NuLuDays Holiday Cocktail Challenge

We teamed up with local establishments in the popular NuLu area of downtown Louisville, Ky. to handcraft Four Roses Bourbon holiday cocktails for the 2nd Annual NuLuDays Holiday Cocktail Challenge.

The public was invited to visit area bars and restaurants to taste the cocktails and vote for their favorite during the three-week challenge, ending December 3. Garage Bar took home the first place prize with “The Clark Griswold”, which included $500 cash, a signed bottle of Four Roses Bourbon and a signed barrel head. Against the Grain and Feast BBQ claimed second and third place, respectively.

We thought you’d like to handcraft some of these cocktails at home over the holidays, so we’ve shared the recipes below. Don’t forget to post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #HandcraftTheMoment so we can check out your take on these drinks. Cheers!

Garage Bar “The Clark Griswold”
Bartender Jeremy Salmon

• 2 ounces Four Roses Bourbon
• ½ ounce St-Germain® Spiced Pear Liqueur
• ½ ounce Kopke® Fine Ruby Port
• ½ ounce Cocchi® Vermouth di Torino
• 1 dash Angostura® Bitters
• ½ dropper gingerbread bitters

Stir Bourbon, spiced pear liqueur, ruby port, vermouth and bitters. Strain and add a sage leaf, rubbed and floated on top.

 

Against the Grain “A Wrinkle in Thyme”
Bartender Kelly Lynch

• 1 ½ ounces Four Roses Bourbon
• ¾ ounce cranberry juice
• ½ ounce ginger liqueur
• ¼ ounce Italian sweet vermouth

Muddle Bourbon with 4-5 single thyme sprigs. Shake Bourbon, cranberry juice, orange juice, ginger liqueur and Italian sweet vermouth. Double strain into large rocks glass over 2″ ice cube. Add two dashes of spiced cherry bitters on the cube and garnish with a single thyme sprig rubbed gently.

 

Feast “My Father, A Magician”
Bartender Duncan Cherry

• 1 ½ ounces Four Roses Bourbon
• ½ ounce lemon juice
• ½ ounce cold pressed apple juice
• 1 ounce smoked honey syrup

Shake Bourbon, lemon juice, apple juice and honey and strain over ice. Garnish with candied lemon wheel.