Snack Bar, Vol. 18: Boozy Holiday Sips

This gin’s signature green hue adds festivity to any drink. Flavor-wise, think herby and botanical with undernotes of spicy mint and bright citrus. One of Revivalist’s signature holiday cocktails, called the Santa Suit, is warming and boozy. Make it by combining one ounce of Revivalist Garden gin with ½ ounce of Drambuie (a blended Scotch liquor), three ounces of a full-bodied red wine, and ¼ ounce of simple syrup. Stir everything together in a rocks glass with fresh ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

This reposado tequila is made from blue Weber agave. It’s distilled twice and fermented for three months in oak barrels. The result is a smooth, honeyed liquor with rich notes of chocolate and warm spices and no trace of bitterness. Though it’s smooth enough to sip on the rocks, I suggest Mi Campo’s Don Coco cocktail for a holiday nightcap. Stir together 1½ ounces of Mi Campo Reposado, one ounce of chocolate liqueur, and one ounce of coconut liquor with ice. Strain into a chilled glass and if you’re feeling cheffy, garnish your coupe with a cube of popped amaranth. I wouldn’t judge if you kept it simple with a mint leaf or nothing at all.

This is an intensely flavored mezcal with notes of buttery and grassy pumpkin seeds, rich leather, and raw cocoa. It’s a touch peppery and will leave you with a hint of spice. Temper the heat with some sweet in a mezcal paloma: Add 2 ounces of Mezcal Amaras, 2 ounces of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, one ounce of agave and ice to a shaker. Shake well, then srain into a glass, top with club soda, and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

This aged white rum is distilled three times and filtered through charcoal to achieve its crystal-clear color. White rum is a great way to add a taste of the tropics to your fall cocktails. This liquor is the perfect fruity addition to everyone’s favorite buzzy beverage, the espresso martini. To make one, combine 30 milliliters of Planas White Rum, 30 milliliters of cold espresso, 15 milliliters of simple syrup, 15 milliliters of coffee liquor, and crushed ice in a cocktail shaker. Give it a good shake, until the tin is frosted, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with espresso beans!

This is a classic dry spirit that lends itself to any number of drinks. Try your hand at a cheffy cocktail with a recipe for a sweet-and-savory caprese negroni from Ramon Castellanos of Congress Bar in NYC: In an ice-filled glass, stir together one ounce each of The Botanist Gin, sweet vermouth, basil, and strawberry-infused Italian bitter aperitif (like Campari). Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube and garnish with a cherry tomato.

21Seeds tequila is infused with fruit juice, which makes it a lazy bartender’s best friend. For a crowd-favorite sip that’s anything but cliché, try a pumpkin spice martini with a fruity spin from orange-infused tequila. In a cocktail shaker, combine 1½ ounces of 21Seeds Valencia Orange Infused Tequila with one ounce of pumpkin puree, and ½ ounce each of pumpkin spice syrup and creamy salted caramel liqueur. Shake with ice, then strain into a glass (rimmed with crushed graham crackers if you like).

This elegant ivory-colored spirit from Luxardo puts a wintery twist on your favorite classic cocktails. The liquor is botanical and bitter—it adds a sophisticated edge to sweeter drinks. For a negroni blanco, stir together 1¼ ounces of Luxardo Bitter Blanco with an ounce of dry vermouth and ⅔ of an ounce of dry gin. Garnish with a swipe of grapefruit or orange peel.

This premium potato vodka comes in a bottle worthy of display and its smooth, lightly spiced flavor makes it the ideal spirit for the holidays. You’ll pick up the seasonal flavors of anise and clove under clean, lightly sweet top notes. A Clean Slate cocktail lets the vodka shine. Make it by stirring together 1½ ounces of Chopin Family Reserve Vodka with an ounce of dry vermouth and ½ ounce of white vermouth. Garnish with a lemon twist.

This is a beautifully rich and smooth single-malt whiskey that makes an elegant gift for the whiskey lover in your life. The liquor is made and aged on the island of Islay, which imparts a briny, salty tang. It has a delicate palate and a smokey finish that’s best enjoyed neat.

When you need a break from booze, Three Spirit delivers the complex flavor and sophisticated palate of a full-throated spirit without the buzz. The brand’s newest seasonal offering, the Livener XS, comes with a kick of spice from chilis and ginger. It makes a deeply satisfying margarita—you won’t miss the alcohol. To make, shake together 2 ounces of Livener XS, ¾ of an ounce of fresh lime juice, and ½ ounce of agave nectar in an ice-filled shaker. Strain it over an ice-filled glass and enjoy!

It’s hard not to be drawn to this stunning purple liquor, and not just because it lends itself to any number of mixtures you can call “lavender haze.” It’s made with butterfly pea flowers and has a warmer, earthier flavor than your typical dry din. Stir up a lavender haze of your own by muddling five blackberries, two sprigs of fresh rosemary, and ¾ of an ounce of simple syrup in a shaker. Add 2½ ounces of Indigo Gin with ¾ ounces of fresh lime juice. Fill your shaker with ice, give it a hard shake, and strain it into a coupe with more blackberries for garnish.