Whether you’re making a drink for a party or just for yourself, these holiday-appropriate cocktails will bring a little joy to your world.
Tattersall Distilling from Minneapolis recently sent three bottles to C&I HQ — Straight Rye Whiskey, Cranberry Liqueur, and Sour Cherry Liqueur — along with a few recommended cocktail recipes. A few C&I editors tried a batch of one of those drinks, Poinsettia Punch, and the not-too-sweet, not-too-spicy effervescent ginger-spiked concoction was a unanimous hit. Says Tattersall cofounder Dan Oskey: “This is a light and bright drink with a nice zip. Sweet, citrusy, and not overly boozy, it’s a perfect sipper for New Year’s Eve and great for mixing up for a crowd.”
My usual rye cocktail consists of the following steps and ingredients: “Place 2 or 3 ice cubes in lowball glass, then pour desired amount of rye.” But I do love a good old-fashioned, and Tattersall’s seasonally appropriate Cranberry Old Fashioned sounds intriguing. Oskey says this about the Tattersall holiday take on the classic drink: “Our 100-percent straight rye whiskey is tamed with the sweet earthiness of maple syrup. The cranberry puts a seasonal spin on this classic drink with tart undertones. The whiskey is still the star of the show in this old-fashioned riff, but the cranberry lends a playful note on the finish.”
And just for good measure, we’ll include Oskey’s more traditional old-fashioned recipe, too.
Poinsettia Punch
1½ ounces Tattersall Cranberry Liqueur
½ ounce ginger syrup
½ ounce Fresh Lime Juice
2 ounces Sparkling Wine
2 dashes angostura bitters
Batch:
18 ounces Tattersall Cranberry Liqueur
6 ounces ginger syrup
6 ounces lime juice
1 bottle sparkling wine
1 tablespoon angostura bitters
Combine single drink in glass, or combine batch in a large bowl or pitcher and served chilled.
Cranberry Old Fashioned
2 ounces Tattersall Straight Rye Whiskey
½ ounce Tattersall Cranberry Liqueur
¼ ounce Tattersall Sour Cherry
¼ ounce maple syrup
4 dashes Angostura bitters
Expressed orange peel
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir until well chilled. Strain into a lowball over fresh ice. Garnish with an expressed orange peel.
Tattersall Old Fashioned
2 ounces Bourbon
¼ ounce Rich Demerara Cocktail Syrup
¼ ounce Tattersall Sour Cherry Liqueur
4 dashes Angostura bitters
1 brandied cherry
Expressed orange peel
Combine in a glass, add ice, stir for 8 seconds. Strain into a lowball filled with ice. Express an orange peel over the surface of the drink. Garnish with a brandied cherry and expressed orange peel.
Photography: Taylor Presley