We don’t know about you, but we’ve noticed that as the weather gets colder, our bottles of bourbon and whiskey get emptier. Whether it’s the classic bourbon flavors like brown sugar, oak, and caramel that match this time of year so well or the warmth from the higher proof, fall and winter are great seasons for sipping on delicious bourbons.
Whatever the reason, now is the perfect time to stock up and explore new ways to drink old favorites. Below, we’ve shared some David Nicholson-approved fall and winter cocktails to help you curb the cold weather while getting the most from your bourbon.
A More Refined Old-Fashioned
It’s hard to beat a classic, but this version of the old-fashioned adds a smoky and herbaceous twist.
Ingredients
2 oz. David Nicholson 1843 or David Nicholson Reserve
3 dashes of Angostura or dark cherry bitters
1 sugar cube or a teaspoon of simple syrup
Orange peel
Bourbon-soaked cherries
Lightly smoked or singed sage leaf
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the bitters, simple syrup, and sugar together. Add bourbon and ice and stir until the sugar dissolves and the liquid is chilled. Strain the contents of the shaker over a large ice cube in a highball or old-fashioned glass. Add cherries. Lightly char the peel of an orange and run it across the rim of the glass. Finally, smoke or slightly singe one leaf of sage (to help bring out the flavor) and drop it into the top of the glass.
The St. Louis-to-Manhattan
David Nicholson was a St. Louis grocer who perfected his bourbon recipe in the back of his store. St. Louis is also known as the birthplace of planter’s punch, which is made with dark rum, bitters, sugar, and lime juice. This tasty version of the Manhattan pays homage to David Nicholson’s St. Louis roots and brings something unique.
Ingredients
1.5 oz. David Nicholson Reserve
.5 oz dark rum
.75 oz. sweet vermouth
1 dash of Angostura bitters
Bourbon-soaked cherries
A teaspoon of fresh lime juice (optional)
Instructions
Stir all the ingredients over ice, strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a cherry.
The Grownups Are Talking Hot Chocolate
Who doesn’t love a steaming mug of hot chocolate during a cold night? To make it an adult version, you could simply add an ounce or two of David Nicholson 1843, or you can take it up a notch by adding in a few other ingredients. If eggnog is more of your style, simply substitute it for hot chocolate.
Ingredients
Hot chocolate of choice
1-2 oz. David Nicholson 1843
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
Optional Toppings
Whip cream
Mini marshmallows
Caramel drizzle
Ground cinnamon
Chocolate shavings
Instructions
Add hot chocolate, bourbon, and vanilla to a coffee mug. Top with whip cream and caramel or any other toppings your heart desires.
With these cocktails, you should be all set to spend your fall and winter evenings around a fire or curled up on the couch with a good holiday movie.
Stock up for winter now with the Product Locator.