At the Table

Brewing Up a Celebration

By: The Local Palate

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’Tis the season for sophistication with these five caffeinated beverages

This holiday season, I’ve been inspired to transcend the creamy, dessert-like concoctions options that often dominate the genre of coffee cocktails. While indulgent creations certainly have their place, this year I’m mixing up these five signature recipes that are crafted to cater to a variety of palates, moods, and meal pairings. They strike a balance between complexity of flavor and simplicity of preparation, ensuring that even if you’re new to cocktail making, you can re-create these effortless, elegant drinks at home.

I’ve also included bartender’s notes and variations for suggestions on how to customize your drinks, from making a cold beverage hot to making a mocktail swap that delivers all the flavor without the (boozy) buzz.

Man, Hattan It Been for This Snowstorm

Try this cocktail if you like Manhattans. It’s full of sweet cherry, the spicy warmth of rye, and aromatic depth from coffee and vermouth. Antica Formula is a remarkable, slightly bitter Italian vermouth that adds the perfect amount of aroma and complexity. If you prefer a bit less sweetness and a bit more spirit forward, reduce the cherry liqueur by ¼ of an ounce and substitute with ¼ of an ounce more whiskey.

Sherry, Sherry Baby

Featuring notes of smooth oak, subtle nuttiness, herbal nuance, and soft sweetness. For bolder character, use 1¼ ounces of reposado tequila. The toasted marshmallow gives this drink harmony and adds that extra wintry vibe—but you can also substitute an orange peel for a more refined look and a bit more brightness.

Wired Mule

Try this holiday cocktail if you like Moscow Mules. It offers a kick of warming spices, refreshing delicate citrus, and round caramel notes. Any light, not-too piney/juniper-forward gin will work; feel free to adjust the amount of ginger beer to your liking. In this recipe I recommend Second State Coffee’s Guatemala Ixlama beans, a medium roast, balanced coffee with notes of dark chocolate, soft blackberry, and vanilla.

The Alpine

Look for complex layers of peppermint, spice, chocolate, and smoke in this cocktail. Want more spice, less sweet? Substitute allspice dram for velvet falernum in this drink.

Mull It Over

Try this cocktail if you like mulled wine. Jammy wines with notes of baking spices work well. Try an Anaerobic Natural process coffee, or ask your local specialty coffee shop for a recommendation. Black & White Roasters (out of Raleigh, North Carolina) typically has excellent whole bean options for this. Sip this one for warmth, comfort, and nostalgia.