Business Insider recently surveyed award-winning bartenders from around the globe to uncover their favorite cocktails for the holiday season. Each bartender shared a drink that resonated with the festive atmosphere, showcasing a mix of classic and creatively reimagined flavors.
Classic Old-Fashioned
Tiffanie Barriere, a renowned cocktail educator, highlighted the Old-Fashioned as her go-to drink. This whiskey-based cocktail is known for its simplicity, requiring only bourbon or rye whiskey, bitters, and a touch of sugar. Barriere suggests experimenting with unique ingredients like peach preserves or pumpkin puree, making it versatile for holiday gatherings.
Warm and Comforting Hot Toddy
Deniseea Head, a prominent cocktail consultant, swears by the Hot Toddy during winter. This warming concoction blends whiskey, hot water, lemon, honey, and spices, offering both comfort and a cultural connection within the African American community. Head emphasizes its healing properties and encourages variations that infuse creative elements like soups or broths.
The Sazerac’s Theatrical Flair
Heriberto Mandez, a bar manager, enjoys elevating the Sazerac, a cocktail made with whiskey, bitters, sugar, and absinthe. Mandez impresses guests by caramelizing the absinthe and lighting the drink on fire before serving, adding an exciting theatrical element to the classic recipe.
Mulled Wine for Holiday Cheer
Jose Luis Mora, a renowned bartender in Spain, favors mulled wine, or glühwein, during the holiday season. This warm drink combines red wine, spices, and citrus, often found at holiday markets. Mora appreciates its comforting nature and how it enhances outdoor holiday festivities.
Revamped Eggnog
Liana Oster, a seasoned beverage director, finds joy in eggnog, often creating unique twists on the traditional recipe. Her experimentation ranges from pumpkin-infused versions to frozen variations, celebrating the drink’s communal spirit during holiday gatherings.
Punch for Summer Celebrations
Charné van Heerden, the 2023 bartender of the year from South Africa, shares her favorite punch recipe featuring rooibos tea and brandy. Served cold, this drink is perfect for summer celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing the diversity of holiday cocktails around the world.
Spiced Cocktails
Stanislav Harcinik from the Mirror Bar Cocktail Bar in Washington D.C. emphasizes the festive use of spices in cocktails, particularly with traditional Slovakian fruit brandies. Combining these flavors with ginger, honey, and lemon, he captures the essence of winter holidays.
These mixologists remind us that the holiday season is an ideal time to explore a variety of cocktails, enhancing festivities with both traditional and innovative drinks.