3 Holiday-Ready Cocktail Recipes

Spiced rum, aquavit, and espresso vanilla vodka are perfect for a winter soirée. (Plus: How to make the Lynhall’s Cranberry Dutch Baby.)

Liqueurs [left to right]: Spiced Rum from 10,000 Drops, Aquavit by Skaalvenn Distillery, Espresso Vanilla Vodka by 5 Vodka

Photo by Erica Loeks, styled by Casie Beldo and Mandy Finders


Use these three cocktail recipes to enliven a winter soirée. Each features local spirits from our Best of MN Gift Guide.

Spiced Hot Cider

Using: Spiced Rum, from 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers

1.5 oz. spiced rum

6 oz. hot apple cider

Dash of cinnamon 

3 drops of Bittercube orange bitters

3 drops of Bittercube cherry bitters

Fjord Horse

Using: Aquavit, from Skaalvenn Distillery

1 oz. Skaalvenn Aquavit

Splash of ginger beer

Squeeze of lime

Enjoy over ice

Pasty Norwegian

Using: Espresso Vanilla Vodka, from Five Vodka

2 oz. Five Vodka Espresso Vanilla

½ oz. half-and-half

Enjoy over ice


Bonus: Cranberry Dutch Baby from the Lynhall

Ingredients:

3 eggs

½ cup milk

½ cup flour

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons melted butter

¼ cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)

¼ cup lingonberries (frozen)

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in cast-iron pan. Add berries and ¼ cup of sugar. Cook until berries soften.

Combine all ingredients in blender.

Pour into pan. Cook for about 20 minutes.

Garnish with chopped almonds, powdered sugar, and a beautiful dollop of whipped butter.