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Earl Grey Cocktail with orange wheel and orange twist in ice-filled rocks glass

Earl Grey Old Fashioned Cocktail

January 15, 2021 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

This Earl Grey cocktail blends the sweet scent of bergamot tea with the spicy aromatics of bourbon. Using a simple syrup made of strong Earl Grey tea and some tea and lemon bitters, it’s a great old fashioned for a late happy hour. While this Earl Grey cocktail doesn’t have the warmth of a fresh-brewed […]

Hot Jammed – Spicy Old Fashioned

January 14, 2021 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

Hot pepper jelly, bourbon smoked sugar, five spice and peach liquor in a spicy old fashioned? Did I think it would work? Hell, no! Did it, Hell yes! No one in their right mind would put hot pepper jelly in an old fashioned, would they? Well, I never claimed to be in my right mind, […]

Lion's Tail Cocktail with lime wheel garnish

How to Make a Fantastic Lion’s Tail Cocktail

January 14, 2021 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

The complex, spicy Lion’s Tail cocktail is a perfect one to make while limes are fresh and spice flavors are on my mind. With a simple list of ingredients, just bourbon, lime, allspice dram and simple syrup, it’s an easy shake. (Post may contain affiliate links.) What is a Lion’s Tail Cocktail? I’ll admit I […]

Add some punch to your carajillo with the addition of bourbon, Cardamaro and some pineapple syrup to make a slightly tropical and much more complex variation than coffee and Licor 43 alone.

Bourbon Carajillo

January 10, 2021 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

The Carajillo, a spanish cocktail of coffee and liqueur, usually sticks to a lower proof liquor such as Licor 43 or other brandy, but you know I had to make my own whiskey version with this Bourbon Carajillo. This cocktail packs a caffeinated punch with almost two ounces of espresso

Raspberry Rue Jam Cocktail in a wine glass with ice, garnished with a lemon twist

How to Make Jam Cocktails

January 9, 2021 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

One of the easiest ways to add a boost of fruit flavor to your next cocktail is to use a little jam or preserves to make a jam cocktail. Running out of simple syrup or flavored syrups doesn’t have to be a tragedy in the house. Simply use some jam or preserves to add that […]

Strawberry Gin Jam Cocktail with dehydrated half wheel of grapefruit and sage leaf. Served up in a cocktail glass.

Strawberry Campari Gin Jam Cocktail

January 6, 2021 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

Jam makes everything taste better, so I’m using a cheat in my Strawberry Gin Jam Cocktail today. I’m building the cocktail using strawberry preserves to give the cocktail a great taste of strawberry without having to make a simple syrup. One of the easiest hacks to use with a sour is to swap out all […]

DIY Champagne Cocktail Kit example picture with small tin with 4 flavored liqueurs and dried fruit garnish

DIY Champagne Cocktail Kit

January 3, 2021 By Heather Wibbels 1 Comment

Why gift someone a bottle of Champagne when you can give them a DIY Champagne cocktail kit to make their own celebratory cocktails? When it was time for a socially distant New Year’s Eve celebration, I wanted to put together a little gift/kit for my friends I’d usually be spending the evening with. Creating a […]

Raspberry Champagne Bubbles Cocktail in champagne flutes with copper-plated barware set and raspberry syrup and bitters

Raspberry Bourbon Bubbles for New Years Eve

December 31, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

One of the easiest and fanciest cheats for dressing up a bourbon cocktail is topping it with champagne or sparkling wines and this Raspberry Bourbon Bubbles recipe for New Years Eve fits the bill. The easiest way to do this for two is to make your favorite old fashioned cocktail, pour a half serving in […]

Boozy Caramel Brulee Latte topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and toffee with Ballotin Caramel Turtle whiskey bottle

Boozy Caramel Brulee Latte

December 29, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

I always associate sea salt caramels with this time of year, so I’m happy to announce a boozy caramel brulee latte for your drinking pleasure. The holidays are one time of year I rejoice at making exceptions to eating healthy. And home-made caramel is one of those guilty pleasures. Not that I make it, but […]

Boozy Toasted White Chocolate Mocha with whipped cream and red sprinkles and a bottle of Ballotin Chocolate Mocha Cream in the background

Boozy Toasted White Chocolate Mocha

December 24, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

White chocolate lovers rejoice – I have a boozy toasted white chocolate mocha for you today! Another installment in my boozy adult lattes, this latte doesn’t require any actual toasting of white chocolate to make the drink. Rather, it relies on a small splash of caramel syrup to give it that nutty, toasty, sugary flavor […]

Bourbon Eggnog on a cookie and candy plate in gold rimmed glasses garnished with star anise and cinnamon

How to Make the Perfect Bourbon Eggnog

December 23, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

In Kentucky, there’s no substitute for whiskey in your eggnog; we always make bourbon eggnog. The baking spices inherent in the spirit, the sweetness of it and it’s ability to cut through the cream to still shine through makes it a perfect match for this holiday drink.  I hated eggnog until I made it. My […]

