Oh, friends.  Dear, dear friends.  The third wassail of the season is…delightful.  I’m not just saying that because I was working on my second one while writing this entry.  It is truly delicious.  As noted in my last cocktail entry, I seem to have a thing with whiskey-based cocktails this holiday season.  Add some sweet, add some citrus….sold!

I arrived home a bit desperate the evening I mixed this one.  Note to self:  do not…I repeat…do not go to Trader Joe’s on a rainy Friday night the week that the holiday Fearless Flyer is published.  Horrible mistake.  Though, I did walk out the door with a body butter trio, a rainbow of honey and a bag of gingerbread spiced granola.  There is that.  On the way home I attempted to track down the husband to talk him into picking up a Papa Murphy’s pizza on the way home.  Unfortunately, he had already left the office, so I was tough outta luck unless I wanted to stop (which I didn’t).  So, when I arrived home my number one priority was cocktail.  Secondary need?  Dinner.

Earlier in the week I prepped a spiced simple syrup, a rosemary simple syrup and an infused gin.  I’m taking my responsibility to concoct mouthwatering cocktails seriously this year.  Like a heart attack.

I made the spiced simple syrup for a spiced sugar cookie martini.  We’ll get there.  But, the spiced simple syrup was…in a word…delicious.  So, I started Googling around for other recipes.  Enter the Winter Spiced Old Fashioned.  Are you ready for this?  Yes, you are.  Trust me.  You.  Are.  And…you’re welcome.

Spiced Simple Syrup (Epicurious)

2 c water
1 1/2 c water
1 whole orange, zested
3 tablespoons grated peeled fresh ginger
3 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
3 cardamon pods (squeezed open slightly to allow access to the seeds inside)
2 whole black pepper corns

Put all of the above into a medium sauce pan.  Bring to a boil then turn down to low and simmer for ten minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.  Strain and pour into a sealed container.  Store in refrigerator.

Winter Spiced Old Fashioned 

1 1/2 oz whiskey
1 oz spiced simple syrup
1/2 oz Grand Marnier (or equivalent…I use a knock-off)
1 oz lemon juice
Juice of 1/2 orange

Mix all of the above.  Serve in a glass with a couple of ice cubes.  Serves one.

You’re welcome.  Fa-la-la.