Lauren Gruber Lauren Gruber | December 17, 2020 | Food & Drink,
Stay warm from the inside out with these wintry libations.
As the nights become longer, happy hour seems to start much earlier. Infused with seasonal favorites like persimmon, rosemary and black fig, these holiday cocktails from local bars are sure to keep you merry all winter long.
43 W. San Salvador St., San Jose
Hot Buttered Rum
Ingredients: Dark rum, spiced butter, oak syrup
Dapper San Jose cocktail bar Haberdasher serves up cozy “winter warmer” cocktails on its patio for the holiday season. A Haberdasher favorite, this classic drink is served warm and flavored with oak syrup for a hit of woodsy sweetness alongside heady dark rum.
169 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose
Enigma of the Hour
Ingredients: Amaro Montenegro, aquavit, Demerara, lemon, tonic, house bitters
Caraway-infused Scandinavian aquavit and bitter Italian Amaro Montenegro lend plenty of seasonal botanical flavors to this cocktail from Five Points, a craft cocktail bar in downtown San Jose inspired by 19th century New York City.
2033 Broadway St., Redwood City
Native Sons Manhattan
Ingredients: Rittenhouse rye, espresso and Thai chile vermouth, chocolate bitters blend
Known for its artisanal crafted cocktails and talented team of mixologists, Redwood City’s Nighthawk Bar is every cocktail aficionado’s dream. A twist on the classic and bold Manhattan, Nighthawk Bar’s rendition heats things up with espresso and spicy Thai chile vermouth and chocolate bitters for an extra dose of warmth.
Figment of the Imagination from Los Gatos Soda Works
21 College Ave., Los Gatos
Figment of the Imagination
Ingredients: Nicaraguan rum, black fig elixir, sweet potato, Swedish punsch, cardamom
This is not your grandma’s figgy pudding. Flavored with black fig elixir, sweet potato and herbal cardamon, this innovative cocktail from Los Gatos Soda Works balances sweet and spicy.
Zona Rosa from San Agus Cocina Urbana & Cocktails
115 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto
Llevelo llevelo
Ingredients: R6 Vodka, velvet falernum, Aperitivo Aplomado, lemon, thyme-persimmon compote
Palo Alto cocina and cocktail bar San Agus’ signature creation is full of seasonal fruits and spices. Aperitivo Aplomado and velvet falernum, flavored with clove and almond, bring in the botanicals, while winter fruit persimmon adds a refreshing touch of sweetness.
Photography by: Courtesy of brands