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Walnut Creek Magazine

Jazz Up A Celebration with These Creative Cocktails

Dec 21, 2021 12:40PM ● By Fran Miller

Averna Black Manhattan


Seeking libation inspiration for ringing in the new year? Whether staying home and bingeing 'Succession' or gathering with friends and family, these 15 top tipples will help you to celebrate in style:

Hot Apple and Orange Toddy

Hot Apple and Orange Toddy 
 
Ingredients:
1 oz. Tequila Cazadores Reposado
1/2 oz. blood orange puree
1 package of apple cider
5 oz. hot water
2 Star anise

Method: In a mug, combine apple cider, hot water, and blood orange puree and mix well. Add the rest of the ingredients and serve garnished with an orange slice.

Spiced Apple Cider Mule  
 
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. Tequila Cazadores Reposado
1 tsp. spiced apple cider powder
1 lemon wedge
Top with ginger beer
Pinch of nutmeg
 
Method: In a mixing glass, combine the first three ingredients with ice, shake, and serve over the rocks. Top with ginger beer and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Garnish with lemon and mint. 
 
Apothic Ginger Sparkler

Ingredients:
1 bottle Apothic Red
1 bottle/can ginger beer
Mint, lemon wedge, orange wheel or dark cherry (optional garnishes)
 
Method: Combine 3 ounces Apothic Red and 3 ounces ginger beer in a glass filled with ice. Stir it up then choose your own garnish adventure of mint, lime wedge, orange wheel, or a dark cherry.

 
Negroni Sbagliato (pictured above)
 
Ingredients:
1 oz. Cinzano Rosso
1 oz. Campari
Top with Cinzano Prosecco D.O.C.
 
Method: Pour the ingredients directly in a glass filled with fresh ice. Stir and complete with a half-wheel or twist of orange.
 
California Royale 
 
Ingredients:
1 oz Argonaut Fat Thumb
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz cranberry juice cocktail
2.5 oz dry sparkling wine
1 dash vanilla extract
Fresh thyme for garnish⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
 
Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin except the sparkling wine. Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a thyme sprig and a fresh cranberry.
  
Aperol Spritz
 
Ingredients:
Equal parts of Cinzano Sparkling Wine (Prosecco D.O.C.) & Aperol
A splash of soda
 
Method: In a glass full of ice combine Cinzano Prosecco D.O.C. followed by Aperol in equal parts. Add a splash of soda. Garnish with an orange slice.
 

Flannel Szn

Flannel Szn
Created by: Evan Wolf, The Company Burger, New Orleans
 
Ingredients:
1½ oz. Bourbon
½ oz. Averna
¾ oz. cider syrup
¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
 
Method: Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake to chill. Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish.
 
Cider Syrup:
4 oz. apple cider
4 oz. raw sugar
2 oz. honey
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise pods
1 Tbsp whole allspice
1 tsp whole cloves
 
Dissolve the sugar and honey in apple cider over low heat and steep with spices to taste. Once cooled, strain out the spices and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
 
Averna Black Manhattan  

Ingredients:
1 part Averna
2 parts Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
1-2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Brandied cherry
 
Method: Stir all ingredients with ice until cold. Strain into a well-chilled coupe. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
 

Caffe Shakerato

Caffe Shakerato 
Created by Linden Pride, Dante NYC

Ingredients:
1 oz. Averna
½ oz. coffee liqueur
¼ oz. Appleton reserve
2 dashes Reagan orange bitters
½ oz. agave
1 ½ oz. fresh espresso
 
Method:
Whip the shake and pour into latte glass over pebbled ice. Garnish with orange wedge.
 
Sicilian Espresso Martini
Created by Linden Pride, Dante NYC

Ingredients:
1 oz. Averna
½ oz. Espolón Blanco
¼ oz. dark crème de cacao
½ oz. Orgeat
1.5 oz. cold espresso
3 dashes chocolate bitters
 
Method: Shake very hard and strain into a large coupe; add coffee beans and a side dish of unsalted toasted almonds.
 

You 'Can' Go Big

You ‘Can’ Go Big 
 
Ingredients:
1 can SVEDKA RTD Strawberry Lemonade 
1 oz grapefruit juice
.25 oz honey 
10 dashes hot sauce 
Cinnamon sea salt to rim 
 
Method: Rim the can with cinnamon salt by rolling the front of the can in grapefruit juice and then the salt. Open the can and pour out 1.5 oz of Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Soda. Set it on the side and enjoy on your own as a taster. For the can, add grapefruit juice and honey and 10 dashes of hot sauce directly into the can. Garnish with a strawberry half, grapefruit moon, mini hot sauce and salted rim.
 
A Martini That Really Brines 
 
Ingredients:
2 oz 80 Proof SVEDKA Vodka 
1.5 oz pineapple juice 
1 oz CLAUSSEN ® Pickle Juice 
.25 oz simple syrup (1 cup water: 1 cup sugar)
 
Method: Add 80 Proof SVEDKA Vodka, pineapple juice, pickle juice and simple syrup into a shaker. Fill with ice and shake for 5 seconds. Strain into a Nick and Nora glass and garnish with a pickle spear. 
 
99 Brand Caramel Apple Cocktail 

Ingredients: 
50mL of 99 Butterscotch
50mL of 99 Apples
1 oz. of Vodka 
 
Method: Pour your choice of vodka into a small glass filled with ice. Add in one shot of 99 Apples and one shot of 99 Butterscotch and stir well.
 

Copper Old Fashioned (pictured above)
 
Ingredients:
2 oz. The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old
2 barspoons honey
4 dashes orange bitters
 
Method: Shake and strain. Garnish with orange peel.
 

PATRÓN Sherry Show Your Cards

PATRÓN Sherry Show Your Cards 
 
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Patrón Sherry Cask Añejo
.5 oz apple brandy
.75 oz honey syrup
.75 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
5 cardamom pods
Apple fan, for garnish
 
Method: Gently toast the cardamom pods in a pan (or with a torch) and muddle in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add liquid ingredients and shake with ice to chill. Double-strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with an apple fan. 

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