Let’s be honest for a minute here.

For many of us, enjoying a few adult beverages during the holidays has become not only a tradition, but a way to help keep the cheer alive during a time of year that can be a tad stressful.

The holidays tend to involve a lot of family time, which is wonderful – don’t get us wrong. We love our family members, regardless of how little we may have in common, or how much we may disagree, and that’s a beautiful thing.

We’re just saying that sometimes a nice, strong cocktail makes it a bit easier to do.

We reached out to some of Kelowna’s best bartenders for great cocktail recipes that are sure to keep the whole family cheerful this holiday season. Impress your loved ones and test your hand at bartending by mixing up some of these tasty creations this year!

For the history-loving granddads

Drink: Q-ah-wa

Bartender: Harry Dosanj, Basil and Mint

This cocktail, which is named after the Arabic word for coffee, is full of history. It is inspired by a viking army who left the raids in France and entered the Muslim realm Emirates of Córdoba, now Portugal and Spain.

“They were sadly defeated and fled back to sea,” said Harry Dosanj, bartender at Basil and Mint, and creator of the Q-ah-wa cocktail. “Aquavit is Scandinavian, port wine is originally from Portugal and espresso is African, from which the Muslim rulers conquered on route to Córdoba.”

Photo Credit: Contributed

This is the perfect drink for that family member of yours who loves to re-tell stories they heard on the History channel over the dinner table. Not only will they be impressed with your knowledge, but the espresso in this drink might actually help them stay awake for dessert for once.

Recipe

• 0.75 oz Okanagan Spirits Aquavitus (Aquavit)
• 0.5 oz Maverick Estate Winery Port
• 1 oz warm espresso
• 1 drop Bittered Sling Arabica bitters
• 0.5 oz roasted pumpkin syrup
• Garnished with dehydrated pumpkin skin powder

For the tough-to-please grandmas

Drink: Scandinavian Winter

Bartender: Justin Fowler, Bacaro Kitchen + Drink

“The Scandinavian Winter is everything you hope for in a cocktail and everything you are going to need to get you through some awkward family holiday traditions,” said Justin Fowler, the mastermind behind this concoction and bartender at Bacaro. “It’s cold, refreshing and just the tiniest bit heart-warming.”

Photo Credit: Contributed

Sounds like the perfect distraction for that grandmother or aunt who is always questioning you about your love life and future plans. She’ll be so busy asking where you learned to make such an impressive cocktail, she might even forget to ask why you’re not married yet (no promises, though).

Recipe

• 1.5 oz Okanagan Spirits Aquavitus Aquavit
• 0.5 oz Okanagan Spirits BRBN Bourbon
• 0.5 oz pine syrup*
• 0.75 oz lemon juice
• 15 fresh muddled cranberries

Muddle 15 fresh cranberries in the bottom of a shaker tin. Add Okanagan Spirits Aquavitus Aquavit, Okanagan Spirits BRBN Bourbon, pine syrup and lemon juice. Fill shaker with ice cubes and shake for at least 10 seconds.

* The pine syrup is made with fresh pine sprigs most people can find in their backyard.  Bring 1 cup water to boil. Add 1 cup white granulated sugar. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Remove syrup from heat and add 4-5 fresh pine sprigs. Let steep for around 10 minutes and then strain syrup.

For the sassy siblings

Drink: Rendezvous

Bartender: Ben Hefford, RauDZ

The Rendezvous was inspired by both the flavours of France, and the beauty of Okanagan Spirits Aquavitus (Aquavit). This drink is all about balance – the blend of citrus, spices and floral notes makes for a delicious cocktail!

Photo Credit: Contributed

Maybe a few sips of this one could even help bring some balance to your sibling’s crazy mood swings this year. A little bit of tart to match their sassy (but well-loved) personality, and a little bit of sweet to even it out!

