he holidays are a time of nostalgia and tradition, and with so many opportunities to entertain, ‘tis the season for experimenting behind the bar. When theming cocktails around the holidays, “Use ingredients that evoke the season you’re making cocktails for,” says Natasha Mesa, bartendress at New York City’s Hotel Chelsea Lobby Bar.
Unlike the fresh and bright drinks of summer, like shaken, citrus-forward daiquiris and margaritas, Mesa says fall and winter cocktails should be warm and inviting, to create something you want to cozy up with. “I like to use brown butter fat washes, baking spices, stone fruits, and honestly I love a good flip,” she shares. For the amateur mixologist, a “flip” can come in many variations, however, all contain liquor, egg, and sugar.
Discover how to make spirits brighter this holiday season with premium liquors and merry recipes shared by top mixologists.
