Cocktail Advent

Nickel 9 Hidden Temple Gin

Based in Toronto, Nickel 9 Distillery is known for its small-batch craft spirits that focus on quality and Canadian-grown botanicals. Their attention to detail and passion for innovation in every bottle makes them a standout in the craft spirits scene, and they also host excellent cocktail classes and other programs in the heart of Toronto.

Their Hidden Temple Gin is a uniquely crafted, botanical-forward gin with a fresh twist. Inspired by classic gin flavours, it features bold juniper, zesty citrus, and a touch of peppery spice. Notes of spruce, cedar and wild bergamot also give this gin a soft forest feel. This gin is perfect for adding depth to cocktails like a Martini, Gin & Tonic, or a simple but delicious Gin Gimlet!

Gin Gimlet

The Gin Gimlet is a classic that emerged around the 1920’s. The perfect aperitif, an excellent balance of sweet, tart, and refreshing. Super simple always have the ingredients on hand to whip up for impromptu pop-ups with pals.

To make your simple syrup, combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Allow to cool, pour into a bottle or jar, and you’re good to go. Simple!

Ingredients:
- 2 oz Nickle 9 Gin
- ½ ounces of fresh-squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounces of simple syrup
- Lime Twist for Garnish

Add ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold and diluted—about 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe, garnish with a lime twist, and enjoy!

Keep an eye out for more recipes that feature this delicious gin!

Cocktail Atomizer

Think of a cocktail atomizer as a mini perfume sprayer for your booze! Instead of pouring or splashing, you mist a fine layer of aromatic ingredients (Absinthe, Bitters, Smokey Scotch, etc.) over the drink. This light mist adds a bit of flavour but is mostly used for aroma without overpowering the cocktail. It is a simple tool, but it will make you feel like a pro and add that final flourish to your cocktail! Perfect for enhancing the drink's aroma and giving it that wow factor.

Applications:
- Scotch Mist – A mist of smoky scotch adds depth to your cocktail, perfect for an Old Fashioned or a Fire In The Pharmacy.
- Aromatic Mist – Use it to enhance the depth and complexity of your cocktails.
- Absinthe Rinse – For classics like the Sazerac or Corpse Reviver No. 2.
- Angostura Stencils – Add a touch of aromatic bitters to garnish a sour cocktail.

Bowmore 12-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bowmore 12-Year is a classic Islay single malt that perfectly balances smokey and sweet flavours. It’s got a lovely hit of peat smoke, but it is softened by notes of honey, lemon, and hints of vanilla and a coastal and slightly salty finish, making it very smooth and approachable. This is the perfect scotch to add some smokey characteristics to an Old Fashioned, Manhattan or Proof Cocktail Bar’s “Fire In The Pharmacy.”

Keep an eye out for more cocktail recipes featuring Bowmore 12-Year-Old and the cocktail atomizer!

Fire in the Pharmacy Syrup

Sweet, zesty, and with a little bit of bite, this honey, lemon, and ginger cordial is your shortcut to simple yet delicious cocktails. After the raging success of Proof Cocktail Bar’s Fire in the Pharmacy cocktail, they decided to bottle the key ingredient: the cordial! This is the perfect ingredient for the cold month drinks, as it adds some spice, warmth, and sweetness. Incredibly versatile, you can use this syrup in several classic cocktails such as a Moscow Mule, Dark & Stormy and, of course, the Penicillin. Just mix with a spirit and a splash of smokey scotch, and you’ve got a warming, balanced drink that’s ideal for winter sipping.

Penicillin

Ingredients
- 2 oz Blended Scotch (something smooth, nothing too intense)
- ¾ oz Fire In The Pharmacy Syrup
- ½ oz Lemon Juice
- 2 Atomizer sprays Islay Scotch to Garnish

Add ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold and diluted—about 10 to 15 seconds. Strain over ice into your glass and finish it off with a smokey scotch spritz. Enjoy!

Gin Mule-Jito

Ingredients
- 2 oz Nickel 9 Hidden Temple Gin
- 1 oz Fire In The Pharmacy Syrup
- ¾ oz Lime Juice
- 6 Mint Leaves
- Club Soda
- Mint Sprig for Garnishing

You can do this two ways: build the drink inside your glass like a traditional Mojito or shake the ingredients together, then strain over ice into a glass and top it up with soda. We tend to lean towards the shaken method because I find the ingredients get better incorporated into the final cocktail, and it looks a lot cleaner!

Pelotón de la Muerte Mezcal

Pelotón de la Muerte Mezcal is crafted in Tlacolula, Oaxaca, Mexico using 100% Maguey Espadín agave, roasted in traditional earthen pits for its signature smoky flavour, then crushed by a tahona (a stone wheel) and naturally fermented before being distilled in copper stills. Fun fact: the name Pelotón de la Muerte means "Brigade of Death," honouring revolutionary fighters, and the bottle’s label is inspired by Mexican folk art. Classic mezcal with a story!

Expect bold, smoky aromas with hints of citrus, herbs, and roasted agave. On the palate, it delivers earthy, smoky notes balanced by subtle sweetness and a touch of spice.

