Getting in the Spirits

Now that the holidays are upon us, we thought a cocktail roundup using our favorite spirits was in order. We confess we did not mind doing the research — or the taste testing! — for this effort and hope that our take on some favorite holiday libations will make your season merry and bright.

The Gold Fashioned

This cold weather classic will warm up any holiday gathering. While some recipes call for an orange slice we go with a lemon wedge around here given our affinity for the classic Duck Head gold label.

The Sportsman's Punch

Set the scene this holiday with a festive punch. The combination of cranberry juice, cinnamon, and apple cider offer sweet holiday notes while a dark spiced rum anchors this crowd-pleaser.

The Mallard Mule 

The golden-brown of Bourbon. The refreshingly fresh squeeze of lime. The green snap of mint. The Mallard Mule pulls together the color cues of our beloved mallard mascot. The addition of ginger beer and a copper mug give it a zesty and festive kick.

The First Light 

The first light gives the ole “vodka tonic” a holiday kick by adding a dash of bitters and a splash of grapefruit juice. We recommend freshly squeezed here for a refreshing flavor (and lower calories). 

The O'Brother 

Duck Head founders the O’Bryan brothers transformed existing canvas tents into pants made of “duck” cloth. We think they’d appreciate this innovative take on a traditional Bloody Mary -- adding a bottle of pilsner ale transforms an existing classic into a new cocktail. We highly recommended this for those mornings you wake up saying, “Oh Brother.”