Fall & Winter
selecting one of the beverage styles below. DOWNLOAD RECIPES
Vermouth Cassis
Extremely common in Europe, Apéritifs have been a part of the drinking and culinary culture for hundreds of years. So when alcohol enthusiasts in the US fled to France during the 1920s, as prohibition was decimating the American drinking culture, they became exposed to Apéritifs. They then took the drink recipes home (once prohibition was over, of course!), and the Pompier spread like wildfire. Since then, the Pompier became the Vermouth Cassis and has been a part of the American drinking culture.
Recipe:
The Vermouth Cassis is a simple cocktail to prepare; you only need a jigger, glass, and pairing knife.
Ingredients:
1.5 OZ of Dry Vermouth (We recommend Dolin Dry Vermouth)
0.5 OZ of Creme De La Cassis (We recommend Lejay Creme de Cassis)
Top Note Tonic Club Soda To Taste / To Top
1 Lemon Twist
(Optional but highly recommended) Skewered Blueberries or Mint for Garnish
*Note - We highly recommend using small, single-use, bottles of Vermouth when making cocktails; this is because once opened, Vermouth will begin to go bad and gain an off taste after about one month, two to three if stored in a refrigerator. This can lead to the cocktail being less than pleasant, so freshly opened Vermouth is a must for optimal taste and freshness!
Preparation:
Add ice, Vermouth, and the Creme de la Cassis to a glass, followed by the club soda. Gently stir, and add the lemon twist with blueberries or mint for garnish and enjoy!
Photo by @steph.achter
Jon East's Chai Highball
Jon made this for us on our Instagram live series, Highballs at High Noon! While its preparation is simple, this cocktail is incredibly complex.
Be sure to check out our Q&A with Jon and follow him on Instagram for cocktails and cute dog pics.
Image credit: Jon East
Jon East's Chai Highball Recipe:
1.75 oz Twisted Path Chai Liqueur
1 dash Bittermens Hopped Grapefruit Bitters
1 dash Bittermens Buckspice Gingersnap Bitters
4 drops Bittermens Xocalatl Mole Bitters
Garnish: citrus peel
Stir all ingredients together in a highball glass filled with ice and garnish.
Spooky Season
This simple sipper is perfect for when you crave the spice of a Whiskey Ginger and the warmth of an Old Fashioned.
Spooky Season Recipe:
2 oz Whiskey
.5 oz Top Note Ginger Beer Reduction*
3 dashes Aromatic Bitters
Garnish: dehydrated orange wheel
Stir all ingredients together with ice to chill, strain into a rocks glass with one big ice cube and garnish.
*Ginger Beer Reduction: Combine 1 bottle of Top Note Ginger Beer and ½ cup sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes or until reduced by half. Remove from heat and let cool. Keep refrigerated.
Photo by @steph.achter
Spirit-Free Ginger-Apple Mule
Celebrate cider season with this cozy spirit-free Mule!
Spirit-Free Ginger-Apple Mule Recipe:
2 oz cold apple cider
.5 oz lime juice
3 oz Top Note Ginger Beer
Garnish: apple slices, cinnamon stick, star anise (optional)
Stir all ingredients together in a copper Mule mug* filled with crushed or cubed ice. Garnish as desired.
*If you don’t happen to have Mule mugs on hand, any other glass works just as well!
Spiced Vodka Tonic
Spiced Vodka Tonic Recipe:
2 oz spiced vodka*
4 oz Top Note Classic Tonic Water
Optional: simple syrup, to taste
Garnish: fresh orange peel
Stir ingredients together in a glass with ice and garnish.
*Spiced Vodka: add 2 crushed cardamom pods and 2 tsp whole cloves to a jar and top with 8 oz vodka. Let steep for 2 days, then strain out the spices and enjoy.
Wonderful Times
We might be celebrating the holidays a bit differently this year, but one thing we’re grateful for every year is holiday cocktails!
Last year we spotted a cocktail called "Wonderful Times" by Clay Kirkland of Wisecraft Mixology, featuring vodka infused with seasonal spices, tart cranberry juice, and our very own club soda. We've been waiting for the holiday season to come around again so we could make a version for ourselves and we love it so much that we just had to share. Here's to the social media movers, shakers and mixologists making this season a bit brighter!
Wonderful Times Recipe:
2 oz spiced vodka*
.5 oz orange liqueur
1.5 oz unsweetened cranberry juice
.5 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
Top Note Club Soda No. 1, to top
Garnish: cranberries and rosemary
Shake all ingredients except Club Soda with ice, then strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Top with Club Soda, stir, and garnish.
*Spiced Vodka: add 2 crushed cardamom pods and 2 tsp whole cloves to a jar and top with 8 oz vodka. Let steep for 2 days, then strain out the spices and enjoy.
Transfusion
Transfusion Recipe:
2 oz vodka
.5 oz Ginger Beer reduction*
.5 oz lime juice
Concord grape juice ice cubes**
Garnish: fresh Concord grapes and crystallized ginger
Combine all ingredients except the Club Soda in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass over Concord grape juice ice cubes. Top with club soda, stir, and garnish.
*Ginger Beer Reduction: Pour an 8.5 oz bottle of Top Note Ginger Beer into a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes or until reduced by half. Remove from heat and let cool. Keep refrigerated.
**Concord Grape Juice Ice Cubes: Pour Concord grape juice into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Cran-Apple Gin Pitcher Cocktail
Cran-Apple Gin Pitcher Cocktail Recipe:
5 oz barrel-aged gin
4 oz apple cider
2 oz cranberry liqueur
2 oz lemon juice
1 - 8.5 oz bottle Top Note Club Soda No. 1
Garnish: fresh herbs and citrus, optional
Stir all ingredients together in a pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish if desired. Serves 3-4.
Cran-Apple Ginger Spritz
This festive low-ABV spritz will carry you through a night of merriment without leaving you with a headache the next day.
Cran-Apple Ginger Spritz Recipe:
4 fresh cranberries
1 slice fresh ginger
1 oz cranberry liqueur
3 oz apple cider
1 oz Top Note Ginger Beer
Garnish: fresh cranberries and orange slices
Muddle the cranberries and ginger in a cocktail shaker, then add the liqueur, cider, and ice. Shake and double strain into a chilled flute or wine glass. Top with Ginger Beer and Club Soda, stir gently, and garnish.