Incredibly versatile, it’s perfect for smoky Margaritas, Mezcal Negronis, or a refreshing Mezcal Paloma. It also shines in cocktails like a Mezcal Old Fashioned or can be enjoyed simply sipped neat.

Fire In The Pharmacy

Ingredients
- 2 oz Pelotón de la Muerte Mezcal
- ½ oz Fire in the Pharmacy Syrup

- 2 Atomizer sprays Islay Scotch to Garnish

Add ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold and diluted—about 8 to 10 seconds. Finish by spritzing Bowmore 12-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky over the top!

Giffard Orgeat Syrup

Orgeat is a delicious almond syrup with a hint of floral sweetness (typically from orange blossom), adding a nutty, creamy richness to your drinks. It’s a must-have for classics like the Mai Tai, giving any cocktail a smooth, tropical vibe. Perfect for tiki-style drinks, coffee beverages, or even in rum or whiskey Old Fashioneds, Orgeat is a versatile ingredient that can easily replace simple syrup in most cocktails, allowing for creative experimentation.

Giffard Orgeat Syrup is a classic almond syrup with a rich history. Founded in 1885, Giffard is a family-owned French company known for crafting premium liqueurs and syrups. Their Orgeat is made with real almonds and orange blossom water, giving it a sweet, nutty flavour with a subtle floral note.

Fun Fact: Orgeat has its origins in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern traditions and was originally made with barley. It became a bar staple in the 19th century and remains essential in tiki classics like the Mai Tai.

Army & Navy

Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- ¾ oz Giffard Orgeat
- 1 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- Lemon Twist to garnish

Add ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold and diluted—about 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into your neat cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Lessig Ferments X Vine Arts Cherry Chérie Cocktail Cherries

We are thrilled to share our collaboration with Lessig Ferments—the perfect cocktail cherries! Founded in 2021 in Edmonton by chefs Roger Létourneau and Christine Sandford. With experience working in top restaurants worldwide, they focus on preserving local ingredients through fermentation. Lessig Ferments works with local farmers to create artisan products that bridge the gap between our short growing season, such as beer vinegar, hot sauce, pickles, and more.

Cherry Chérie Cocktail Cherries are made with cherries from Steve and Dan’s BC orchard and are infused with gin, cherry bark, and aromatic spices for a tart, herbal, and slightly tannic flavour. Perfect for cocktails, banana splits, or enjoying straight from the jar! Pro tip: Use the syrup in your cocktails too!

We adore these cherries in a Cherry Mezcal Margarita!

Cherry Mezcal Margarita

Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz Pelotón de la Muerte Mezcal
- ¾ Triple Sec
- ¾ Lime
- ½ Cherry Chérie Cherry syrup
- 2 Cherry Chérie's to garnish
- Coarse Salt for the rim

Prep a rocks glass by moistening the rim with lime, then pressing it into a plate of salt. Add ice to the glass and set aside. In a shaker tin, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until chilled and well-diluted. Strain into the prepared glass over ice and garnish with two cherries, and enjoy!

Gonzalez Byass Jerez Nutty Solera Oloroso Sherry

Sherry—the dusty bottle sitting on the back bar, often overlooked and thought to be only for grandma—holds a bartender’s secret: it’s a flavour powerhouse! With styles ranging from dry to rich and nutty, sherry adds depth, complexity, and an unexpected twist to cocktails. A bartender's hidden weapon, it transforms everything from classic drinks to creative originals. If you haven’t tried it yet, sherry is ready to prove it’s much more than a forgotten relic.

This Oloroso sherry from Jerez is aged through a traditional solera system, a unique process where younger sherry is blended with older batches over time, creating a consistent and complex flavour profile. On the nose, you’ll find dried fruit, toffee, roasted nuts, and honey. On the palate, expect sweet raisin, fig, buttery walnut, and a touch of orange zest.

With its rich, nutty character, Oloroso sherry is a flavorful, lower-proof substitute for darker spirits in cocktails. Its dessert-like notes bring warmth to creamy drinks and nightcaps, while adding complexity to lighter cocktails.

Sherry Cobbler

Refreshing and full of flavour, the Sherry Cobbler is highly riffable, allowing you to get creative with different types of sherry and seasonal ingredients. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new combinations!

Ingredients
- 3 oz Gonzalez Byass Oloroso Sherry
- ½ oz Simple Syrup or Syrup from Lessig Ferments Cocktail Cherries for deep dark cherry flavour
- ½ oz Lemon Juice
- 2-3 Orange Slices

Muddle orange slices, citrus and sugar together at the bottom of your shaker tin. Then add sherry and ice and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold and diluted—about 10 to 15 seconds. Strain the mixture into a Collins glass full of crushed ice, garnish, and enjoy!

Sherry Flip

The Sherry Flip is a rich, creamy cocktail that's perfect for cozy, snowy nights. Made with Oloroso sherry, a bit of simple syrup, and a whole egg, it’s smooth, creamy, and just the right amount of rich. Think of it as a perfect alternative to eggnog—warm, nutty, and frothy, with a touch of sweetness!

