12 Days of Festive Sips
Cheers to the season of, well, cheer! ‘Tis the perfect time to restock your home bar, whip up a festive cocktail (or mocktail!) and drink local. To help you quite literally get into the spirit of the season, our favorite Austin-born beverages have shared their go-to festive sips. From pre-mixed cocktails that are perfect for on-the-go-holiday fun to alcohol-free libations for the whole family (near or far!), keep reading for twelve quintessentially Austin ways to toast the holidays!
FRED’S RUBY RED SPARKLING COCKTAIL
Austin Cocktails
Ingredients: A mixture of 5x-distilled corn-based vodka, rub red grapefruit, lime, mint, organic agave and a splash of seltzer water. There are no artificial flavors, it’s low carb & naturally low calorie – plus, 12.5% ABV!
Directions: This one’s easy peasy – just crack open a can, pour into your barware and garnish with rosemary + grapefruit!
BLACKBERRY VANILLA MOCKTAIL
CLEAN Cause
Ingredients:
1/3 c fresh blackberries⠀
Juice from 1/2 lemon⠀
1/4 tsp vanilla extract⠀
1/2 tsp honey⠀
CLEAN Cause Blackberry Sparkling YerbaMate⠀
Directions: Muddle the blackberries with lemon juice, honey, and vanilla. Add ice and top with CLEAN Cause Blackberry Sparkling Yerba Mate. Garnish with blackberries and mint leaves. Enjoy!
SOTOL CIDER
Desert Door Distillery
Ingredients:
2 bottles Desert Door Original Texas Sotol
3 oz mulling spices
1 gallon apple cider
1/4 cup honey
A few rosemary sprigs
Fresh ginger, orange slices
Directions: In a pot, simmer all ingredients – except sotol – on low. After 20 minutes, serve + keep warm on stove. Pour 2 oz Desert Door per mug and top with cider. Garnish with orange or apple slices. P.S. This is the perfect option for a socially-distanced neighborhood holiday happy hour!
WHITE CHRISTMAS
Goodnight Loving Vodka
Ingredients:
1 bottle mexican cold brew
2 oz Goodnight Loving Vodka
1 oz coffee liqueur
4 oz heavy cream
Directions: Fill a glass with ice. Add Goodnight Loving Vodka, coffee liqueur, cold brew, and heavy cream. Mix thoroughly then enjoy.
NAUGHTY & NICE FIZZ
Greenbelt Kombucha
Ingredients:
1 can Greenbelt Kombucha Blood Orange Yerba Mate
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz gin
Optional blood orange slices
Directions:Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker. Shake over ice and double strain into a glass flute. Top with blood orange soda and garnish with orange slices. Hint: make this a mocktail by simply excluding the gin!
SEND THE WINTER SUN
Pearl Brewing Company
Ingredients:
.5 oz simple syrup
.5 oz lemon juice
.5 oz orange liqueur
1.5 oz cream
3 dashes of Angostura bitters
1.5 oz Desert Door Sotol
Pearl Lager
Directions: Combine and shake all ingredients (except the Pearl Lager) with ice and strain into a tall collins glass. Top off with Pearl Lager, add ice, and garnish with dehydrated lemon peel. Psst! This is the perfect drink for a warm winter day in Austin, Texas!
SEASON’S SPIRIT
Ranch Rider Spirits
Ingredients:
Tequila Paloma
Sprig of rosemary or handful of cranberries if you’re feelin’ fancy!
Directions: Just enjoy! This is the perfect sip for on-the-go holiday activities!
RUDOLF THE RED-NOSED RAINDEER
Richard’s Rainwater
Ingredients:
Orange juice
Grapefruit juice
Richard’s Sparkling Rainwater
Lime wedge
Directions: In your preferred glass, add 1/4 orange juice and 1/4 grapefruit juice. Top with Richard’s Sparkling Rainwater + a splash of lime. Add to get your Rudolph the Red-Nosed Raindeer tipsy – just add your favorite spirit!
CHRISTMAS MORNING’S SAVIOR
Sunriser CBD Coffee
Ingredients:
12oz of single origin Ethiopian ground coffee, with 250mg of CBD per bag.
Directions: Pre-order for Christmas morning and enjoy feeling refreshed + relaxed when your little ones wake up at the crack of dawn to open presents.
VEGAN HOT COCOA
Fronks Organic Nut Milk
Ingredients:
Fronks Organic Cocoa Nut Milk
Hazelnuts
Dates
Cocoa Powder
Directions: For the perfect cold weather treat, warm and add hazelnuts, a few extra dates and cocoa powder. Psst! This is the perfect beverage to pair with our favorite socially-distanced holiday activities!
SWEATER WEATHER
Treaty Oak Distilling
Ingredients:
2 oz Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon
.5 oz cinnamon clove syrup
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Directions: Stir over ice in a rocks glass, garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg and 3 cloves.
FLANNEL SCARF
Waterloo Gin
Ingredients:
2 oz Waterloo Antique Gin
.75 honey syrup
.5 oz apple cider
.5 oz lemon juice
Dash of cinnamon
Directions: Shake vigorously over ice and strain into a stemmed glass. Garnish with star anise.
