For Day One of the cocktail advent calendar, I created "The Fireplace." This bright warming cocktail is a great way to start off December. While the drink reminds me of a cozy fireplace, I created a garnish to fully embody the name.
For the drink:
-2 oz rye whiskey (WhistlePig PiggyBack 100% Rye)
-1 1/4 oz cherry liqueur (Don Ciccio & Figli Cerasum Apertivo)
-3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
-3/4 oz spiced simple syrup
-2 dashes Angostura bitters
Garnish:
2 cinnamon sticks
One quarter a lime
1/4 teaspoon Everclear or very high proof spirit
Glassware:
Rocks glass
Combine the drink ingredients in a cocktail shaker and add ice until it's about three-quarters full. Shake it for 5-10 seconds until chilled. Place one large clear ice cube into a rocks glass and double strain the drink through a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer.
If you want to make the fireplace garnish, juice one quarter of a lime. Use the juice however you'd like. The juicer will invert the lime into a bowl shape. Either float or place the lime on top of the ice cube. Add 1/4 teaspoon of Everclear to the lime bowl. Layer the cinnamon sticks across the top and light the alcohol with a match. You can get a crackling campfire effect if you sprinkle a little ground cinnamon over the flame.