Holiday Spiced Whiskey Cocktail

If it wasn't for booze, the Holidays would be a much less pleasant time of year. Going home feels a little like a wild pack of chihuahuas biting at my ankles non-stop, except we don't own any dogs. So any reason to make a festive cocktail is reason enough for me. Between the spending your life savings on gifts no one really needs, battling with cats just to put a ribbon on my gifts and hanging out with family members who talk to imaginary people when they drink, a proper stiff cocktail is in order.

Back when I had my 30th birthday someone brought a huge jug of Whiskey that barely got touched so I figured the holidays were the perfect time to turn it into a festive delicious holiday cocktail. I bought an amazing apothecary container a couple years ago at Z Gallery and it was such a great buy, it is gorgeous and it is a great way to spruce up inexpensive booze by infusing it various fun flavors! The Apothecary was around $50 bucks but I see them at Target and all over for much cheaper, and it really is something you will get a ton of use out of.  

HOLIDAY SPICED WHISKEY COCKTAIL:

Handle of  Bourbon Whiskey 

6- Cinnamon Sticks 

Jar of Whole Cloves

5 Oranges

1 week of time to infuse (the longer it infuses the more delicious it becomes!)

Club Soda or Champagne as a mixer

Using a Mandoline slicer I took 4 of the Oranges and using the medium thickness setting began to slice them all into slices with the skin and everything all still on. Remove any seeds before adding the slices to your Whiskey. Take 1 orange and cut it into wedges. Stick the whole cloves into the skin of the orange wedges so they will stay in . 

Add the Orange slices to your container filled with Whiskey. Add in 6 cinnamon sticks and 1 tablespoon of cloves. Let this mixture infuse for about a week before serving, the longer you let it infuse the better the results.  You can leave the fruit in as long as there is Whiskey in the container to preserve it.

To serve your cocktail put in a Champagne glass (or something more manly for the guys) and add a curl of Orange peel and a cinnamon stick. I added Club soda to reduce the intensity, but I am a chick and wasn't trying to grow hair on my chest by drinking straight Whiskey. Men however, will love this straight. 

For the Orange Curl I used my Citrus Zester which has a handy tool at the end to create this curly little citrus gems. If you don't have that just carefully use a pairing knife to cut a thin ribbon. Wrap it around your finger to create a bit of a curl. You can also hold a lighter to the skin a minute to let the oil from the Orange drip into the drink for extra flavor. This Whiskey is also fabulous if you add Champagne to make the cocktail instead of Club Soda, none Whiskey fans will find it much more delightful that way. 

Anything bad + Champagne= Much better.

Happy Holidays! (a bit late) I hope you all survived! 

xo!

R&S