Cinnamon Toddy with lemon peel, cinnamon stick garnish, star anise

Best Cinnamon Toddy Ever

December 22, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

When it’s cold outside and the nights are long I’m always thirsty for a warm hot toddy to warm my hands (and feet) and this Cinnamon Toddy fits the bill. It’s endlessly variable by swapping out the tea you use to make it. My first iteration used a ginger tea, the second a cinnamon tea, […]

Uncle Nearest Cinnamon Sour with clove-studded lemon peel for garnish - served up

Christmas Sour with Uncle Nearest: Cinnamon Sour

December 18, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

Holidays might look different this year, but I’m ready for it with this Christmas sour – a little whiskey, a little cinnamon, a little hibiscus syrup and some fun aromatic bitters make this Hibiscus Cinnamon Sour one I’m going to be making all year round. I knew I wanted to highlight the baking spices in […]

chai highball with cinnamon stick, pineapple, orange and pineapple frond garnish

Killer Tropical Chai Highball

December 17, 2020 By Heather Wibbels 3 Comments

Greet winter in highball form with this Chai Highball. Rather than holding out for yet another warm whiskey drink, I’m switching to chai-infused whiskey, tropical syrups and a touch of spicy bitters to build up the flavor profile of this approachable highball. With each sip you get a lovely combination of winter spice from the […]

Eggnog Espresso Martini with cinnamon stick, fresh nutmeg and coffee beans in a tall martini glass

Eggnog Espresso Martini

December 15, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

A classic cocktail, the espresso martini is only improved with the addition of eggnog. While it means that glorious head of coffee foam doesn’t sit on top of the drink I think it’s a fair price to pay for the luscious blend of eggnog and coffee in a fancy cocktail glass.  (Post may contain affiliate […]

Boozy Peppermint Mocha Latte topped with whipped cream and candy cane pieces with bottle of Ballotin Chocolate Mint Whiskey

Boozy Peppermint Mocha Latte

December 14, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

My favorite coffee shop’s seasonal lattes are available, but sometimes I need the boozy, more adult version – so I’m mixing up a boozy peppermint mocha latte for you today. Although I love these lattes warm, they are fabulous chilled as well. And while I don’t have an espresso machine at home, I used cold […]

Smokeand Oak Hot Chocolate with cream garnish and chocolate drizzle on red plate with holiday ornaments

Smoke and Oak – Smoked Hot Chocolate for Bourbon Women

December 11, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

When it’s turned colder I always want to fill my tummy with something warm on cold days and this Smoke and Oak, Smoked Hot Chocolate created for Bourbon Women fits the bill as the perfect warm bourbon cocktail to wrap your fingers around. During the holidays, as the days shorten, I’m dreaming of warm, toasty […]

Caramel Orange Hot Chocolate topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle on a plate with christmas lights and ornaments

Salted Caramel Orange Hot Chocolate

December 11, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

One of my favorite flavor combinations of the seasons is caramel and orange together – and I love both of them with chocolate, so I experimented and put all three in a cocktail with this salted caramel orange hot chocolate. It is delicious and decadent and so full of sweet cocoa flavors I am in […]

This gingerbread martini cocktail is full of the subtle flavors of a gingerbread cookie, the sweet and bitter, molasses, a hint of ginger, some vanilla notes from the whiskey and a bit of gingerbread bitters added.

Gingerbread Martini

December 10, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

I never loved making gingerbread houses, but if you gave me this gingerbread martini while assembling one we’d have a grand time, even the house turned out a little crooked. I wanted to put together a flavor combination that was quintessentially Christmas – and when I saw gingerbread cookies in a recent text storm with […]

Peppermint Chocolate Old Fashioned

December 9, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

If you’re wondering what to do with the ubiquitous candy canes this time of year I give you – the Peppermint Chocolate Old Fashioned. Blending homemade candy cane syrup, whiskey, creme de cacao and chocolate bitters gives you a great seasonal sip. (Post may contain affiliate links.) Mint Notes in Whiskey When nosing and tasting […]

Banana Old Fashioned

December 5, 2020 By Heather Wibbels Leave a Comment

Remember that banana syrup I fell in love with, well, I’m back pairing it with bourbon today in a Banana Old Fashioned. The intense banana flavor of the syrup reminds me of really moist banana bread. So of course I want to pair it with Old Forester for those aromas of banana bread that spread […]

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About Heather

Heather Wibbels is a whiskey mixologist creating whiskey drinkers one cocktail at a time. She's an Executive Bourbon Steward who loves researching and designing cocktails, drinking cocktails, and teaching cocktails. Mostly whiskey cocktails, given her Kentucky location, but any spirit will do when the inspiration strikes. Learn More about the Contessa

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