Four Essential Holiday Cocktails (With The Perfect NOTES® Fragrance to Pair 😉)
NOTES® + Cocktails = Best. Night. Ever.
Using two senses is better than one - which makes pairing flavors and scents so fun. These are the perfect cocktails to pair with each NOTES® holiday fragrance for your next December gathering or cozy night in. Trust us, you'll want to try them all.
The Christmas Old Fashioned
Pairs perfectly with Santal & Atlas Cedar
Sophisticated and timeless, like Santal & Atlas Cedar, this cocktail pairs the classic cool of an Old Fashioned with traditional holiday flavors. Leather couch and vinyl record sold separately.
RECIPE
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce orange juice
- 1-2 dashes bitters
- Ginger beer for topping
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tablespoon cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1. Use maple syrup, cinnamon, and cardamom to create a maple cardamom syrup. Combine ingredients with 1/4 cup of water over high heat and boil 2-3 minutes. Let cool. This will make enough syrup for 6 drinks.
2. Stir bourbon, lemon juice, orange juice, bitters, and 1-3 of cardamom syrup together in a rocks glass. Add ice, then top off with ginger beer. Garnish with cranberries or an orange slice.
Source: Half-Baked Harvest
The Colorado Bulldog
Pairs perfectly with Oatmilk & Balsam Berry
Sweet, creamy, and dreamy. This dessert cocktail packs all the punch that makes Oatmilk & Balsam Berry one of our best-selling fragrances. We'll even teach you how to make cranberry syrup for an extra splash of holiday goodness.
RECIPE
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce light cream or milk
- 1-2 ounces cola, to taste
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups fresh cranberries, chopped
1. Create your cranberry syrup! Combine sugar and cranberries in a small pan with 1 cup of water. Cook and adjust heat to maintain a simmer for around 20 minutes. Press cranberries to extract their liquid, then strain through a mesh sieve. Let cool. Makes enough for 10 cocktails.
2. Fill whisky glass with ice, then pour vodka and coffee liqueur.
3. Add cream, 1 ounce of cranberry syrup, then top with cola.
4. Stir well!
Sources: The Spruce Eats, Serious Eats
The Holiday Mule
Pairs perfectly with Spruce & Fir Needle
Cheers to an easy drink that will bring the woodsy vibes to life! Spruce + Fir Needle is the perfect companion to this piney cocktail, garnished with fresh rosemary and thyme. Plus, it'll look great on the 'gram. Win-win.
RECIPE
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3-4 rosemary needle
- Pinch of fresh thyme
1. Muddle together herbs and sugar in a shaker.
2. Top with vodka and cranberry juice.
3. Fill shaker with ice, and shake.
4. Strain into a copper cocktail mug with ice (preferably crushed!) and top with ginger beer.
5. Garnish with more herbs!
Source: Tablespoon
The Vanilla Espresso Martini
Pairs perfectly with Vanilla & Pepperwood
Just like Vanilla & Pepperwood, this drink is smooth, deep, rich, and just a little sweet. The homemade vanilla and honey syrup is really what takes this classic to the next level. The perfect addition to your holiday brunch!
RECIPE
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 1.5 ounces Kahlua
- 1 ounce espresso
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1. Make vanilla honey syrup! Add honey and vanilla to a pot with 1/4 cup of water and bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes. Let cool. Makes enough syrup for six cocktails.
2. Combine 2-3 teaspoons of honey syrup with vodka, Kahlua, and espresso to a shaker. Add ice and shake well.
3. Strain into a martini glass.
Source: Half-Baked Harvest
Leave a comment