Ingredients
- 2 oz Gonzalez Byass Oloroso Sherry
- ½ oz Simple Syrup
- 1 whole Egg

Add ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold and diluted—about 10 to 15 seconds. Strain the mixture, remove the ice, and then dry shake—shake without ice to aerate the egg white). Once your arm is exhausted from shaking, you can strain it into your glass, garnish it with ground nutmeg and brandied cherries, and enjoy!

Flor de Cana Añejo Clásico 5

Flor de Cana distillery, based in Nicaragua, is nestled between the ocean and a volcano! They are known for their sustainably produced and slow-aged rums. Family-owned since 1890, it combines volcanic soil, pure water and a unique aging process to craft a smooth, delicious rum. It is carbon-neutral and fair trade certified, making it a standout for quality and sustainability.

This is a smooth, medium-bodied rum, bursting with notes of vanilla, tropical fruit, caramel and orange zest. Mai Tai’s, Cuba Libre, and Mojitos jump to mind as great cocktail ideas for this particular rum. Great for mixing but smooth enough if you just want to sip it over some ice.

Orgeat Daquiri

Ingredients
- 2oz Flor de Cana Añejo Clásico 5 (sub gin for an almond gimlet)
- ¾ oz Orgeat Syrup
- ¾ oz Lime Juice

Add ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold and diluted—about 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into your neat cocktail glass and enjoy.

Dark & Stormy

Ingredients
- 2 oz Flor de Cana Añejo Clásico 5
- ¾ oz Fire In The Pharmacy Syrup
- ½ oz Lime Juice
- Club Soda

Add ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold and diluted—about 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into your glass with ice, then top it with soda.

Miracle Christmas Carol Barrel Tiki Mug

Sip your favourite cocktails from this festive, fun-filled barrel mug! These one-of-a-kind, holiday-inspired vessels are the perfect way to enjoy a Dark & Stormy or a Gin Mule-Jito. Whether you're in the mood for something bold and spicy or light and refreshing, these mugs add a touch of Christmas cheer to every sip!

Scorpion Reef

Smooth, balanced, smoky, and absolutely refreshing, this fabulous tiki cocktail is sure to impress!

Ingredients
- 1 oz Pelotón de la Muerte Mezcal
- 1 oz Flor de Cana Añejo Clásico 5
- 1 oz Pineapple Juice
- ¾ oz Lemon Juice
- ¾ oz Orgeat
- 5 dashes of Angostura Bitters floated

Combine all of the ingredients, except the Angostura bitters, in your Barrel Mug and fill halfway with crushed ice. Stir then top with crushed ice and float Angostura bitters on top.

Worthy Earl Grey Lavender Peach Spreads

Okay, hear me out! One of the most reliable cocktail ingredients when you're in a pinch is jam—yes, jam! It’s a pantry staple that provides both flavour and sweetness. With just a couple of ounces of spirit (clear spirits tend to work best), a bit of citrus, and your jam, you’ll often end up with a balanced, delicious cocktail. Keep in mind that some adjustments may be necessary depending on the jam, as sugar levels and acidity can vary.

This particular jam, with its blend of Earl Grey, lavender, and peach, was practically begging to be used in a gin cocktail. The sweet fruitiness of the peach, the soft floral notes of lavender, and the subtle hint of bergamot make for a wonderfully rounded flavour profile.

Based in Calgary, Worthy combines fresh, all-natural ingredients with unexpected flavours like Strawberry Cardamom and Hot Pineapple Turmeric Salsa. Founder Ashlee Steinhauer created Worthy to share bold flavours while supporting addiction recovery, donating a portion of every sale to these communities.

Gin and Jelly

Ingredients
- 2 oz Nickel 9 Hidden Temple Gin
- Heaping tbsp Jelly
- ½ oz Lemon
- Top with soda (optional, it lengthens the drink and makes a killer highball!)

Method

Add ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold and diluted. Strain the mixture into your glass over ice and enjoy! Top with soda if you want to lengthen the drink and add effervescence.

On The Rocks Spiced Pear Whiskey Sour

For the final day of our 12 Nights of Advent box, we are making your life easy with the Spiced Pear Whiskey Sour from On The Rocks. This is a delightful twist on the classic Bourbon Sour, blending pear, zesty lemon, and a hint of warming spices like cinnamon. Perfectly balanced, it offers sweet and tart notes that make it both refreshing and cozy.

On The Rocks Premium Cocktails brings bar-quality cocktails to you with no mixology skills required! They craft ready-to-serve cocktails using high-quality natural ingredients and premium spirits, delivering a well-balanced, authentic drink every time. Their philosophy is simple: provide the same flavour experience you’d get at a top bar—without the fuss. Just pour over ice, and you’ve got a perfect cocktail anytime, anywhere.

Dress it up with your favourite garnishes, like Lessig Ferments Cherry Chérie Cocktail Cherries, a lemon twist, or even a Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky rinse.

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Thank you for taking part in our 12 Nights of Cocktails Advent! We hope you’ve enjoyed each selection and that they’ve brought some festive cheer to your holiday season. Here’s to great drinks, good company, and unforgettable memories. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our Vine Arts family to yours.

Cheers!