High-Proof Holiday Whiskey Cocktails
‘Tis the Season for celebration! Whether you’re hosting or attending a gathering over the holidays, these three crowd-pleasers are full of flavor to put the jingle in your mingle! Even better: you can make them ahead of time.
Pick up a bottle of our American Single Malt Whiskey at our Distillery and Cocktail Room or at a retailer near you to craft each of these signature drinks at home!
Manhattan
Makes 12 Cocktails
Why We Love It: You can’t go wrong serving this long-time classic at your holiday parties. With the rich depth of American Single Malt Whiskey and the lush sweetness of vermouth and cherries, it’s a treat for the tastebuds.
Ingredients:
1 750ml bottle of Brother Justus American or Cold-Peated® American Single Malt Whiskey
1 375ml bottle of Brother Justus Assenzio sweet vermouth-style liqueur, or comparable sweet vermouth
Your favorite cocktail cherries (We love Luxardo or Amarena)
Combine one bottle of whiskey and one bottle of Assenzio (or 1 ½ cups comparable sweet vermouth) in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Just before serving, add 4-5 ice cubes to the bowl for dilution and chilling, then use a ladle to serve neat in a coupe glass, or over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a skewered cherry and toast the holiday season!
Party Pairings: Any combo of sweet and savory, such as bacon-wrapped dates, fig and prosciutto flatbread, creamy goat cheese and roasted vegetables, or glazed meatballs.
Boulevardier
Makes 16 Cocktails
Why We Love It: Guests might be familiar with the Boulevardier’s cousin, the Negroni, but instead of crisp and bright bitterness on the palate, the Boulevardier is rich and warming – perfect for a chilly winter night.
Ingredients:
1 750ml bottle of Brother Justus American or Cold-Peated® American Single Malt Whiskey
1 375ml bottle of Brother Justus Primo red bitter liqueur or comparable red bitter liqueur like Campari
1 375ml bottle of Brother Justus Assenzio sweet vermouth-style liqueur, or comparable sweet vermouth
Your favorite cocktail cherries (We love Luxardo or Amarena)
Combine one bottle whiskey, 1 cup of sweet vermouth, and 1 ½ cups of red bitter liqueur punch bowl. Right before serving, add 5 ice cubes to the punch bowl and stir. Use a ladle to serve neat in a coupe glass, or over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a skewered cherry and enjoy!
Party Pairings: A classic charcuterie tray, filled with hard cheeses like Pecorino or parmesan, smoked gouda, and blue cheese.
Tart and Toasty Toddy
Makes 15 Cocktails
Why We Love It: What’s more festive than adding cranberries to your drink! In this case, cranberries, cinnamon, and citrus take a hot toddy to the next level to be the perfect winter warmer.
Ingredients:
1 12-ounce package of fresh or frozen cranberries
2 quarts water
2 cups orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1.5 cups sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 750ml Bottle of Brother Justus American Single Malt Whiskey
In a large saucepan, bring cranberries and water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 7 minutes until berries pop and split. Stir in orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon sticks, and return to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 25 minutes. Then, you can serve immediately, or keep refrigerated for up to one week (reheat on the stovetop on low to medium heat).
When ready to serve, strain the liquid through cheesecloth or a colander to remove cinnamon sticks and cranberries. Then, pour one cup of mulled juice into mug, add 1.5 ounces Brother Justus American Single Malt Whiskey, stir, and enjoy! Garnish with a cinnamon stick or lemon twist if desired.
Party Pairings: Keep it light and sweet, with buttery biscuits, holiday cookies, flaky puff pastries, or baked brie on crostini.
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