Christmas Bitters Recipes


PLEASE NOTE: All recipes are grouped by base spirit with note to beverage style included in notes

SUGARCANE SPIRITS

The beverages found in this collective are based on spirits produced from sugarcane, such as Rum, Rhum agricole, Cachaca...

...THE MARINER...

Created by Adam Elmegirab in 2011 with the purpose of accentuating the flavours we commonly associate with this time of year; fruit, spice, aged spirits and sparkling wine.

30ml / 1oz Ron Botran Reserva
15ml / 0.5oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao Ancienne Methode
3 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
2 Dashes Peychaud's Bitters
Top with 50ml / 2oz Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass fill with cubed ice and stir for 15-20 seconds. Strain into glass and top with Champagne
Glass: Chilled coupette
Garnish: Orange zest
Ice: N/A
Notes: Short & spiritous

...MR. PRESIDENT...

Variant on the El Presidente from the Bar Florida Cocktail Book published in 1935

37.5ml / 1.25oz Smoke & Oakum's Gunpowder Rum
37.5ml / 1.25oz Martini Rosso
3 Dashes Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao Ancienne Methode
3 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass fill with cubed ice and stir for 15-20 seconds
Glass: Frozen coupe
Garnish: Orange zest
Ice: N/A
Notes: Short & spiritous

...CHRISTMAS TREE...

Adaptation of the classic Corn & Oil and aptly named after an oil well Christmas Tree

50ml / 2oz English Harbour 5 year old
12.5ml / 1oz Falernum
4 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
Barspoon freshly squeezed lime juice

Method: Add all ingredients to glass, fill with crushed ice and swizzle. Top with crushed ice and swizzle again if necessary.
Glass: Highball
Garnish: Lime zest spiral (use a vegetable peeler to create a long strip)
Ice: Crushed
Notes: Short & spiritous

...RUM-PLUM-STILTSKIN...

Heather Duncan's winning cocktail from the Havana Club Cocktail Competition at Mim Bar & Lounge

50ml / 2oz Havana Club Especial
25ml / 1oz Ruby Port
4 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
25ml / 1oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Fresh egg white
20ml / 0.75oz Homemade Plum Syrup

Method: To your mixing glass, add egg white, lemon juice and plum syrup in that order followed by remaining ingredients. Dry shake for five seconds then with ice for a further ten seconds
Glass: Chilled wine goblet
Garnish: Snap orange zest over drink and discard
Ice: N/A
Notes: Long and moreish

GIN

The beverages found in this collective are in the category of juniper-based spirits, such as London Dry, Plymouth, Old Tom and New Western...

...THE KINKS...

Variant of the classic Hanky Panky created by Ada Coleman of the Savoy in London

37.5ml / 1.5oz Sipsmith
37.5ml / 1.5oz Gancia Rosso
3 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass fill with cubed ice and stir for 15-20 seconds
Glass: Frozen coupe
Garnish: Orange zest
Ice: N/A
Notes: Short & spiritous

...GIN & MULLED WINE SOUR...

Created by Ervin Trykowski for Caorunn Gin

37.5ml / 1.5oz Caorunn Gin
3 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
25ml / 1oz Mulled wine
25ml / 1oz Lemon juice
12.5ml / 0.5oz Sugar syrup
Fresh egg white

Method: Add egg white, lemon and sugar in that order then add remaining ingredients to mixing glass and dry shake for five seconds. Fill with cubed ice and shake hard for a further ten seconds.
Glass: Collins / Highball
Garnish: Cinnamon stick and clove studded orange zest
Ice: Cubed

GENEVER

The beverages found in this collective are also commonly referred to as Holland's Gin, produced from a base of malt wine and spirit...

...RUDOLPH...

Adaptation, by Adam Elmegirab, of the Blood & Sand named for the 1922 movie by Rudolph Valentino

37.5ml / 1.5oz Zuidam
12.5ml / 0.5oz Cherry Heering
12.5ml / 0.5oz Gancia Rosso
3 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
20ml / 0.75oz Fresh squeezed orange juice

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass and shake hard for ten seconds
Glass: Chilled coupette
Garnish: N/A
Ice: N/A
Notes: Short, tart & refreshing

VODKA

The beverages found in this collective are based on neutral, and in some cases flavoured, spirits produced from grains or potatoes...

...WOODSIDE SOUR...

