4 minute read
Elevate Your HOLIDAY FEAST With The Perfect Cocktail Pairings
The holiday season is all about indulging in delicious meals while sipping on cheery cocktails. Whether enjoying a traditional turkey and dressing dinner or opting for something more unconventional like Chinese takeout, the right cocktail can enhance your dining experience. In this guide by Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails, you will be inspired by the best meal and cocktail pairings to ensure your celebrations are filled with flavor and festivity.
{ Turkey and Dressing pairs with a Sidecar }
This quintessential holiday centerpiece deserves a cocktail that complements its rich and savory flavors. Enter the Sidecar cocktail. This classic blend of Cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice brings a perfect balance of citrus and warmth, making it the ideal partner for turkey and dressing.
Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails’
Sidecar Recipe:
• 2 oz. of Cognac
• .75 oz. of fresh lemon juice
• .5 oz. of Cointreau
• Shake and double strain into a coupe glass
• Garnish with sugar rim and lemon wheel
{ Candied Sweet Potatoes and Cranberry Sauce pairs with an Old Fashioned }
For a classic holiday side dish like candied sweet potatoes, you’ll want a cocktail that exudes timelessness and depth, such as an Old Fashioned. Its mellow bourbon base harmonizes with the sweetness of the potatoes and the cranberry sauce’s tart zing.
Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails’
Old Fashioned Recipe:
• 2 oz. of Southern Star Bourbon (Statesville, NC)
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• .5 oz. of simple syrup
Stir and strain into a double rocks glass with fresh ice
• Garnish with expressed orange rind
{ Beef Roast and Whipped Potatoes pairs with a Queen’s Cocktail }
A hearty beef roast served with creamy whipped potatoes and Yorkshire pudding calls for a cocktail with depth and richness. The Queen’s Cocktail is special to the Carolina region because it’s made with Queen Charlotte’s Reserve Rum, made in Belmont, NC.
Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails’
Queen’s Cocktail recipe:
• 2 oz. of Queen Charlotte’s Reserve Rum (Belmont, NC)
• .75 oz. of Cynar
• .5 oz. of Antica Formula sweet vermouth
• Stir and strain into a Nick and Nora glass
• Garnish with expressed orange rind
{ Leftover Turkey Sandwich pairs with a Rosemary Collins }
We’ve never met anyone who doesn’t have leftover turkey to use—so make your leftovers more exciting this year. Since this dish is on the heavier side, we recommend washing it down with a refreshing Gin and tonic.
Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails’
Rosemary Collins recipe:
• 1.5 oz. of Great Wagon Road 704 Gin (Charlotte, NC)
• 1 oz. of rosemary syrup (recipe below)
• .5 oz of fresh lemon juice
.25 oz. of fresh orange juice
• Shake and double strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice
• Top with soda water
• Garnish with rosemary sprig
Rosemary Syrup:
• 1 liter of water
• Large handful of rosemary
• Bring to a boil, remove from heat
• Let steep for 30 minutes, strain
• Measure liquid, add half as much sugar as liquid
• Stir until completely dissolved
No matter how you celebrate, we can all agree that the season to feast is upon us. These expertly chosen pairings will elevate your holiday dining experience and leave you and your guests in the highest spirits. Cheers to delicious celebrations!
Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails recently launched its new fall menu, featuring Roasted Beet Salad with pickled radish, mint, and a fig and feta yogurt; Bone-in Harmony Ridge Farms Pork Chop with pumpkin butter glaze (shown below) and bacon braised cabbage; Harvest Salad with mixed lettuce, roasted pumpkin, butternut squash, smoked pecans, and pumpkin seeds (shown below); fan-favorite Duck Confit Eggrolls with seedy slaw, cherry and soy gastrique, white barbeque sauce, and green onion; and Sage-spiced Smoked Half Chicken with cranberry giblet gravy, cornbread stuffing, and collard greens.
We might be biased, but the beet salad (pictured on the cover) is equal parts delicious as it is beautiful, making it the perfect addition to any holiday feast. If you want to treat yourself this holiday season by saving time in the kitchen, these dishes along with the entire Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails menu are available for delivery through their website: oldtownrockhill.com.
