Christmas Bourbon Cocktail
Cozy, bright, and perfectly festive—smooth bourbon shaken with fresh orange and lemon, warm maple, vanilla, and gentle holiday spices. Serve over ice with a cinnamon stick and cranberries.
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger
- Strainer
- Muddler
- Bar spoon
- Fine mesh sieve
- Measuring spoons
- Small saucepan
- Rocks glass or coupe glass
- Ice cubes
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon whiskey
- 1 oz orange juice fresh
- 0.5 oz lemon juice fresh
- 0.5 oz maple syrup or honey syrup (1:1 honey and hot water)
- 0.25 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- 1 splash cranberry juice or apple cider optional, for a fruitier taste
- cinnamon stick for garnish
- fresh cranberries or orange slice for garnish
- club soda or ginger beer optional, to top for a lighter version
Instructions
- Add bourbon, orange juice, lemon juice, maple (or honey) syrup, vanilla extract, and orange bitters.
- Sprinkle in a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. Add a splash of cranberry juice or apple cider if desired.
- Shake firmly for about 15 seconds until well-chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Fine-strain for an extra-smooth texture if using fresh juice.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and cranberries or an orange slice. Optionally top with a splash of club soda or ginger beer.
Notes
Fresh-squeezed citrus gives the brightest flavor. Warm honey with a little hot water to make it blend easily. For batching, multiply ingredients, stir over ice in a pitcher, and strain into glasses. A fruitier style uses a splash of cranberry juice or apple cider; a lighter version gets a splash of soda just before serving.