Recipe

• 1 oz Okanagan Spirits Aquavitis (Aquavit)
• 0.25 oz Okanagan Spirits Canados
• 0.75 oz Lillet Blanc
• 0.5 oz Yellow Chartreuse
• 0.75 oz Lemon juice
• 0.5 oz Lemon Oleo – Saccharum
• 0.25 oz Bittered Sling Lem – Marrakech Bitters

For the wine-loving moms

Drink: Winter is Coming

Bartender: Karl O’Dwyer, Globe Cafe & Tapas Bar

This tasty beverage is like a cold, refreshing take on mulled wine. Don’t let the ingredients list intimidate you – it’s actually quite simple to make, and you can get all of the ingredients for the winter spice syrup (which can also be used in coffee) at Bulk Barn for a few bucks.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Plus, it’s sure to impress your dear mother whose love for wine is only surpassed by her love for Jon Snow.

Recipe

• 2 oz Summerhill Merlot
• 1 oz winter spice syrup
• 3 dashes of orange bitters
• 1/2 oz Okanagan Spirits Blueberry Liqueur
• Egg whites

Winter spice syrup (500 mL)

• 350 ml sugar
• 450 ml water
• 4 cloves
• 4 cardamom pods
• 2 star anise
• 2 pieces of allspice
• 1 nutmeg
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• teaspoon of fennel seeds

Add everything into a pot and bring to boil, then let it simmer for 10 minutes and leave off the heat for 20-25 minutes while the syrup really starts to infuse.

For the breakfast-master dads

Drink: Good Morning Flip

Bartender: Mark Verike, BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery

This drink is a twist on a classic Flip. It’s made with a full egg which creates a thick, frothy body, giving it a delightful texture somewhat similar to that of eggnog.

“The ingredients I chose for this cocktail all complement each other, while delivering a rich mouth feel packed with flavour and nutrition that I could easily shake up in the morning,” said Mark Verike, BNA mixologist and Good Morning Flip creator.

Photo Credit: Brandon Boot Instagram: @brandon.boot

Just add a side of bacon to this creative cocktail, and you’ve got yourself a complete breakfast! It’s a drink that would make Ron Swanson proud, and one that the Christmas morning breakfast master in your household is sure to enjoy. I mean, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right?

Recipe

• 1.5 oz Okanagan Spirits Gin
• 0.25 oz coffee liqueur (like Kahlua)
• 0.25 oz medium dry sherry (like Gonzalez Byass – Olorosso Nutty Solera )
• 0.5 oz orange juice
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• 5 drops Bittered Sling Plum and Rootbeer Bitters
• 1 egg
• 1 whole star anise for garnish

In a shaker tin, add all ingredients except the star anise, and dry shake (without ice). Fill with ice and shake vigorously until frost forms on shaker. Fine strain into chilled footed goblet. Garnish with star anise.

For jolly old Saint Nick

Drink: Bob's Nog

Bartender: Stephanie Bobey, Oak + Cru

Last but not least, skip the milk and leave Santa a holiday classic with a little kick this year to help get him through a long night. And make a little extra for yourself while you're at it!

Photo Credit: Contributed

Recipe

• 12 oz roasted hazelnut and nutmeg sous vide with Okanagan Spirits BRBN
• 2.5 oz cinnamon infused coconut sugar simple syrup 
• 30 oz handcrafted eggnog

• 8 oz whipping cream 
• 16 oz 2% milk 
• 4 oz white granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 nutmeg (freshly grated)

• 200g roasted hazelnuts  
• 1 whole nutmeg
• 10 oz Okanagan Spirits BRBN Bourbon

• 8 oz coconut sugar
• 8 oz water
• 1 cinnamon stick

Several of the ingredients used in these recipes can be purchased at Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery in downtown Kelowna. While you're there, you're also likely to find the perfect gift for the spirit connoisseur on your shopping list!

We hope that these cocktails help bring a little extra cheer to your holiday season, and perhaps even become a new family tradition! Cheers!

Okanagan Spirits is a local "farm-to-flask" distillery. As Western Canada's oldest craft distillery, Okanagan Spirits now offers more than 25 internationally awarded spirits including gins, vodkas, liqueurs and more.

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