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Cocktail History
The Mistletoe & Wine is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created for a Secret Santa challenge. For this year’s round, we were told to create a recipe that was inspired by the Christmas song of our choice. We went with “Mistletoe & Wine” by Cliff Richard as a nod to our Secret Santa’s profession of sommelier in Louisville, Kentucky and decided to pair a whiskey and dark red port wine base with maple, Amaro Braulio, and nutty bitters in a creamy dessert drink template.
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. We 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. We used Knob Creek 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon because it’s rich and full bodied with notes of smooth vanilla and caramel. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey in place of the whiskey.
Ruby Port: This is a fortified wine made in Portugal with a blend of red grapes. We used Sandeman Fine Ruby Porto because it has a full-bodied flavor with notes of fruit, chocolate, and spices. For a mocktail version of this drink, try R.W. Knudsen Just Concord Grape Juice mixed with lime zest in place of the wine.
Maple Syrup: This is a syrup made with the sap from maple trees. We used a local maple syrup.
Amaro Braulio: This is a liqueur made in Italy with bitter orange, herbs, botanicals, and florals. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro.
Black Walnut Bitters: This is a food product made with black walnuts, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Fee Brothers Bitters Black Walnut Bitters.
Grated Nutmeg: This is a spice made from the seed of a nutmeg tree. We used whole nutmeg from the bulk section at our local grocery store.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Grater: This is used to grate spices or citrus peel. We used the OXO Good Grips Grater.
Tasting Notes
The Mistletoe & Wine begins with aromas of nutmeg and port and has a smooth, thick mouthfeel that features sweet cream, maple, and sharp port flavors with a finish that combines maple, bourbon, and wine, all with a unique herbal menthol aftertaste.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We were both as keen on the drink as we were the the catchy Christmas song that inspired it. Its unique herbal complexity is only slightly challenging to the palate and is a perfect pairing for the sweetness of the other ingredients. We’ll be making the Mistletoe & Wine again come the holidays!
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Given our Secret Santa’s profession, I knew wine had to be a component of this drink, so I did a Google search for ‘Christmas songs with wine’ and came across Cliff Richard’s hit. After several iterations, I decided that a dessert drink mixed with ruby port would be a winner. The bourbon also provides a slightly spicy and malty body, while the Amaro Braulio steals the show with its herbal blend and menthol flavor. The recipe, while sweet, is on the ‘serious’ side, featuring a mixture of flavors we both loved.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I really 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 Alex knocked this interpretation out of the park flavor-wise. Yummy!”
Recipe
Add half & half, bourbon, wine, maple syrup, amaro, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into an Irish coffee mug.
Garnish with grated nutmeg.
Ingredients
Directions
Add half & half, bourbon, wine, maple syrup, amaro, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into an Irish coffee mug.
Garnish with grated nutmeg.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey in place of the whiskey, R.W. Knudsen Just Concord Grape Juice mixed with lime zest in place of the wine, and Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Christmas Cocktails
If you like this Christmas-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
The Little Donkey: A vodka cocktail made with gingerbread syrup, lime juice, ginger beer, and a cinnamon stick
Cranberry Cobbler: A sherry cocktail made with cranberry syrup, orange slices, a mint sprig, and cranberries
Poinsettia Cooler: A tequila cocktail made with cranberry juice, cranberry shrub, lime juice, and cranberries
Kohler Mint Cocoa: A chocolate mint brandy cocktail made with milk, white peppermint schnapps, dark crème de cacao, cocoa powder, whipped cream, and grated chocolate
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