A cup of holiday cheer; Drinking local is a joy of the season

Posted 8/21/12

REGION — Just as fine food has the power to exalt any holiday celebration, so do fine alcoholic beverages (in suitable moderation). And just as we in the Upper Delaware River Valley are blessed …

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A cup of holiday cheer; Drinking local is a joy of the season

Posted

REGION — Just as fine food has the power to exalt any holiday celebration, so do fine alcoholic beverages (in suitable moderation). And just as we in the Upper Delaware River Valley are blessed with a variety of excellent local food sources, we also have quite a few providers of drink, from spirits to wine to beer and ale. We contacted a number of the local distilleries, breweries and wineries and asked them for their recommendations for your holiday parties. Here’s what they came up with. And if you prefer non-alcoholic drinks—or are the designated driver this year—Laura Silverman covers that base deliciously in her column this week on page 14.

Wassail!

Catskill Distilling Company

2037 NY Rte. 17 B, Bethel, NY 12720

845/583-8569, www.catskilldistilling.com

For New Year’s Eve, Catskill Distilling Company will host a New Year’s Eve party with the Albi Beluli Band. Look for updated details on its website.

Maple Old Fashioned

2 oz Catskill Distilling Company Most Righteous Bourbon

3/4 oz Catskill Mountain Sugar House Maple Syrup

1 piece lemon

1 piece orange

2 dashes bitters

Muddle 1 piece lemon and 1 piece of orange with bitters and maple syrup. Add ice, pour bourbon. Shake quickly. Top off with splash of soda water, add cherry for garnish.

Prohibition Distillery

10 Union St, Roscoe, NY 12776

607/498-4511, www.prohibitiondistillery.com

The Christmas Collins

2 oz Bootlegger 21 Vodka or Bootlegger 21 Gin

1 oz lemon juice

1 oz cranberry simple syrup*

Club soda

To make cranberry simple syrup, put in a pot on the stove 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 2 cups cranberries. Heat to a simmer and stir frequently. It takes about 10 minutes. Strain and let cool. Combine with other ingredients.

Antler Ridge Winery

Lake Wallenpaupack, 2575 Rte. 6, Suite 3, Hawley, PA 18428

570/390-4444, www.antlerridgewinery.com

Holiday Red Vixen Sangria

Juice of 1 orange

Juice of 1 lemon

2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

(10X or confectionary)

Ice

1 orange, thinly sliced

1 lemon, thinly sliced

1 bottle of Antler Ridge Red Vixen

750 ml – chilled

Lemonade – 3/4 cup

Stir juices with sugar in pitcher; when sugar has dissolved, add a few cubes of ice, sliced fruit and wine; marinate for 1 hour and then add lemonade to taste and add more ice.

Roscoe Beer Company

145 Rockland Rd., Roscoe, NY 12776

607/290-5002, roscoebeercompany.com

Roscoe Brown & Amber

Half pint of Roscoe Beer Company Amber Ale, combined with half pint Roscoe Beer Company Brown Ale.

There’s nothing like a Catskill Brewery Nightshine Black Lager on a cold Catskills’ night.

Eminence Road Winery

Eminence Road Farm Winery

3734 Eminence Rd., Long Eddy, NY 12760

845/887-6280. eminenceroad.com

A Seneca Lake Chardonnay/local cheese pairing

Eminence Road Winery recommends a glass of crisp, lightly sparkling 2012 Seneca Lake chardonnay paired with some Tonjes Rambler or a good aged cheddar from the Windy Hill Cheese Shop. It’s also great as an apéritif in the afternoon or served with creamy sauces and soups.

Callicoon Brewing Company

16 Upper Main St., Callicoon, NY 12723

845/887-5500, callicoonbrewing.com

For New Year’s Eve, Callicoon Brewing Company is having a New Year’s Eve party from 9 to 12 midnight, with Doug Rogers & the Backseat Drivers. There will be no cover charge, and they will have a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, with party favors and hors d’oeuvres.

Naughty Santa

Pour a half pint Callicoon Brown Cow Porter into a rimmed glass with green or red sugar, then add a generous shot of Fireball—a very popular drink this season.

Rudolph’s Revenge

Half pint of Callicoon Brown Cow Porter; add a shot of Red Stag.

Christmas Candy

Combine a half pint of Callicoon Brown Cow Porter with a shot of butterscotch schnapps.

Bashakill Vinyards

1131 S Rd, Wurtsboro, NY 12790

(845) 888-5858, www.bashakillvinyards.com

Holiday Heron Mulled Wine

2 bottles of Bashakill’s Blue Heron

2 cinnamon sticks

10-12 cloves

1/4 cup organic sugar

Pinch of ginger

Combine, heat and serve

Catskill Brewery

672 Old Rte. 17, Livingston Manor, NY

845/439-1232, catskillbrewery.com

Catskill Brewery notes that craft beers not only pair well with a wide variety of cheeses, meats and hearty foods—they can also make great cooking ingredients. Here’s one of their recipes:

Braised Guinea hen with Ball Lightning Pils

Wash and pat dry a Mauer’s Mountain Farm’s guinea hen. Rub it with olive oil and generously sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put hen in pan with onions, peppers, garlic and spices.

Add 6 oz. Ball Lightning Pils, lightly cover with foil and roast for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Reduce heat to 350 degrees for another 20-30 minutes.

Serve with a cold glass of Ball Lightning.

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