Hudson Valley Winter Cocktails
While it’s still cold out and you’re in need of something to warm you up, I’ve decided to share two recipes for Hudson Valley winter cocktails! You may have seen my previous post about my visit to Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery. It was a fun day of touring, tasting and eating. Since then I’ve been thinking about making some delicious cocktails with these handcrafted spirits and today I finally get my chance! Keep reading to see how I used Tuthilltown’s Hudson Baby Bourbon to create two winter warming cocktails perfect for sipping in front of the fire place!
I chose Hudson Baby Bourbon because it is Tuthilltown’s most popular spirit and is used in many cocktails sold by local establishments in the area. The barrel aging process gives this bourbon a light sweetness and deep amber color. This 100% corn bourbon has a bright, defined taste and a warm finish with notes of marzipan and roasted corn. Bourbon lovers will not be disappointed and may choose to enjoy it this spirit straight or on the rocks…or try one of the recipes below!
Maple Old-Fashioned
The twist on this classic whiskey cocktail makes it the perfect drink to warm you up on a chilly evening in mountains!
2 ounces Hudson Baby Bourbon
1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
Dash of bitters
1 teaspoon of water
Orange Peel
Mix bourbon, maple syrup, bitters, and 1 teaspoon of water in an old-fashioned glass until syrup is dissolved. Add a single large ice cube. Garnish with orange peel.
In addition to Hudson Baby Bourbon, our second cocktail calls for simple syrup and fruity red wine. For the wine, I selected a bottle of red wine from local Hudson Valley winemakers, Whitecliff Vineyard. For wine lovers, the Shawangunk Wine Trail makes a fabulous day trip for tastings of a different type. I visited Whitecliff Vineyard for a tasting last summer – and was definitely impressed by their beautiful grounds and fabulous wines. Since our cocktail calls for fruity red wine, I selected Whitecliff’s Sky Island Red Wine which is a blend whose flavors run the gamut from tobacco and chocolate to earthy tannins and black fruit.
For the simple syrup, I decided to make my own – since it so easy to do – and infuse it with orange for some extra flavor.
Simple Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Orange peel
Combine the sugar and water is saucepan over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved and the edges of the liquid begin to simmer. Immediately remove from heat. Pour into jar to cool and stir in orange peel for flavor. Cover the jar with lid while steeping.
You can make various flavored batches of simple syrup and make your favorite classic cocktails fresh and new with different variations. Consider adding vanilla beans, rosemary, cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, citrus rinds, ginger, peppercorns, fresh or dries chilies, fresh garden herbs. or even edible flowers like lavender or rose petals.
Once the simple syrup is cool, remove the additional ingredients added for flavor. Leaving mint leaves or citrus rind in the syrup after it’s cooled will only shorten its shelf life. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Now that we have our red wine and orange simple syrup, we’re ready to create our next winter cocktail!
Hudson Valley Sour
A wine-spiked version of whiskey sour made with local spirits crafted in the Hudson Valley.
2 ounces Hudson Baby Bourbon
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 ounce orange simple syrup
1/2 ounce red wine
Combine 2 ounces of Hudson Baby Bourbon, 1 ounce fresh lemon juice, and 1 ounce simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, cover, and shake about 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Then gently pour 1/2 ounce of red wine over the back of a spoon held just above the drink’s surface so the wine floats on top.
Drink up and keep warm!
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