Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned

Cozying up with this Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned. Homemade spiced chai simple syrup, mixed with warming bourbon, winter citrus, a touch of vanilla, and fizzy sparkling water. This old fashioned makes for the most perfect cozy fall and winter cocktail that everyone will love. Make the syrup ahead of time and keep in the fridge to mix up a quick drink in a moment’s notice. This will be your go-to this Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

Chai Simple Syrup

• 4 chai tea bags
• 1/3 cup real maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chai Old Fashioned

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) bourbon
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1 dash orange bitters
• 1-2 ounces (2-4 tablespoons) chai tea syrup
• sparkling water, for topping
• cinnamon and star anise, for serving (optional)

Instructions - Chai Simple Syrup

In a medium pot, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Remove from the heat, add the chai tea bags, cover and steep 10-15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and add the maple syrup. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 3-5 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla. Let cool. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Instructions - Old Fashioned

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the bourbon, lemon juice, orange bitters, and 2 tablespoons of the chai syrup. Shake to combine.

2. Strain into a glass. If desired top with sparkling water. Garnish with cinnamon and star anise.

Recipe and photo by Tieghan Gerard

Cranberry Hot Toddy

This delicious Cranberry Hot Toddy recipe is lightly spiced with winter spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and orange. If you like mulled wine, you will LOVE this toddy recipe.

Ingredients

• 4 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
• 1 mandarin orange, sliced
• 2 3-inch cinnamon sticks
• 2 inch piece of ginger, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 5 star anise
• 1/2 – 1 cup maple syrup, more, to taste
• 2-4 cups of bourbon, depending how strong you like your cocktails

Instructions

Pour the cranberry juice into a medium-sized pot. Add the mandarin orange slices, cinnamon sticks, ginger, peppercorns, cloves, and star anise and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Strain the juice to remove the spices.

4 cups unsweetened cranberry juice,1 mandarin orange,2 3-inch cinnamon sticks,2 inch piece of ginger,1 teaspoon black peppercorns,1 teaspoon whole cloves,5 star anise

Add a ½ cup of maple syrup to the pot. Taste and add more maple syrup, to taste.

Pour 1 ounce of bourbon into your glass and top with 1 ounce of the spiced cranberry juice.

2-4 cups of bourbon

Recipe and photo by The Endless Meal