Created by Adam Elmegirab for Dr. Adam Elmegirab's Bitters

50ml / 1.75oz Belvedere Pink Grapefruit
4 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
25ml / 1oz Fresh lemon juice
15ml / 0.5oz Honey syrup

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass and fill with cubed ice. Shake until ice cold and fine strain
Glass: Chilled cocktail / coupette
Garnish: N/A
Ice: N/A
Notes: Short, tart & refreshing

AGAVE SPIRITS

The beverages found in this collective are based on spirits produced from agave, such as Tequila or Mezcal...

...THE LIVINGSTON...

Created by Adam Elmegirab for Dr. Adam Elmegirab's Bitters

37.5ml / 1.25oz Don Julio Blanco
12.5ml / 0.5oz Bols Apricot Brandy
12.5ml / 0.5oz Cointreau
2 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
20ml / 0.75oz Fresh lime juice
15ml / 0.5oz Sugar syrup

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass and shake hard for ten seconds
Glass: Chilled coupette
Garnish: N/A
Ice: N/A
Notes: Short, tart & refreshing

...LAS POSADAS...

Created by Adam Elmegirab for Dr. Adam Elmegirab's Bitters

50ml / 2oz Del Maguey Mezcal Vida
4 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
Barspoon agave syrup
Rinse Jade Nouvelle-Orleans Absinthe

Method: Add first three ingredients to mixing glass fill with cubed ice and stir for 15-20 seconds
Glass: Chilled Rocks/Old Fashioned rinsed with absinthe
Garnish: Lemon peel
Ice: N/A
Notes: Short & spiritous

AMERICAN WHISKEY

The beverages found in this collective are based on whiskeys produced in the United States, such as Tennessee, Bourbon, Rye, Corn...

...RUBY FLIP...

Variant on the classic Coffee Cocktail which was somewhat a misnomer as it contained no coffee or bitters

37.5ml / 1.25oz Buffalo Trace
37.5ml / 1.25oz Ruby Port
3 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
1 Whole egg
Barspoon vanilla syrup

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass and dry shake for five seconds. Fill with cubed ice and shake for a further 10 seconds.
Glass: Goblet
Garnish: Fresh grated nutmeg
Ice: N/A
Notes: Perfect for winter or after-dinner

SCOTCH WHISKY

The beverages found in this collective are based on whiskys produced in Scotland, such as Single Malt, Single Grain, Blended Scotch, Blended Malt and Blended Grain...

...GRAND ALBANNACH...

Variant on on a cocktail created by Adam Elmegirab for the Grand Marnier Bartender of the Year final in 2006

37.5ml / 1.25oz Auchentoshan Three Wood
12.5ml / 0.5oz Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
3 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
2 Dashes Campari
25ml / 1oz Fresh Lemon Juice
10ml / 1oz Honey Syrup

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass fill with cubed ice and shake hard for 10 seconds
Glass: Wine goblet
Garnish: Seasonal fruit
Ice: Cubed
Notes: Short, tart bracer

JAPANESE WHISKY

The beverages found in this collective are based on whiskys produced in Japan...

BRANDY

The beverages found in this collective are based on spirits produced from fruit such as Cognac, Armagnac, Pisco, Applejack, Calvados, Eaux-De-Vie...

...TOMMIE CONNOR...

Variant on the classic Widow's Kiss and renamed for the man who wrote the lyrics and music to 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus'

50ml / 2oz Somerset Cider Brandy
7.5ml / 0.25oz Yellow Chartreuse
7.5ml / 0.25oz Bénédictine
3 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass fill with cubed ice and stir for 15-20 seconds
Glass: Frozen coupe
Garnish: Orange zest (optional)
Ice: N/A
Notes: Short & spiritous

...THUNDERCAAT...

Variant on a cocktail created by Adam Elmegirab in 2006 which won a BOLS Advocaat competition

40ml / 1.25oz Bols Advocaat
20ml / 0.75oz Vanilla infused Mount Gay rum
20ml / 0.75oz Remy Martin VSOP
3 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters

Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass fill with cubed ice and shake hard for 10 seconds
Glass: Chilled cocktail
Garnish: Lemon sugar rim
Ice: None
Notes: Perfect for after dinner or in winter-time

MISCELLANEOUS

The beverages found in this collective are based on lesser-used products that occasionally make an appearance in modern-day cocktails...

...CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL...

Variant on the classic

1 Brown sugar cube
2 Dashes Dr. Heather Duncan's Christmas Bitters
25ml / 1oz Grand Marnier
Top with Champagne

Method: Place sugar cube on bar spoon and dash bitters onto cube. Drop in glass, add Grand Marnier then fill with Champagne.
Glass: Champagne flute
Garnish: Fresh lemon spiral
Ice: N/A
Notes: Long, light and fizzy