Christmas Bourbon Cocktail Review

The truth is that I don't drink that much. Hardly ever at home. Hardly ever in Kansas City, unless Niraj is visiting. I'll have a few drinks on a vacation or a work trip. 

But I do look forward to my Christmas Bourbon Cream every holiday season. This year, it occurred to me as I was opening a new bottle of Maker's Mark, that I could do a little bourbon cocktail review, kind of how I did with rare sodas this year. It would let me figure out what drinks I actually prefer. Plus, it would give me an excuse to try to take some good photos.

Ginger Bourbon

bourbon

ginger ale

I'm starting with the simplest one. No garnishes or methods. This one was Maker's Mark and Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale, on the rocks. A classic for a reason. The two flavors go so good together, much better than bourbon and coke. Fresh, crisp. The carbonation is a plus for me. 

Rating: 9.5

Bourbon Limeade

bourbon

limeade

lime wedge garnish

So this one was fine. Good. But I was missing the carbonation. Just not as crisp as the one with ginger ale. 

Rating: 8.4

Kentucky Mule

bourbon

ginger ale

fresh lime juice

lime wedge garnish

I was so excited for this one. It's basically the Ginger Bourbon plus lime, which is one of my favorite flavors. So I was shocked that this one didn't work. The fresh lime juice felt sour, not in a good way, and overpowered the ginger ale. I even like Moscow Mules, but this one didn't hit right.

Rating: 6.5

Bourbon Sidecar

bourbon 

grand mariner

fresh lime juice

fresh orange juice

splash of ginger ale

I wasn't sure if this was going to work at all. I started with the bourbon, grand mariner, squeezes of lime, squeezes of orange and tasted it. Was okay, a bit strong, and missing something. So I just added a splash of ginger ale. Just a little, I didn't want to overpower the other ingredients. And it worked. It's pretty nice. The hints of orange play nice with the liquor and there's not too much lime or ginger to be dominant. Pleasingly balanced. (Though more ingredients than the others. Probably going to be a while before I revisit this one.)

Rating: 8.8

So what did I learn? Somehow the best drink is also the simplest. All I need for a good cocktail is a good ginger ale and a good bourbon like Buffalo Trace or Maker's Mark.

Christmas Bourbon Cream

I teased this out at the start of December. I finally made my own batch of a drink I've been enjoying for years. 

Homemade Bourbon Cream

1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup (235 ml) heavy whipping cream

1 (14-ounce or 415 ml) can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup (235 ml) bourbon (I used Woodford Reserve)

pinch of brown sugar

I carefully followed the method of making the cocoa cream paste and slowly whisking it in. I assume this was to make sure all the cocoa got incorporated. Well perhaps because I used a heaping teaspoon of cocoa, it didn't all get incorporated and I was left with cocoa dots on top, that gives it a cookies and cream appearance. Which was a happy accident as I had planned on shaving some chocolate (but didn't have any) to give the top a little garnish. 

As for the taste, it was identical to the Irish Whiskey one. So go ahead and use whatever whiskey you have on hand, it's going to be just fine. I tasted it before and after adding the pinch of brown sugar, and it was not enough to be noticed. I love how the condensed milk adds sweetness and a satisfyingly thick texture. 

I think it tastes more like a chocolate shake than Bailey's but that's just me. 

In the future I could consider adding some hot chocolate powder or extra cocoa powder to see what happens if you make it more chocolatey. 

Could also try instead of chocolate, giving it a maple syrup vanilla profile. Or perhaps (inspired by Niraj's comment) some cinnamon to give it a mexican hot chocolate vibe.)

Boozy Christmas Drink

For a couple years in a row, Mrs. Hoagie Central received a boozy Christmas drink as a gift and it was always delicious. I finally asked her to ask for the recipe and here's what it is:

Homemade Irish Cream

1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup (235 ml) heavy whipping cream

1 (14-ounce or 415 ml) can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup (235 ml) Irish whiskey (I used Jameson)

 

In the bottom of a pitcher, whisk cocoa powder and a spoonful of cream into a paste. Slowly, whisking the whole time, add more cream a spoonful at a time until the paste is smooth and loose enough that you can whisk the rest of the cream in larger splashes. Once all of the cream is in, whisk in condensed milk, whiskey and vanilla. Cover with lid or plastic wrap and keep in fridge for up to two weeks, possibly longer. Serve in a tiny tumbler filled with ice, or splashed into coffee.

 

To make less sweet: Add more cream and more whiskey, 1 tablespoon of each at a time.

To make less boozy: Add more cream and condensed milk, 1 tablespoon of each at a time.

To make more boozy: You know what to do!

In case, you're curious, I found a video with a very similar recipe. 

 

I'm planning on making it at the start of Christmas break. I have a ton of bourbon and no irish whiskey, so I'll be making that substitution. I also might add a pinch of brown sugar. But wanted to share it in advance in case anyone wants to join me. 

Stocking My Bar

If you look at my favorite cocktails, it doesn't require a full bar setup. Here are the few spirits I need, with my preferred brands.

Bourbon
Buffalo Trace or Maker's Mark

Rum
Myer's Dark or Coruba or Angostura 5 Year or Gosling's Black Seal Rum

Tequila
1800 Silver or Patron Silver

Mixers
Diet Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer (Cock 'n Bull), Limes, Diet Squirt

- - -

You can find Buffalo Trace, Myer's Dark, and 1800 for about $20 each or less. Another $10 in mixers and you have everything you need to make a Bourbon & Ginger, Dark & Stormy or Paloma.

If I have some money leftover, I could get some Simply Limeade, Limencello and Tennessee Honey to add two more cocktails.

my favorite cocktail recipes

Year-Round

Bourbon & Ginger
Buffalo Trace bourbon
canada dry diet ginger ale
on the rocks

Whiskey Sour
sour mix (can be made with simple syrup and fresh lemon/lime juice)
Maker's Mark
on the rocks

Purple Hooter
1 shot vodka
1 shot Razzamatazz
4 ounces sour mix
4 ounces Sprite zero
on the rocks

Limoncello
fresh limeade
limoncello
on the rocks

Black Cherry Cola*
Cherry coke zero
Black Cherry Effen vodka
grenadine
on the rocks

Dark 'n Stormy 
dark rum
ginger beer (or ginger ale)
fresh lime juice

(substitute Grand Mariner for dark rum in the Dark 'n Stormy to create The Perfect Storm, according to Grand Mariner)

Summer

Paloma
Diet Squirt
100% agave silver tequila
fresh lime juice
on the rocks

Frozen Margarita
can of frozen limeade
100% agave silver tequila
splash of margarita mix
fresh lime juice and a little ice
in a blender

Hurricane
Pat O' Brien's mix (or passion fruit juice, lime juice, orange juice)
Myer's dark rum
grenadine
with ice in a blender


Honey Whiskey 
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey
lemonade (or limeade) [this is what I had at our Oak Park going away party, a special memory for me]

Winter

Irish Hot Chocolate
hot chocolate
shot of Bailey's



*okay so I've never had this one, but it sounds good

At a Bar

Long Island Iced Tea
One of my favorites since college, but won't make at home because it has too many ingredients.