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Cocktail History
The Mistletoe & Wine is a Christmas cocktail that was created in 2022 by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of Sips From Scripts, for a Secret Santa challenge. For the 2022 round, the goal was to design a recipe that was inspired by the Christmas song of choice, and “Mistletoe & Wine” by Cliff Richard was selected as a nod to the Secret Santa’s profession of sommelier in Louisville, Kentucky. The drink combines a base of whiskey and dark red port wine for a rich and robust foundation, enhanced by the seasonal sweetness of maple syrup and the herbal complexity of Amaro Braulio. Nutty bitters and cream then elevate the cocktail further, transforming it into a decadent, dessert-like indulgence ideal for cozy holiday celebrations.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Half & Half: This is a dairy product made with equal parts milk and cream. I used Prairie Farm Half & Half.
Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, grains, malted barley, and water. I used Knob Creek 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
Ruby Port: This is a fortified wine made in Portugal with a blend of red grapes. I used Sandeman Fine Ruby Porto.
Maple Syrup: This is a sweet, amber-colored syrup made by boiling down the sap of sugar maple trees.
Amaro Braulio: This is a liqueur made in Italy with bitter oranges, herbs, botanicals, florals, alcohol, and water.
Black Walnut Bitters: This is a food product made with black walnuts, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Fee Brothers Bitters Black Walnut Bitters.
Grated Nutmeg: This is a spice made from the seed of a nutmeg tree. I used Frontier Co-op Whole Nutmeg.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.
Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Grater: This is a tool that’s used to finely shred or zest ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips Grater.
Irish Coffee Mug: This is a heat-resistant glass mug with a sturdy handle and footed base that’s used to serve warm drinks. I used the Libbey Georgian Irish Coffee Mug.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Pale red-pink color
• Aroma: Nutmeg and port wine
• Taste: Sweet cream, maple, and sharp port wine flavors
• Finish: More maple, bourbon spice, wine, and menthol
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I had no idea what to expect of a whiskey, port wine, and herbal amaro combination for a Christmas cocktail, but I can honestly say this drink is a creamy and complex delight. The wine’s flavor is nicely rounded out by a nuttiness thanks to the bitters and garnish, there’s a twinge of amaro on the tongue, and the bourbon is masked far more than I thought it would be. It all works together really well, and I think this interpretation of the song Mistletoe & wine was knocked out of the park flavor-wise. Yummy!”
Recipe
Mistletoe & Wine
The Mistletoe & Wine is a Christmas cocktail that was created in 2022 by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of Sips From Scripts, for a Secret Santa challenge. For the 2022 round, the goal was to design a recipe that was inspired by the Christmas song of choice, and "Mistletoe & Wine" by Cliff Richard was selected as a nod to the Secret Santa's profession of sommelier in Louisville, Kentucky. The drink uniquely pairs a whiskey and dark red port wine base with maple, Amaro Braulio, and nutty bitters to make a creamy dessert template.
Ingredients
Method
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Add half & half, bourbon, wine, maple syrup, amaro, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into an Irish coffee mug.
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Garnish with grated nutmeg.
