heat, add whiskey, and serve in a heat safe mug or cup
   6. 6. Place cinnamon garnish in mug if desired

1. 1. 7. Put on some cozy slippers, sit over by a warm fire, throw on a holiday flick and let the warmth of the spices soothe your soul.

Gingerbread Mint Martini

If you’re a big fan of gingerbread, this cocktail most certainly emulates those flavors, and then some. See for your self how the blend of spices and aromas embody the gift of Christmas.

Ingredients (serves 2)

Gingerbread Martini Base:

• • ● 2 oz Irish cream liqueur
  • ● 2 oz vanilla-flavored vodka
  • ● 2 oz cinnamon schnapps
  • ● 2 oz butterscotch schnapps
  • ● ½ cup crushed ice

Garnish:

• • ● 3 sage or mint leaves
  • ● Optional: Gingerbread cookie

Instructions:

1. 1. 1. Create the gingerbread martini mixture by placing all contents except the garnish into a shaker or blender (depending on what texture you are going for)
   2. 2. If using a shaker, shake and strain
   3. 3. Garnish with mint or sage, and a gingerbread cookie to add a bit of playfulness

We hope you enjoy this curated selection of holiday beverages that give you an opportunity to use some spices in traditional Fall and Winter dishes. Cheers to making your most delectable cocktails yet!