Fire Up Black Friday Weekend with These Two Cocktail Recipes

Black Friday is coming in hot. After a coffee-fueled rampage through the mall, consider stopping by Dabbler Depot. You can wrap up your holiday shopping with spirits gift baskets for your loved ones and even treat yourself to 10% savings on all whiskies.

If you’re looking for some cocktail inspiration this weekend, we’ve got you covered with two autumnal drink recipes that are perfect for unwinding after a long shopping spree. 

Mulled Cranberry Hot Toddy

Forget the canned cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving weekend—this cozy hot toddy is all you’ll need. A unique twist on a time-honored classic, you can make this cocktail with cranberry juice instead of plain old water and lemon. Add a touch of sweetness to this cocktail with maple syrup. We recommend using the 100% real thing—it’s totally worth it.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3oz Valentine Mayor Pingree Bourbon
• 2 tsp of maple syrup or honey
• ½ an orange, sliced into rounds
• Optional: A pinch of allspice and cloves

How to Make It:

1. Add cranberry juice, orange slices, cinnamon, and any additional spices to a small saucepan. 
2. Simmer over medium heat until heated through (about 10-15 minutes). Make sure to simmer, and avoid a rolling boil.
   
3. Once warm, strain out spices with a slotted spoon or sieve.
4. Stir in honey or maple syrup. Add more or less, to taste.
5. Pour 1.5oz bourbon into a heat-proof drinking glass or mug. Next, pour the warm mulled cranberry juice on top. This recipe makes two cocktails!
   
6. Garnish with leftover cinnamon sticks and/or sliced orange peel.

Negroni

What’s your drink of choice? After trying this recipe, you, too, will be able to proudly proclaim, “A negroni.” For most, this famously bitter cocktail is strictly on the “Naughty List.” Luckily, you can balance out the strong flavors of gin with sweet vermouth or by topping it off with club soda or sparkling wine. Making a fist-class Negroni is easier than ever with the Ultimate Cocktail Gift Basket.

Ingredients:

• 1oz Lustau Vermouth Rojo
• 1oz St. Agrestis Amaro
• 1oz 6 O’Clock London Dry Gin (or substitute with dry white sparkling wine like prosecco to make it spagliato)
• Optional: Orange peel

How to Make It:

1. Fill a mixing glass halfway with ice.
2. Add red vermouth, amaro, and gin (or dry sparkling wine) into glass and stir until chilled.
3. Garnish with orange peel.