Toast to Holiday Cheer With These Bourbon Christmas Cocktails
At The Austin Artisan, we love whipping up inventive takes on more than just food – we love trying new things with cocktails too. Especially when the cocktail contains whiskey, one of our favorite spirits for cooking and drinking.
We’re sharing some of our favorite bourbon cocktails that have made an appearance at holiday celebrations this year. The first one up on our list? A cocktail that is the perfect pear-ing (forgive the pun!) for toasting to good cheer in the new year and beyond!
Pear & Ginger-Infused Whiskey Cocktail
Why are pears associated with Christmas?
Pears have long been associated with the Christmas holiday, partly because of practicality. A deliciously juicy and fresh pear (especially if it’s encrusted in gold like Harry and David’s famous pears) might stay that way for a reasonably long amount of time, which made them a good choice of fresh fruit to survive those long winter months. But when the popular Christmas song came along, it was then that the fruit became a true icon of the holiday season. You know the one…
…and a partridge in a pear tree…
Now you might be wondering why anyone would want a partridge in a pear tree for Christmas. The truth is, nobody really knows. Perhaps they once had a meaning associated with the weather or with seasonal food. But whatever that meaning was, it has become long lost to time.
So there’s a culinary mystery for you. But here’s the thing about our featured cocktail today. Unlike a partridge in a pear tree, it is something you definitely have use for. It is the color of a shimmering star and boasts the perfect amount of sugar and spice for a festive cocktail.
Pear & Ginger-Infused Bourbon Christmas Cocktail Recipe
2 ounces of freshly squeezed Bartlett pear juice
1/2 ounce of ginger simple syrup
2 oz bourbon
1-2 drops of walnut bitters
splash of sparkling water
Serve in a glass with ice
garnish with a cinnamon stick and orange twist
Apple Cider Old Fashioned Bourbon Christmas Cocktail
Next up on our bourbon Christmas cocktails list is a new and inventive take on an old-fashioned. Our take on the classic cocktail features apple cider and a bit of ginger for some traditional Christmas flavors.
What bourbon pairs well with apple cider?
Honestly, any bourbon pairs well with apple cider. Straight Bourbon is consistently 51% corn, has to be aged for at least 2 years, and this process imbues it with hints of caramel. This makes it the perfect pairing for apple flavors.
We love supporting Texas businesses. For this recipe we recommend picking up a bottle of bourbon from Texas-favorite Balcones. And we suggest Rambler for the sparkling water.
Apple Cider Old Fashioned Bourbon Christmas Cocktail
1 oz Apple Cider
1 Oz Bourbon
1/2 oz Ginger Syrup
2 Dashes Walnut Bitters
1 Oz Rambler Sparkling Water
Sugared or Fresh Cranberries for Garnish
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