Best Holiday Cocktails In New York City
Thanksgiving is just around the corner so we've narrowed down where to find festive cocktails that are perfect to get you in the holiday spirit. Plus, you can replicate these recipes for your own holiday party. By Carly Petrone.
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Warm up this holiday season with a hot Chit-Cha Toddy at Red Farm. This festive hot cocktail is made with Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, Clover honey, fresh lemon juice, hot brewed Osmanthus Oolong tea (or boiled water), and small disks of ginger that is lightly muddled. Served in a Gaiwan glass teacup and garnished with half a lemon wheel studded with cloves, one mint leaf, and cinnamon sugar powder, it's almost too adorable to drink…almost.
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Stop in for dinner and a drink at Beautique because they've created a special Apple Pie cocktail just for the holiday season. This drink tastes just like homemade apple pie and is made with Belvedere Vodka, spiced apple cider, and a punch of house made vanilla-cinnamon sugar. The secret ingredient to this festive cocktail is the one egg white that is used help create a frothy foam on the top. Toast to the holidays with this sweet libation but we do warn you: it might make you a little homesick for mama's baking.
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Scotch drinkers will be happy to know that Kellari Taverna is whipping up some seriously delicious cocktails using Compass Box Whisky. Try the Sticky Toffee Fashioned - Compass Box Hedonism, cold brew coffee, toffee pudding syrup, and cacao bitters - or opt for another drink created from Compass Box Whisky's Signature Range. The Instigator is a great fruit-forward option, made with The Spice Tree, pineapple juice, grapefruit juice, honey syrup, and dashes of Angostura bitters. Finally, the Major Glaser has a nice smokey flavor thanks to a simple combination of Compass Box Whisky's The Peat Monster, Cardamaro, and Cocchi di Torino. These small batch scotch whiskies certainly pack a lot of punch!
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Shinya Yamao is the bartender behind the ambitious Japanese-style cocktail program at Piora. Stop in for one of their new fall drinks which are perfect for the holiday season. The Smoky Pumpkin Cocktail with Laphroaig (10 yr), Ardbeg (10 yr), Crop Spiced Pumpkin Vodka, cocoa tequila, St. George Absinthe, and bitters will put you in a festive mood while their signature cocktail, Leaves Falling, is another great option if you're looking to relax and wind down. Made with Earl Grey-infused gin, calvados, fresh pressed apple juice, maple syrup, and lemon juice, it's a great drink to sip on while catching up with friends. And, of course, the Salary Man with Nikka Japanese whiskey, club soda, and lemon is on draft. So park it at the bar and stay a while.
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You don't have to wait until midnight to get your kiss at Decoy. Grab a seat at the bar and order the Midnight Kiss, a beautiful and sexy cocktail made with Hangar 1 vodka, Domain de Canton Ginger Liqueur, Champagne, blackberries, cane syrup, and fresh lemon juice. This fruit-filled drink is both refreshing and the perfect holiday accessory thanks to its bright red color. If you need a little pick me up sip on the Café Corsica. Also made with Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, it's also comprised of Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey, coffee bean syrup, hot brewed La Colombe coffee, and heavy cream. Bottoms up!
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Celebrate the holiday season with Stevedores from Tanner Smith's that are barrel aged and smoked before serving to ignite the flavors within. These cocktails pay homage to Tanner Smith himself, as he spent his time working as a stevedore at the Hudson docks. The Mayor Gaynor's Tippler ($14) is their twist on a classic Manhattan – Glendalough Doube Barrel Irish Whiskey, amaro, cherry liquor, and Angostura bitters. The Marginal ($14) is a bit like a Negroni – Dorothy Parker gin, Antica, and Aperol – while The Winona ($14) is for the Old Fashioned drinker – Old Forester Bourbon, maple syrup, and Jerry Thomas bitters. If you're looking for a stiff drink this is the place to go!
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Carly Petrone is a freelance writer living in New York City.
