Although it may not always feel like it, the holiday season has arrived, though solemnly. This year, celebrations may look different. Guest lists are shorter, gatherings are more intimate, and the pace is a little slower. Yet even in smaller moments, there is still warmth to be found, glasses to be raised, and reasons to celebrate. This season, we are choosing to lean into optimism and ritual, embracing festive cocktails that turn any evening into an occasion, whether you are hosting a holiday party or simply toasting the night from your own sofa.
We begin with Ardbeg Scotch Whisky, a name that commands reverence among peat lovers worldwide. Ardbeg Ten Years Old is often described as the peatiest, smokiest single malt on earth, yet its brilliance lies in restraint. Beneath the smoke is a natural malt sweetness that creates remarkable balance. That harmony shines in the Ginger Snap Old Fashioned, where maple syrup, amaro, and Angostura bitters soften the whisky’s edges. Served with an orange twist and gingersnap cookies, it feels like a fireside ritual captured in a glass.
Ginger Snap Old Fashioned
1.5oz Ardbeg Ten Year Old
¼ to ½ oz Maple Syrup
.5 oz Amaro
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Stir. Build a cocktail in a highball glass with ice. Garnish with an orange twist and serve with Gingersnap cookies on the side
An OA & Coco
1.5 oz Ardbeg An Oa
8 oz. Hot Chocolate
.25 oz. Butterscotch Syrup (can use Monin)
1 Pinch of salt
Build in a glass. For the Hot Chocolate, mix one tsp. with one cup of oat milk. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings
For those craving something richer, the above Ardbeg An Oa offers a softer expression of smoke, wrapped in butterscotch, dark chocolate, aniseed, and warming spice. An Oa & Coco transforms this whisky into a decadent holiday comfort drink. Hot chocolate blended with oat milk, a touch of butterscotch syrup, and a pinch of salt creates a silky backdrop for An Oa’s smoky sweetness. Finished with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, it is an indulgence without excess, perfect for long winter nights.
Broken Shed Vodka brings a playful yet refined energy to the season. The Broken Fireplace cocktail layers vodka with mezcal, cinnamon syrup, and bitters, finished with a smouldering rosemary sprig that perfumes the air like a winter hearth.
Broken Fireplace
1.5 oz Broken Shed Vodka
0.5 oz mezcal
1 teaspoon cinnamon simple syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash mole bitters
Garnish: 1 rosemary sprig
Stir all the ingredients over ice, then strain into a Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a smouldering rosemary sprig.
Broken Pav
2 oz vanilla-infused Broken Shed Vodka
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz heavy cream
1 egg white
3 drops orange blossom water
4 oz cold seltzer
Garnish: freeze-dried fruits
Dry shake all the ingredients (except the cold seltzer), then shake again with ice for five minutes. Double strain into a pint glass, then carefully pour the cold seltzer down a barspoon into the bottom of the glass. Garnish with freeze-dried fruits.
Vanilla-Infused Vodka
500 ml Broken Shed Vodka
1 vanilla bean, split lengthways
Add the vanilla bean to a glass container. Cover with Broken Shed Vodka and let sit at room temperature for 3 days, shaking occasionally. Strain through a cheesecloth-lined sieve and store in the refrigerator.
Meanwhile, the Broken Pav channels the festive spirit of New Zealand’s iconic pavlova dessert. Vanilla-infused vodka, lemon, cream, egg white, and orange blossom water create a light, airy cocktail that feels celebratory and nostalgic all at once, topped with freeze-dried fruit for texture and color.
From the rugged landscapes of northern Mexico comes Kilinga Bacanora, an additive-free agave spirit roasted with mesquite wood in underground ovens. Its delicate smokiness pairs beautifully with Jake’s single-estate maple syrup from Vermont in the Wood Fired Highball. Lemon juice and sparkling water keep the drink bright and refreshing while allowing the craftsmanship of its core ingredients to shine.
Wood Fired Highball
½ part 15ml ½ oz Jake’s Maple Syrup
½ part 15ml ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
2 parts 60 ml 2 oz Kilinga Bacanora Blanco
4 parts 120ml 4 oz Sparkling Water
Lemon Wheels
For best results, use ice-cold ingredients straight from the fridge. Add all ingredients to a tall glass. Ensure to finely strain your lemon juice for aesthetics. Fill with ice. Garnish with fine-cut lemon wheels.
Kilinga Espresso Martini
1 ½ oz Kilinga Silvestre
½ oz Triple Sec
2 oz Espresso
¼ oz Simple Syrup
2 (per serve) Orange Slices
Add ice, ingredients, and 2 slices of fresh orange to the shaker and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a cocktail glass. Add a light dust of cinnamon and a twist of orange for aromatics.
Kilinga also lends itself beautifully to a festive twist on a classic with the Kilinga Espresso Martini, where espresso, triple sec, and a hint of cinnamon create a bold yet balanced winter pick-me-up.
Cedar Ridge Distillery brings Midwest warmth to the lineup. Strongly Suggested, built with straight bourbon, brown butter toffee syrup, walnut liqueur, and Aztec chocolate bitters, feels like dessert dressed in a tailored suit. The Cranberry Cobbler, made with Cedar Ridge Rye, cranberry juice, cinnamon syrup, and lemon, offers a brighter, tangier counterpoint that fits effortlessly into any holiday spread.
Strongly Suggested
2oz. Cedar Ridge Straight Bourbon Whiskey
½ oz. Brown butter toffee syrup
1 oz. Walnut liqueur
2 dashes Aztec chocolate bitters
Flamed orange peel garnish
Combine all ingredients in a rocks glass over a king cube. Stir. Add flamed orange peel garnish.
Cranberry Cobbler
2 oz Cedar Ridge Rye
2 oz cranberry juice
1 oz cinnamon simple syrup
.5 oz lemon juice
Add ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass with regular ice.
Finally, Ron del Barrilito reminds us that classics endure for a reason. Created in the same decade as the Old Fashioned itself, this Puerto Rican rum brings new depth to the iconic cocktail. Swapping bourbon for Ron del Barrilito Three Stars reveals layers of character that feel both familiar and refreshingly new, proving that sometimes the simplest change can make a tradition feel brand new again.
Ron del Barrilito Old Fashioned
2 oz. Ron del Barrilito Three Stars
½z oz. brown sugar syrup
3 dashes of chocolate bitters
3 dashes of orange bitters
Garnish: dehydrated orange slice and cinnamon stick
Rock Glass
Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass and add ice. Stir for 10 seconds and strain into an Old Fashioned glass with ice. Squeeze the orange peel over the glass and place it on top of the cocktail. Garnish to taste. To get more of Ron del Barrilito’s essence, you can reduce the amount of brown sugar syrup.
This holiday season, celebration does not require a crowd. Sometimes, all it takes is a thoughtfully made drink, a favorite glass, and a moment worth savoring. Cheers to finding joy wherever you can with a festive cocktail.
