Holiday Cocktails from Our Favorite Mountain Distilleries

These five mountain distilleries share cocktail recipes that will get you through the holidays.

These five mountain distilleries have shared cocktail recipes that will get you through the holidays. Some are easy and some are complex, but all of these holiday cocktail recipes will help make your holidays merry and bright.

HOT BUTTERED RUM
Spirit Hound Distillers
Lyons, Colorado

Located in the tiny town of Lyons, Colorado, Spirit Hound has been racking up awards since they first opened four years ago. Their whisky (they spell it the Scottish way) has even received mention in the 2017 Whiskey Bible—high praise, indeed. They recently released their one-year-old barrel-aged Mountain Bum Rum which makes excellent holiday cocktails. This was the first rum Spirit Hound aged in their own whisky barrels.

RECIPE

Butter Mix:

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 Tablespoons molasses (or substitute brown sugar)
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• pinch cloves
• pinch salt

In a food processor, pulse sugar and molasses together. Add remaining ingredients and mix until combined. Transfer to sealed container and place in refrigerator until chilled.

Hot Buttered Rum:

• 1 heaping teaspoon Butter Mix
• Hot water
• 2 oz. Spirit Hound Mountain Bum Barrel-Aged rum

Mix hot water and butter mix in a small mug; once mix is dissolved, add rum. Stir and sip!

MAYDAY MOONSHINE HOT CHOCOLATE
Durango Craft Spirits
Durango, Colorado

Durango Craft Spirits has one of the smoothest vodkas I have ever had the pleasure of tasting, but you don’t have to take my word for it. Their Soiled Dove Vodka is a Gold Medal Winner at the New York International Spirits Competition, where Durango Craft Spirits was also named Colorado Vodka Distillery of the Year.

The recipe they shared with us features their Mayday Moonshine which took home a silver medal at the same competition.

RECIPE

Add hot a shot of Mayday Moonshine to your hot cocoa, throw in a candy cane and marshmallows and voila, you’ve got a Mayday Moonshine Hot Chocolate.

THE MCCONAUGHAY (AKA “THE HOT DUDE”)
Marble Distilling Company & the Distillery Inn
Carbondale, Colorado

Marble is unique in the world of distilleries because their tasting room is part of their inn in downtown Carbondale. Enjoy your cocktails and then simply walk just a few feet to your cozy room. What could be better?

RECIPE

• 2.5 oz Moonlight EXpresso
• 1 Tablespoon Cocoa Mix

Add hot water and stir. Add a dollop of house-made whipped cream. Top with shaved peppermint bark.

THE MONTANYA WASSAIL
Montanya Distillers
Crested Butte, Colorado

Montanya makes one type of distilled spirit and they make it well. If you love rum (or even if you don’t) you’ve got to try one of Montanya’s three incredible rums: Platino, Oro and Exclusiva.  All are handcrafted by traceable American ingredients.

They share with us a batch recipe for wassail, and it’s sure to be the hit of your next holiday party.

RECIPE:

• 1 gallon of best quality local apple cider
• 64 oz all natural cranberry juice
• 2 whole oranges, each poked with 10 whole cloves each to release the orange essence
• 4 tsp cloves (whole)
• 4 tsp allspice (whole)
• 10 whole cinnamon sticks
• 4 tsp Angostura bitters

To be added at serving time:

• 1.5 bottles Montanya Oro Rum

Allow wassail mull over heat, covered and without the Oro so not to release/evaporate the alcohol for 2-3 hours before serving. Add Oro just prior to serving. Ladle into a mug, garnish with an orange slice poked with cloves or a cinnamon stick.

MINER’S COFFEE
KJ Wood Distillers
Ouray, Colorado

KJ Wood Distillery, originally located in Berthoud, Colorado, has moved to Ouray where they built a beautiful distillery downtown. The light and bright upstairs tasting room offers many fine craft cocktails, including hot and cold delights. This simply whiskey drink will help keep you warm through the holidays and beyond.

RECIPE

Coffee and Dead Drift Whiskey topped with Amaretto whipped cream (if you don’t have any Amaretto whipped cream, regular whipped cream will suffice).