Ready for Pumpkin Spice Season? Halloween/Thanksgiving Cocktail Ideas
This week, we had an article published in Southern Kitchen with tons of info and recipes on making seasonal cocktails with our Pumpkin Spice Shrub. For this week’s Holiday Entertaining blog post, please enjoy the article!
18.21 Bitters shows us how to make actually great pumpkin spice cocktails
By Ryan Hughley
I don't know about you, but if I have to drink another PSL (pumpkin spice latte) this year I'm going to freak out. I always start of the season the same way. Waiting with bated breath until my favorite coffee shop starts putting pumpkin in every coffee drink I can imagine.
By mid-October, however, I'm totally over it. Thankfully there's a better way to satisfy those pumpkin spice cravings without a trip to a coffee shop.
18.21 Bitters is an Atlanta based company that churns out artisan cocktail bitters, syrups and shrubs. They've recently re-released a fall fan favorite, pumpkin spice shrub. Featuring actual pumpkin, along with allspice and black peppercorn, this fall scented, vinegar-based cocktail additive is exactly what you need on hand when you finally get tired drinking your pumpkin spice with coffee.
Once you've got your bottle on hand, try out these two seasonal cocktails, straight from 18.21 itself.
Pumpkin Harbor
Picture this. Crisp fall air, your fireplace roaring in the living room, the smell of a pot of chili simmering on the stove top and you, content as you can possibly be. This is the cocktail you'll want to drink in this exact moment. This cocktail is rum-based, which pairs perfectly with the subtle sweetness of pumpkin shrub. The black currant and cocoa tincture not only adds a bit of brightness but ties this whole thing together. The result? A cocktail you'll keep reaching for long after pumpkins have gone out of season.
Serves: 1
Hands-On Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
2 ounces English Harbour 5-year rum
1/2 ounce 18.21 Pumpkin Spice Shrub
1/2 ounce St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
2 dashes Black Currant + Cocoa Tincture
Grated nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass or a coupe glass. Serve immediately.
Triple Smoked Pumpkin Fizz
Our love for whiskey is no secret. This cocktail manages to actually feature a strong pumpkin flavor without it being overpowering. The LaPhroaig and Havana + Hide bitters marry together and give this cocktail a beautiful smokey flavor while the egg whites add a velvety texture. This is one fun drink. After an incredibly hard day at work, this is the cocktail you want to make right when you get home.
Serves: 1
Hands-On Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
LaPhroaig Scotch whiskey, for rinsing
2 ounces Corsair Triple Smoked Whiskey
1/2 ounce 18.21 Pumpkin Spice Shrub
1 egg white
3 dashes Havana + Hide bitters
Pistachio, crushed for garnish
Instructions
Fill a rocks glass with ice and add splash of LaPhroaig. Set aside. In a cocktail shaker, combine the Corsair whiskey, pumpkin shrub, egg white, and bitters. Dry shake the ingredients for 30 seconds to froth the egg whites. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake again until well chilled.
Discard the ice and LaPhroaig in the rocks glass and add one large ice cube. Strain the cocktail mixture into the glass. Garnish with crushed pistachio. Serve immediately.
All Photos: 18.21 Bitters/Instagram
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