With the holidays a distant memory, January is the time to settle into the toasty depths of winter. By this time, people are once again used to wearing heavy coats and tasting the warm, spicy, seasonal flavors. At the same time, the start of a new year is always inspiring. January offers a new beginning, a fresh start. It’s time for winter cocktails!
It’s a chance to try something altogether different at the gym, on the plate, or in the cocktail glass. Here are a few ideas to help freshen up your cocktail repertoire with these cozy, winter cocktails, each rooted in the Garden State.
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Recipes for Winter Cocktails
Carlstadt Old Fashioned
This cocktail is a citrusy, spicy twist on the timeless Old Fashioned, using Caffo Solara, a brandy-based orange liqueur. Recipe courtesy of Carlstadt-based Caffo Beverages, importers of Caffo Solara.
Ingredients:
4-6 dashes Angostura bitters
2 oz Caffo Solara liqueur
Brandied cherry, for garnish
Orange peel, for garnish
Method:
1. Combine the Angostura bitters and Solara in a cocktail glass.
2. Stir, add ice, then stir again. Garnish with a brandied cherry and a fresh orange peel.
Fairfield Flying Fig
This cocktail is inspired by the Orange Flying Fig cocktail from Caffo Beverages. This version gets a bit of Fairfield flavor with the addition of gluten-free whiskey from Jersey Artisan Distilling. This cocktail can also be made with bourbon from Cooper River Distillers and Great Notch Distillery, both coming soon!
Ingredients:
1 ½ James F.C. Hyde Sorgho Whiskey from Jersey Artisan Distilling
½ oz fig preserves
½ oz Caffo Solara
¼ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ oz orange bitters
Method:
1. Combine the whiskey, fig preserves, Solara, lemon juice, and bitters in a cocktail shaker.
2. Fill the shaker with ice, then cover and shake vigorously.
3. Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice and serve.
Jersey 75
This cocktail is inspired by the classic French 75 champagne cocktail. Why should the French have all the fun? This version skips the cognac in flavor of Jersey-born spirits.
Ingredients:
1 oz Laird & Company Straight Apple Brandy or DSP.7 Gin from Jersey Spirits Distilling Co.
2 dashes simple syrup
½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 oz 2013 Brut Sparkling Wine from Heritage Vineyards
Lemon peel, for garnish (optional)
Method:
1. Add the brandy or gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Cover and shake vigorously, the strain the mixture into a chilled champagne flute.
3. Top with the sparkling wine and gently stir. If desired, garnish with a lemon peel.
Camden Alexander
The inspiration for this cocktail is the Brandy Alexander, a Prohibition-era classic, so it’s only natural to use brandy made by Cooper River Distillers, the first legal distillery allowed in Camden since Prohibition.
Ingredients:
2 oz Copper & Vine Garden State Brandy from Cooper River Distillers
1 oz Bols Crème de Cacao Brown
1 oz cream
Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish
Method:
1. Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well, then strain into a chilled coupe.
3. Garnish with grated nutmeg, and serve.
Garden State Stinger
Traditionally made with cognac and crème de menthe, the Stinger is a true cocktail classic. It’s fabulous as a nightcap after a hearty winter meal or as a cozy accompaniment to a night by the fire with your favorite novel.
Ingredients:
1 sprig fresh mint
¾ oz Bols White Crème de Menthe
1 dash orange bitters
2 oz Laird & Company 12-Year-Old Rare Apple Brandy
Mint leaf, for garnish (optional)
Method:
1. Combine the mint, white crème de menthe, and orange bitters in a mixing glass until the flavors combine.
2. Pour the mixture into a cocktail shaker, then add the apple brandy and ice.
3. Cover and shake for 20-30 seconds, then strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice or a chilled coupe. If desired, garnish with a mint leaf.
Hero (Top) Feature Image: © scherbinator / Adobe Stock
Additional Images (in Order) Courtesy:
Ralf Roletschek / Wikimedia Commons
Will Shenton / Wikimedia Commons