5 Festive Cocktails to Enjoy This Holiday Season

In true Etta + Billie fashion, we curated five of our favorite winter cocktails that really can only be appreciated around the holiday season. Much of these winter months are characterized by tart cranberry, warm spices, and perfectly balanced sweetness to make you feel all fuzzy on the inside. 'Tis the season for libations, special times with people you love, and slowing down as we close out the year! 

The Mrs. Astor from Lotte New York Palace

This iconic cocktail, The Mrs. Astor, is characterized by sweet notes of strawberry and balsamic reduction. The name comes from the former Villaird mansion (The New York Palace) owner, which is all too appropriate. This cocktail is served up and garnished with a fresh mint leaf - almost as glamorous at the New York Palace itself! 

INGREDIENTS
1½ oz Ketel One Citroen Vodka
½ oz Campari
¾ oz lemon juice
¾ oz house made strawberry syrup
¼ oz Aquafaba
Balsamic reduction, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Dry shake, then shake over ice.
Strain into coupe glass.
Garnish with droplets of balsamic reduction.

The Mistletoe Martini

Cheesy, we know, but we couldn't resist. The Mistletoe Martini cocktail is so great because it's refreshing, rather than heavy (such as an egg nog recipe might be). Notes of elderflower, cranberry, and fresh fruit juice make the Mistletoe Martini a welcomed pairing with some Christmas cookies or appetizers, yum. 

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur
1 1/2 ounce cranberry juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
Cranberries
Mint leaves
DIRECTIONS
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
Pour in the vodka, elderberry liqueur, cranberry juice and simple syrup.
Shake & strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with cranberries mint leaves.

Cinnamon Apple Whiskey Sour

How could you say no to a Cinnamon Apple Whiskey Sour? Warm bourbon and cinnamon pair so nicely with crisp apple cider and lemon in this cocktail. This cocktail reminds me of cool walks through apple orchards or sitting by a fire with friends. Not too sweet- and perfectly boozy!

INGREDIENTS
4 oz. Bourbon
1 cup dry hard (with alcohol) apple cider
2 oz. simple syrup
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Juice of 2 lemons
1 apple cored and thinly sliced
1/4 cup cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
2 small sprigs of fresh rosemary
DIRECTIONS
Place the cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl. Mix to combine. Set aside.
Run a slice of apple halfway along the rim of two glasses.
Pour the whiskey, simple syrup, bitters and lemon juice into shaker. Add a Handful of ice cubes, cover and shake.
Strain the ice and pour into prepared glasses. Top with cider.
Run each slice of apple through the cinnamon/sugar mixture and drop as a garnish in each drink. Spear with a rosemary sprig. 

Grapefruit Cardamom Gin Fizz

This Grapefruit Cardamom Gin Fizz cocktail screams warm and woodsy - with a splash of prosecco to keep the flavor bright and citrusy. I not only love this cocktail because it combines some of my favorite flavors (gin, grapefruit, and cardamom, duh!), but because it is like a ray of winter sunshine in a glass! Super easy to make and full of flavor. 

INGREDIENTS
2 oz rosemary syrup (recipe below)
3 oz cardamom infused gin (recipe below)
1/2 cup grapefruit juice
Splash of prosecco, chilled
Rosemary sprigs
Grapefruit peel, for garnish
For the rosemary syrup & cardamom infused gin:
1 cup gin
6 cardamom pods
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 rosemary sprigs
DIRECTIONS
In a small jar with an airtight lid add gin and cardamom pods. Seal and store for 24 hours.
To make the rosemary simple syrup, bring sugar, water and 2 rosemary sprigs to a simmer in a small saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Remove the rosemary and use right away, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To make the cocktail pour rosemary syrup, infused gin and grapefruit juice over ice in a cocktail mixer and shake to combine.
Using a strainer, divide the mixture in two glasses filled with fresh ice. Top with prosecco and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a grapefruit peel.

Sloe Sazerac

The Sloe Sazerac winter-punch cocktail is rich in booziness while also being berry forward! Fresh sloe berries and sloe gin make this drink beautiful in color and refreshing on the palette. Designed to be enjoyed with friends, or with some war goodies by the fire. The choice is yours! 

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 oz. rye whisky 
1/2 tbsp simple syrup
4 dashes peychaud bitters 
2 1/2 tbsp sloe gin 
1/2 tbsp absinthe
Lemon peel to garnish
Sloe berries to garnish (optional)
DIRECTIONS
In a cocktail shaker or mixing glass filled with ice, combine everything except the absinthe and lemon peel and berries, if using.
Stir well until diluted to taste. Pour the absinthe into an old fashioned glass and swirl to coat the interior. 
Strain the mixture from the shaker into the glass and garnish with lemon peel and berries, if you like.

If the inspiration strikes, we highly recommend enjoying a cocktail from this list in a bath. Boozy self-care? What a concept! Shop our range of bath + body oils or body scrub bars to indulge in for your next boozy Saturday night in!