MERRY MIXOLOGY

Merry Mixology More than ever the holidays are the time to embrace the nostalgic and familiar. These festive drinks embody the season and range from deep and sultry to effervescent and uplifting.

Photographs by REN FULLER

hile big family gatherings aren’t in the cards for you this year, don’t let that stop you from making a celebratory, party-worthy cocktail. Even it’s just you and close family and friends (socially distanced, of course, possibly wearing redand-green-checked face masks tricked out with Rudolph-style noses), few things uplift spirits more than, well, spirits—mixed with seasonal ingredients in a cocktail that looks and tastes like the holidays. These three drinks from Very Merry Cocktails, written by Jessica Strand and photographed by Ren Fuller (who shot much of our recent camping issue), fill the bill perfectly. Since you’ll likely be making these for a smaller group than you might otherwise, be sure to buy the best ingredients possible. Splurge, if you can, on top-shelf bottles, using high-quality crisp, dry sparkling wine, and make merry in the moment with gratitude and good cheer. Bonus: The leftover honey and cinnamon syrup can be drizzled over waffles or pancakes or used to sweeten hot tea and other beverages.

Reprinted from Very Merry Cocktails, by Jessica Strand, with permission from Chronicle Books, 2020

Apple Pie

MAKES 1 DRINK

This drink is easy as pie, thanks to an aromatic blend of honey, vanilla, and sparkling apple cider. Drop in a cinnamon stick for a delightful way to stir it up.

3 oz whiskey 2 oz Honey Syrup (see below) 1 drop vanilla extract Sparkling apple cider, for topping off 1 apple round, for garnish 1 cinnamon stick, for garnish (optional)

Fill a tumbler or mason jar with a handful of ice. Pour the whiskey, honey syrup, and vanilla into an ice-filled shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into the glass. Top off with sparkling apple cider and garnish with a thin round of apple and a cinnamon stick, if desired.

HONEY SYRUP

MAKES 12 OZ

1 cup mild honey, such as wildflower or orange blossom 1 cup water

Combine the honey and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a rapid boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and let cool. Strain the syrup and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Partridge In a Pear Tree

MAKES 1 DRINK

This fresh, wintry cocktail works only if both the pear liqueur and the champagne are well chilled. If you like, rim the glass with citrus juice and dip in sugar.

1 oz pear eau de vie 4–5 oz champagne 1 frozen pear wedge or strip of pear, for garnish

Pour the pear eau de vie into a champagne flute or a coupe glass. Fill the rest of the glass with champagne. Garnish with a frozen pear wedge.

THE WESTERN HOLIDAY BAR

These Western brands can elevate these cocktails or round out your holiday home bar.

St. George Pear Brandy

30 pounds of Bartlett pears go into every bottle of this exquisite eau de vie from the pioneering Bay Area distillery. $40 STGEORGESPIRITS.COM

Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon

This Texas bourbon has lovely toffee, oak, smoke, and caramel notes. $85 GARRISONBROS.COM

Oakland Spirits Co. Automatic Sea Gin

Someone’s going to ask for a G & T. Blow their mind with this gin made from locally foraged coastal botanicals. $35 OAKLANDSPIRITS.COM

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Blancs

This elegant crisp California bubbly will make a fine champagne cocktail. $22 GLORIAFERRER.COM

Fireside Glow

MAKES 1 DRINK

Ideal for warming up by a roaring fire, this boozy drink has comforting notes of cinnamon and almond, thanks to an elegant coating of amaretto.

3 oz bourbon 3 oz Cinnamon Syrup 2 or 3 dashes amaretto liqueur (see below)

• Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice. Pour in the bourbon and cinnamon syrup. Stir gently to combine. In a separate Old

Fashioned glass, add a few drops of amaretto and turn the glass to coat it in the liqueur.

Pour out the excess amaretto.

Strain the bourbon mixture into the amaretto glass. Add one or two cubes of ice, if desired.

CINNAMON SYRUP

MAKES 12 OZ.

1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1 cinnamon stick

Combine the sugar, water, and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a rapid boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and let cool. Strain the syrup and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.