Purple Cowboy is ringing in the new year with Whiskey Sister, and we’ve rustled up a few irresistible bourbon cocktails that will keep you and yours “fa la la la la-ing” all season long.
Coming in from the Cold
Whether you are skiing the trails, working the land, or outside stringing up the lights, nothing beats coming home and warming up. We recommend the Caffee d’Alpi, out of Boulder, CO that starts with your favorite hot coffee with bourbon, honey, and whipped cream for a mug full of delicious.
Or put a pot on the stove to simmer with Emeril’s Bourbon Spiked Hot Chocolate for a toastier take on hot cocoa. Top each cup with whipped cream, and you can even add a splash of bourbon when you whip that up, too!
New Classics
The Clint Eastwood—named in honor of the king of the spaghetti western—is a twist on the ultimate bourbon classic, the Manhattan using spiced vermouth with Italian Amerena cherries. Mix the bourbon, vermouth, and orange bitters in a shaker and strain into individual cocktail glasses.
For the whiskey-sour lovers out there, we’ve got two options that bring winter-time citrus flavors together with our favorite bourbon.
To make the Big Texan Bourbon and Grapefruit, from Austin-based chef James Holmes, combine fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and bourbon, and then shake and strain into ice-filled rocks glasses. Pucker up and enjoy!
The Ginger Gold Rush from Saveur uses ginger liqueur, lemon juice, and bourbon. Mix in a shaker and serve straight up, garnished with a cherry.
Bourbon South of the Border
A large batch of horchata, a Mexican rice drink made of rice and cinnamon, is perfect for the holidays all by its lonesome. But why not pair it up with Whiskey Sister Bourbon for a real kick? Now you’re giving eggnog a run for its money.
Since you can make the rice drink in advance and add the bourbon to pitchers or individual glasses, this is great for a crowd of thirsty cowboys and cowgirls. Start with a basic horchata recipe, or try Horchata with Cinnamon and Vanilla-Spiced Bourbon from food blog Tomato Tart, which brings in some more complex flavors. Whatever you chose, the smoky bite of the bourbon will help to balance the sweetness of the horchata.
We hope you enjoy the bourbon cocktails here, share your own favorites with us in the comments below. Whatever you are celebrating this year, and however you celebrate, we at Purple Cowboy and Whiskey Sister wish you a joyous and safe holiday season!