To ring in the 12 Days of Christmas this year, we’ve asked a dozen top bartenders across the country for their favorite holiday drinks. We’ll be featuring a new cocktail here on the blog every day.
Becherovka is a Czech herbal liqueur that, according to Yael Vengroff, beverage director at Los Angeles’ The Spare Room, “tastes like cinnamon, clove and everything festive,” which makes it a natural choice for a holiday cocktail. For the ginger beer, she prefers using Bundaberg, an Australia brand that, like the Becherovka, is available at most larger liquor stores. Vengroff says, “This drink is also delicious served as a punch. If making it as a punch, litter the bowl with garnishes, like apple slices, cinnamon sticks and cranberries.”
Red Palms
1 1/2 oz. (45 ml) Becherovka
1 1/2 oz. (45 ml) black currant juice, preferably unsweetened
2 oz. (60 ml) ginger beer
3 green apple slices for garnish
Cinnamon stick for garnish
Pour the Becherovka and black currant juice into a highball glass. Fill the glass with ice and add the ginger beer. Stir gently to combine. To garnish, fan out the apple slices and pierce them with a cinnamon stick. Drop into the glass and serve. Makes 1 drink.
Yael Vengroff, beverage director, The Spare Room, Los Angeles, CA
