The Nutcracker – Easy Bourbon Cocktail

This simple Bourbon Cocktail is a play on flavors with hints of almond from the addition Amaretto and bright citrus notes. Aptly named The Nutcracker – our delicious cocktail is one to be enjoyed while sitting by the fire with a big bowl of nuts!

The holidays are a time of gathering with friends and family to celebrate the magic of the season, and that’s why we’ve created this simply delicious Bourbon Cocktail for you to share!

Christmas Cocktails to Please

If there is one thing I love more than cookies at Christmas time it is a GOOD cocktail recipe!

There is something about having our friends and family over for our annual Christmas party and having a fully stocked cocktail bar for them to choose their fave.

We have done a Clementine Cranberry Cocktail and even a White Christmas Sangria, both which were met with high praise, but I wanted to do something a little more along the lines of a classic cocktail for everyone to enjoy.

Now, I am personally not a huge bourbon fan but when I asked Mr. Olive what liquor he envisioned when I described a perfect winter evening he immediately said bourbon!

So with that I went to work and blended it with Amaretto – an almond liquor I can get behind any day – as well as some citrus to create this one of a kind, deliciously smooth cocktail.

Keep in mind this recipe is not just for Christmas time my friends! It can be enjoyed in the summer too thanks to the addition of the citrus – and is sure to be a bourbon drink that you will turn to time and time again.

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FAQs for Bourbon Cocktails

What is Good to Mix with Bourbon?

Bourbon is a sweet liquor with hints of vanilla and caramel which makes it a great addition to cocktails with many different flavor profiles.

We love the addition of Amaretto (a simple almond liquor) along with fresh naval orange juice and zest to make a cocktail that everyone will love. You can also mix bourbon into coffee, cola or even eggnog for a simple and delicious drink.

Is it better to shake or stir a bourbon cocktail?

This is going to depend on the drink you are making and what’s being mixed with it.

For our Nutcracker cocktail you can do either but I prefer a simple stir rather than a vigorous shake in a cocktail mixer.

A general rule of thumb when mixing any cocktail is to stir anything with carbonation to ensure it doesn’t fizz all over the place.

Also, a drink that you won’t want to get watered down by ice cubes is best shaken with a generous amount of ice so it gets cold without being diluted.

You May Need …

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You don’t need anything fancy to whip up this easy cocktail, but I do suggest you have some proper glassware for serving it to your guests for maximum impact!

More Drink Recipes to Enjoy

• Spiked Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
• Strawberry Mint Bliss
• Manly Drink Guide
• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate

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