Trying to get ahead of the game, I’ve got six people staying with me for a week this holiday season and I would love to make a kind of batch cocktail. I’ve made egg nog in the past and loved it, but I’ve got two avid egg nog haters and one gluten free dietary restriction. Is there anything I can make that is generally well liked but still fun? I like decorating my drinks and making them all fancy. I mostly drink whiskey based cocktails, but I also enjoy every kind of cocktail that doesn’t have gin.
Here’s one of my own (its a minor variation on this; https://youtu.be/nEQjcLZ-DaE?si=Ug4CMykM_RDjPdTa)
I call my variation a Northern Soul.
- 1.5oz rye whisky (I reccomend the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye)
- 0.5oz Cointreau
- 0.25oz Maple Syrup
- 1oz Half and Half Cream
Shake over ice, strain into a chilled coupe. Dust the top with burnt cinammon (take a pinch of cinammon between your fingers, sprinkle it through the flame of a blowtorch and onto the surface of the drink. You can also use a match or taper as long as you’re careful not to get ash in the drink, and this can be done in front of the guest for added showmanship). Optionally, express an orange peel and rub it on the rim, to really amp up those orange notes.
This gives you the Christmassy feel of ice cream and cinammon, but without the heaviness of egg nog. The half and half sounds like a lot, but with the dilution from the ice it becomes more like drinking chilled milk, and orange brightens up the taste and keeps it from being over bearingly sweet. Well, in my opinion anyway, but obviously I’m biased.
This sounds awesome! Especially love the maple syrup and burnt cinnamon, I’d never have thought to try burning the cinnamon. Does it make it stronger?
