File this under the I-can’t-believe-this-is-a-real-holiday-but-I’m-sure-glad-it-is category. January 17th marks Hot Buttered Rum Day, and as with all drinking holidays, we’re happy to partake. Hot Buttered Rum is one of our favorite seasonal drinks and is a nice change-of-pace from egg nog and spiked cider. Rum is the perfect base for this buttery libation, which is spiced up with allspice dram and apple cider. There are several quality recipes for Hot Buttered Rum, but this year we’re making the below recipe, courtesy of Kenneth McCoy and NYC’s Rum House. Hot Buttered Brugal 2 oz Brugal Añejo Rum 1 teaspoon honey ½ teaspoon butter 4 oz hot...

The Brandy Crusta was perhaps the pinnacle of 1800s cocktailing. First created around 1840 or 1850, the Brandy Crusta modified the classic cocktail template -- spirit, sugar, water and bitters -- with some fresh lemon juice and a dash of orange liqueur. The result was a bright, easy-to-gulp cocktail that didn't shy away from its boozy backbone. The Brandy Crusta wasn't the first drink to utilize citrus and liqueur, but it's one of the few 1800s-era cocktails to do so and really stand the test of time. For that, Brandy Crusta, we salute you. As Brandy and Cognac cocktails have made a...

Let’s ring in 2012 the way we left 2011 – with a nice buzz. New Year’s Eve calls for Champagne, but if you want to augment your drinking with something more than a bottle of bubbly, try some easy-to-make Champagne cocktails. Last year we covered the aptly-named Champagne Cocktail, the French 75 and the Death in the Afternoon as worthy New Year’s Eve cocktails. Any of those will do the trick. Or try one of these festive drinks. Italian 76 2 oz gin 1/2 oz Aperol 1/2 lemon juice 1/2 oz simple syrup Prosecco Shake first four ingredients with ice. Strain into a coupe and top with...

Fernet, that most bitter of Italian amari, has reached cult-like status in recent years. It’s a favorite shot for bartenders, a popular digestivo in San Francisco – Northern California accounts for nearly 40% of all Fernet Branca’s U.S. sales – and is often mixed with Coke in Argentina. But as Camper English notes, until now, a call for Fernet has almost exclusively meant Fernet Branca, the most widely available brand of the Italian liqueur. Hoping to change that, two companies will begin giving consumers more choices in their Fernet consumption. Camper’s San Francisco Chronicle article reports that drinkers can expect to...

Hendrick’s Gin has been busy this holiday season, having recently unveiled its Enchanted Forest of Curiosities in San Francisco and Brooklyn. The snowy indoor scene was brought to life with trees, woodland creatures and bizarre performances – think ukulele bands and sword swallowers. Also, cocktails. Guests enjoyed Hendrick's cocktails created by Brand Ambassador Jim Ryan. Hendrick’s Gin is comprised of 11 botanicals, including the very distinct infusions of cucumber and rose petals, which gives it great application in cocktails. Like the fine libations detailed below. Alaskan Sour 1 ½ oz Hendrick’s Gin ¾ oz Yellow Chartreuse ½ oz Simple Syrup ½ oz Lemon Juice ¼ oz...

The holidays are approaching, which means our inboxes are being inundated with holiday cocktail recipes. We’ll include some of the better ones below and will continue updating this post as drinks roll in. Here’s to happy and festive drinking this holiday season. Hot Gin Punch 24 oz Hendrick’s Gin 24 oz Madeira wine 6 lemon twists 1 orange slice 3 large chunks pineapple 3 oz honey 1 oz fresh lemon juice 3 cloves 1 pinch ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon brown sugar Add all the ingredients to a large saucepan over low heat and simmer for 20 minutes. To serve, strain and pour the hot mixture into a punch bowl...

Happy Thanksgiving, fellow drinkers! If you’re looking for some holiday-appropriate libations, we’ve got you covered. Check below for Thanksgiving cocktails, and give thanks for what’s in your glass. Of course, if an eating binge makes cocktail crafting too complicated, no worries. A bottle of Wild Turkey always does the trick. Peligroso Cranberry Margarita 4 oz 100% cranberry juice 2 oz Peligroso Silver tequila .5 oz Cointreau .5 oz fresh lime juice .5 oz agave nectar Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a margarita glass. Garnish with cranberries. Holiday Smash 2 oz bourbon .5 oz fresh lemon juice .5 oz Maple syrup 5-6 Cranberries Rosemary sprig Muddle cranberries and rosemary. Add remaining ingredients and...

Scotch Whisky doesn’t get enough love in cocktails. Sure, we prefer to sip it straight more often than not, but a well-crafted Scotch cocktail is something special. And there’s just something about the holidays that makes us crave them. Thankfully, Highland Park sent along some inspiration, in the form of these drinks, each featuring Highland Park’s 12 year old expression. For the best results, pair with a warm fire. This first drink was crafted by Damon Boelte of NYC’s Prime Meats. It starts with the basic sour template, and from there it invokes the holidays with cinnamon syrup and some apricot liqueur. UK...

Halloween’s coming, and with it, another excuse for thematic cocktails. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply occupying the front porch and turning the hose on neighborhood kids, try the below cocktail recipes for a good time. Note that we opted for real drinks here, rather than gross-out libations that taste as scary as they look. Halloween Cocktails Created by Demetrios Saites of NYC’s The Fat Radish, the Witches Brew, pictured above, employs Aperol and blood orange juice for that nice bloody hue. Kanon Vodka Witches Brew 2 oz Kanon Vodka 1 part blood orange juice 1/2 oz aperol 1/2 oz lime juice 1/2 oz simple syrup Shake with...

The entries are in, and the results show that booze is in fact a suitable breakfast. October’s Mixology Monday focused on morning drinks, a subject near and dear to us here at Cocktail Enthusiast. While bloody marys, screwdrivers and mimosas have their place, we challenged participants to create something different – inventive cocktails that jump start your morning, absolve the prior night’s sins or just taste really good with eggs and bacon. The besotted bunch of contributors concocted some impressive drinks, and we can’t wait to start mixing these up at home. We’ll kick things off with The...