I just can’t get enough of figs lately – from fruitcake cookies to prosciutto bruschetta, it adds such a beautifully sweet note to every dish. I was worried that dried figs wouldn’t muddle well in this cocktail, but they deeply infuse the bourbon with just a little muddling. I’m sad to see fresh figs go out of season but this drink will keep me happy ’til next year!
Sparkling cider helps balance the booze from bourbon & triple sec, but if you’re feeling especially wild – and I definitely was last weekend – you can kick it up even stronger with hard apple cider. Colorado’s hard cider scene is exploding on the heels of craft beer. Colorado Common is one of my favorite locally brewed ciders and their Original Hopped Apple is just perfection in this drink.
I hope this 12 Drinks of Christmas series sparks all sorts of new ideas for celebrating the holidays! I’m sharing a new drink recipe every Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday from Thanksgiving ’til Christmas. Thursday drinks are family-friendly favorites; the rest of the week is cocktails, mulled wines, sangrias, and all sorts of boozy party goodies to celebrate the season. Cheers!
This cocktail got rave reviews at a holiday happy hour even from avowed bourbon-haters, so I’m sure it’ll be a hit at your party too! The thyme isn’t strictly necessary but it adds a nice herbal note. For a less-sweet twist, substitute half a tablespoon of lemon juice for the honey.
I’m finally getting into the full holiday swing now that the tree is up and the temperature outside has plummeted. Is it beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in your neck of the woods? It sure is here!
12 Drinks of Christmas
Flying Fig Cocktail
Ingredients
For One Drink
- 2 oz. bourbon
- 1 oz. triple sec
- 2 dried figs quartered
- 1 t. honey
- 4 oz. sparkling cider
- thyme for garnish
For a Pitcher
- 1 1/2 cups bourbon
- 3/4 cup triple sec
- 12 dried figs quartered
- 2 T. honey
- 3 cups sparkling cider
- thyme for garnish
Instructions
For One Drink
- Add bourbon, triple sec, figs, and honey to a cocktail shaker. Muddle figs well for 2-3 minutes.
- Strain into a glass with ice. Top with sparkling cider & garnish with a sprig of thyme.
For a Pitcher
- Combine bourbon, triple sec, figs, and honey in a large bowl. Muddle figs well for 5-7 minutes.
- Pour through a fine mesh strainer set over a punch bowl or pitcher filled halfway with ice.
- Just before serving, add sparkling cider and stir gently. Garnish with sprigs of thyme.
I had to try this because I like Fig Newton cookies and I like Bourbon. I substituted dried thyme for the sprigs. I like sweet drinks so I liked the recipe as written. I might try the less sweet version without honey. Next I’ll experiment by mixing all but the sparkling cider and let it sit for a while for the flavors to blend.
I imagine letting this sit would make it even more delicious, I’d love to hear how it turns out! Cheers!
Follow up to my earlier post: I mixed up a pitcher’s worth (everything except the sparling cider) and substituted dried thyme for fresh. I let it sit for a day and then strained the mixture into a small pitcher. Time mellowed out the flavors and I liked it better than mixing it and drinking it right away. The mixture lasted a week in the fridge. I would just pour some over ice and add the sparkling cider. Even more delicious!
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing!