Ho Ho Holiday Cocktail Hotline Cocktails

As the holiday season rolls in with its flurry of festivities, our listeners from the “Cocktails with Friends” community reached out to the CWF Hotline seeking some spirited assistance. With unique needs and stories, Dr. Meghan Anderson, Danny Williams, Matt Bollinder, Matty Robinson, Coach Gaddy, and Annie dialed into the Cocktails with Friends Podcast for custom cocktail creations to elevate their holiday cheer.

Meghan Anderson’s Recovery Cocktail: Hot Toddy for the Athlete

Meghan Anderson, a dedicated marathon runner, triathlete, and lawyer, sought a cocktail to serve as a recovery drink. Aiming to replenish glycogen stores while easing holiday stress, we crafted a Hot Toddy in a cozy tea cup. It’s the perfect wind-down for an athlete’s winter evening.

  • 2 oz. whiskey
  • 4 oz. hot Chrysanthemum Tea
  • 0.5 oz. lemon
  • 0.5 oz. honey
  • 3 dashes of Persimmon Bitters

Danny Williams’ Popovich Cocktail: The Pop Spritz

Danny Williams, the executive director of the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono, needed a specialty drink to celebrate the Popovich Pet Theater. The Pop Spritz is a playful mix designed to delight and refresh.

  • 2 oz. Tito’s Vodka
  • 0.5 oz. grapefruit juice
  • 0.5 oz. Aperol
  • 0.25 oz. Sea Salt Simple

Shake and top with Prosecco. It’s a standing ovation in a glass.

Matt Bollinder’s Espresso Martini: A Coffee Connoisseur’s Dream

The owner of Speckled Ax Coffee, Matt, was hunting for a high-level Espresso Martini. Using their Bird Dog roast, we concocted this recipe:

  • 1.5 oz. Whiskey
  • 0.25 oz. Amaretto
  • 0.25 oz. Villon
  • 0.25 oz. Simple
  • 1.5 oz. Chilled Espresso

Give it a shake and serve in a coupe glass. This concoction is a sophisticated nod to coffee lovers and night owls alike.

Matty Robinson’s IPA Cocktail: A Whiskey Sour Twist

Tired of the beer-heavy atmosphere, Matty sought a unique beer cocktail for a holiday party. The solution? An IPA Cocktail version of a Whiskey Sour.

  • 2 oz. Anejo Tequila
  • 0.25 oz. orange juice
  • 0.25 oz. lime juice
  • 0.5 oz. agave
  • Egg White
  • Orange Bitters
  • Cherry Bitters

Dry shake, wet shake, and top with Bissell Brothers’ Substance IPA for a hoppy holiday twist.

Coach Gaddy’s Show Stopper: A Batched Holiday Old Fashioned

Assistant Maine women’s basketball coach Coach Gaddy desired a batched cocktail that could serve as a holiday party showstopper. Enter the Showstopper Old Fashioned:

Single-Use

  • 2 oz. whiskey
  • 0.25 oz. St. Elizabeth’s All Spiced Dram
  • 0.25 oz. Simple
  • Chocolate and Black Walnut Bitters

Batched in a Bottle

  • One bottle of 750 ML Whiskey
  • 3 oz. of St Elizabeth’s All-Spiced Dram
  • 3 oz. Simple
  •  Chocolate & Black Walnut Bitters

Annie’s Rye Old Fashioned: A Personal Touch from Bob

Looking for a comforting classic amid the holiday hustle, Annie asked for a rye Old Fashioned. Bob’s personal touch led to this drink:

  • 2.5 oz. Outryder Whiskey Wyoming Whiskey
  • 0.25 oz. barrel-aged whiskey maple syrup
  • Orange bitters

Stir and serve over a cube. It’s a warm, inviting sipper perfect for unwinding and wrapping presents.

This holiday season, whether you’re running marathons, hosting showstoppers, or simply enjoying the company of friends and family, there’s a cocktail from the CWF Hotline ready to make your celebrations even brighter.  Here is to a season filled with joy, recovery, and shared experiences, one carefully crafted cocktail at a time.

So, whether you’re a whiskey enthusiast or a cocktail aficionado, we invite you to join us on our Cocktails with Friends podcast, where we share insider tips, secret recipes, and engaging conversations with fellow enthusiasts of fine food and drink.

Cheers!