Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Spirits

Please note: We’ll take a short break from Cocktail of the Week and return on January 17 with more cocktail goodness. Happy New Year!

Something about winter weather enhances Americans’ preference for brown spirits and baking spices. The Winter Waltz, though created in temperate New Orleans by Chris Hannah of the French 75 Bar, checks all the boxes for a whiskey drink that will carry you through to at least St. Patrick’s Day during the chill of a northern winter. 

Looking at the recipe, it’s a mulled Black Manhattan. On the palate, it’s like a very boozy mulled wine. However, no heat or maceration is involved in this mulling; the spices are added easily via St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram and bitters. 

Chris Hannah’s original recipe called for Dale DeGroff’s “Allspice Bitters,” which are now marketed as “Dale DeGroff’s Pimento Bitters” (available on Amazon). If you’re not inclined to buy a bottle just for this cocktail, don’t worry. St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram is a baking spice powerhouse that provides all the spicey flavor you’ll need for this recipe. Angostura Bitters will add complementary baking spice notes, and they are more readily available.

I made two versions of this—one shaken and one stirred—because the original recipe called for shaking. The shaken Winter Waltz is aerated and less viscous than the stirred version, but I prefer the stirred version, which is prettier and more intensely flavored. If you’re curious, try it both ways and decide for yourself. 

WINTER WALTZ
2 oz McKenzie Bottled in Bond Six-year Rye Whiskey
½ oz Averna Amaro
¼ oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass ½ full of ice and stir for 15 seconds to chill well. (For a lighter texture, shake it instead of stirring it.) Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe or Martini glass. As a garnish, float a star anise flower in the drink.

About our Cocktail of the Week partners—shop local and independent!
Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor are less than a mile from each other, on Monroe Avenue near Twelve Corners in Brighton.

Cooks’ World, in business since 1978, is Rochester’s premier retailer of dining, kitchen, and cooking products, including a complete selection of glassware, mixology tools, and accessories for wine and spirits lovers. Follow Cooks’ World on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up here to receive Cooks’ World’s daily email specials and other news. 

Pinnacle Wine & Liquor, in business since 1997, offers a thoughtfully curated selection of spirits and wine from around the world, with a savvy staff to assist in your selection and encourage you along your cocktail and wine journey. Follow Pinnacle on Facebook and Instagram. For the inside track on Pinnacle’s spirits sales, send two text messages to (585)765-7546:
— Text the word “bourbon,” to receive weekly text messages offering the chance to buy rare or allocated whiskies or special prices on popular products.
—Text the word “spirits,” to receive roughly monthly offers on fine spirits other than whiskies.

Shout out to the official supplier of elegant clear ice to the Libation Lounge: My friend Ralph DiTucci of Cristallino Premium Ice and Grace & Disgrace.