Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza... however you celebrate the festive period, late Fall and Winter have aromas and tastes unique to this time of year.
When it comes to making your favorite cocktail or winter libation, it's important to have a mixer that is high quality, and evocative of the sensory pleasures of the season. And when it comes to evoking a festive mood at your next gathering, mixers bursting with flavors and aromas redolent of herbs and spices and other botanicals are key.
To this extent you cannot really go past Britain's best botanical brewers, Fentimans. They have created a brand new Christmas cocktail recipe guide, which includes 'The Winter Cup', 'Sloe Rhubarb Punch', 'Cinnamon Collins', 'Pink Pear Mule' and their special 'Rose Snowball'.
Botanically brewed is trendy right now, but for Fentimans, its the technique of making premium quality drinks which has been handed from generation to generation of the Fentiman family since 1905.
Botanical brewing is what sets their product apart from run-of-the-mill supermarket seltzers, mixers and other carbonated drinks. Fentimans is known for its depth of flavor, silky mouth feel and distinctive flavors created by the finest natural ingredients. Here are our three picks, paired with locally-made spirits.
Cinnamon Collins
For this delicious tipple, be sure to use one of the many fine and readily available whiskeys made in Tennessee. This recipe works equally well with scotch whisky and bourbon — you choose!
The Winter Cup
There is nothing quite like coming in from the wind, rain, or snow and making a hot, therapeutic, and alcoholic drink. And this is also good for you if you feel like you're coming down with a cold. While this recipe favors the British Sloe Gin, you can also substitute it with one of the various locally-made gins here in Nashville.
Sloe Rhubarb Punch
This is a very pretty drink and light enough to serve as an aperitif before one of your holiday lunches. Tonic Water and Gin are a match made in heaven, but we also thinks this works if you sub out the gin with a premium, locally-made Vodka such as Pickers.
Enjoy, and drink responsibly!
Find out more about Fentimans and local stockists here.