We are counting the last days to Christmas and the festive mood is on. You have probably already visited a few Christmas parties and the most festive days are right behind the door. That’s why our December recipe is somehow festive and… boozy.

Today we are sharing a hot proposal for a hot cocktail with roses and whiskey. Great choice for winter days, we’ve got this custom recipe from Alexander Staikov, mentor bartender at Jameson’s pop-up bar in Sofia called “Courageous dudes”. In fact, together with Jameson’s courageous dudes we have put together a whole evening dedicated to cocktails with roses last Saturday. And to tell you the truth, lots of cocktails were mixed and tasted in their company.

Also, we have learned a lot of things from Alexander about the world of cocktails and its development. For example, we have learned that before the era of industrial ice cubes production, there were no cold drinks. So, cocktails were consumed hot. That’s why, when asked to think of cocktails with Jameson whiskey and Rosey’s mark products, our courageous bartender didn’t hesitate too much before he proposed a variation of a hot cocktail drink from British Colonial times. With soft and buttery body, rich in winter flavours and with the element of surprise that the rose brings, this new version on an old old recipe totally enchanted us and warmed up body and soul.

For those who didn’t make it to the bar last Saturday, because of bed weather or due to another Christmas party that you are just unable to leave when you want, do not lose courage. We are about to share how you can impress your guests and friends with this original winter cocktail. The best part is that you can easily prepare it at home. All you need is a cooking pot, hot plate and spoon. Or as Alexander reccomends: “Take all necessary ingredients on the way to the winter rest house and surpise everybody with hot cocktails at the end of the day out in the mountain”. He also assured us that this recipe is impossible to get wrong. Just mix everything in one pot, taste while cooking and add the ingredients you find insufficient, till you get the right balance. And we will definitely use this approach in the winter days to come.

Hot Buttered Rose Whiskey

Ingredients:

Rosey’s mark rose & raspberry jam  – 250-300 g
cinnamon sticks
clove
fresh orange peels
butter – 40-50 g
Jameson Irish whiskey – 400-500 ml
hot water – 500-600 ml

Preparation:

1. In a pot mix together  the rose and raspberry jam, cinnamon sticks, a couple of pinches of clove and the orange peels. Turn on the heat at medium fire and stir.

2. While the pot is on the hot plate and the mixture inside is warming up, add the whiskey and the hot water. Stir till it boils. Put the fire down to low and add the butter. Stir till it melts.

3. Leave the hot plate at very low temperature, just to keep the cocktail drink hot enough. Pour in cups by using a ladle.

Cheers and best wishes for cosy and warm holidays season!

P.S.: By the way, Alexander had prepared another cocktail and very suitable for summer sunny days on the beach. That’s why we will keep the recipe for that one for later times. Meanwhile, if you are in Sofia this winter we reccomend to definitely visit Jameson’s pop-up bar and shared space called “Courageous dudes”, “Bezstrashni pichove” in Bulgarian. It’s located in the heart of the city, at 37A Fridtjof Nansen str. You can find more about the place and the upcoming events on the official Facebook page of Jameson in Bulgaria, here.