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Deuce Cities Henhouse

The Friendly Winter Warm-Up
Hi Guys! We are hosting our annual (going on 9 years!) holiday party this weekend, better known as “Friend Feast”! It’s the kind of party where all the friends, old and new, come together and celebrate with a good old fashioned all night hang sesh. It’s like a big booze fueled potluck. All the friends are responsible for a cool snack and beverage, and then we just go nuts. Usually there is tons, and tons of beer at this party – it’s easy and portable, so it makes sense. This year, I wanted to contribute a friendly winter cocktail to switch it up a bit.

Supplying an entire party with a cocktail can be a hard task when you are trying to make cocktails for 30 people, but I came up with a pretty alright solution.

I thought ahead and decided I needed a recipe that was both seasonal and pre-makable (not a word but whatever). I needed something that could be served on ice and wasn’t carbonated. I give you, “The Friendly Winter Warm-up” A delicious combination of sweet and bitter, with herby notes and seasonally infused aromas. The perfect Friend Feast cocktail.


I pre-made the cocktails already, days in advance – pretty forward thinking of me, guys! I made a big batch and portioned it out in small 8oz jelly jars, allowing enough room for ice. The jelly jars work perfect for party cocktails because I can pile them up in a basin full of ice, and don’t have to worry about them spilling or making a mess. Prior to the party I will garnish them all with an orange twists studded with cloves. They’ll be totally delish by feasting time!

The Ingredients
   
 

The Friendly Winter Warm-Up

▼ 2 parts rye whiskey
▼ 1 part amaro bitter liqueur, I used Averna
▼ 1 part amaro herbal liqueur, I used Amaro Nonino
▼ A dash of orange bitters
▼ 1 3″ orange peel
▼ 4 cloves

Combine first 4 ingredients and stir.

 

Fill 8oz glasses half way full. Before serving twist an orange peel oer the drink to release essential oils, and rub peel over the jar rim. Insert cloves into peel, and add to the cocktail. Serve pre-made cocktails on a bed of ice, fill the glass with ice when serving. Enjoy!
9 comments
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8 comments… add one
  • Meg@ourwaytoeat.com December 20, 2013

    That is the cutest cocktail! I love the birch limb straws. I’m obsessed with the smell of orange peel and cloves right now. I have been hoarding peels and simmering them with cloves on the stove in water to infuse the air.. p.s. this has “Pinterest hit” written all over it.

    • Scoops December 31, 2013

      Ah that sounds so good! The cocktail was a huge success, I would recommend it to you if you haven’t tried it yet. Also, Happy New Year!

  • Colz December 20, 2013

    Yes.

  • Sam December 20, 2013

    We’ve been doing a kid-friendly “Friends Feast” with our big & little buddies on NYD morning/afternoon, a noon balloon drop, good food & drink, & our old NES fired up in the basement for the dudes. What a yummy drink idea, love the pre-made idea, saves time for the lovely host — more time to hang with friends! We do a breakfast casserole in the good ol’Crock Pot, ask friends to bring food/beverage to share, then it’s food & booze with the little ones running around. It’s such a fun way to kick off the year and a great excuse to capture great portraits of our friends w/our camera. Happy Holidays to you and yours, great post!

    • Scoops December 31, 2013

      The pre-made drink was a total hit, I made a bowl for lids and it worked out perfectly. I hope you, your friends, and fam have a sweet New Year’s Day party tomorrow! Stay warm, and Happy New Year!

  • Cam December 20, 2013

    The twins are going to have to deal because I’m having one of these.

  • michele January 2, 2014

    where oh where did you find birch tree straws?? the CUTEST!!

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