Whisky and Bourbon Holiday Drinks
Snow Cap, Bourbon Ball, Royal Gingersnap, Misty Winter Warmer
A drink doesn't have to be hot to take off the chill. The warm flavors of whisky or bourbon are a natural for winter cocktails.
Snow Cap
- 3 parts heavy cream
- 3 parts bourbon or whisky
- 2 parts orange liqueur
- 2 tsp powdered sugar
Stir all ingredients together. Pour into a small brandy snifter over crushed ice. Serve garnished with nutmeg and an orange twist.
Bourbon Ball
- 1 1/2 part bourbon
- 1/2 part hazelnut liqueur
- 1/2 part creme de cacao
- 1 part heavy cream
Combine bourbon, hazelnut liqueur and creme de cacao in a shaker with ice and shake to combine. Strain into a cocktail glass. Layer cream on top, and serve garnished with chocolate shavings. (Alternatively, the cream can be mixed with the whiskey and liquors.)
Royal Gingersnap
This signature drink from Crown Royal Whisky is more elaborate, and requires slightly more advance preparation, but the effect is well worth it.
- 1 1/2 oz. Crown Royal Whisky
- 1 tsp. orange marmalade
- 2 dashes of ginger syrup *
- 1 orange slice
- 1 maraschino cherry
Prepare a rocks glass by frosting the rim with a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Muddle the orange slice and cherry with the marmalade and the syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add Crown Royal and ice, and shake well. Strain the drink into the rocks glass over ice, and garnish with a flamed orange zest. **
* To make ginger syrup: Finely dice a three inch piece of fresh ginger. Place the ginger with one cup sugar and two cups water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about one hour. Let cool, and strain before use. For more intense ginger flavor, make the syrup a day ahead. Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one week.
** Flamed orange zest: Hold a lit match over the top of the cocktail. Hold the twist in the opposite hand, outer edge towards the drink, over the match. Squeeze the twist to release the oils through the flame onto the top of the drink. Add the twist to the cocktail.
Misty Winter Warmer
Canadian Mist's signature drink makes it easy to serve hot drinks to a crowd. It makes four quarts, and brews up in a 30-cup coffee maker!
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp. whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 quarts cranberry juice
- 46 ounces pineapple juice
- 2 cups Canadian Mist whisky
- 4 1/2 cups water
Place the brown sugar and spices in the pot basket of a 30-cup coffee maker. Add juices, water and whisky to the pot. Brew like coffee and serve hot, right from the pot. How easy is that?
White Christmas
Southern Comfort is technically a liqueur, not whisky, but its whisky flavor still fits the bill. Southern Comfort Reserve is a blend of Southern Comfort and bourbon.
- 4 oz. non-alcoholic eggnog
- 1/2 oz. white chocolate liqueur
- 1 oz. Southern Comfort
Pour the ingredients into a snifter, and give a quick stir to mix. Serve garnished with chocolate flakes or edible gold flakes.
For those extra chilly nights, why not consider a hot cocktail?
