Halloween 2026 – Orange Blood
When it comes to holiday-themed cocktails, I usually come underprepared. This time, I threw some ingredients together the day before Halloween and poured the mixture into a pumpkin-shaped mug.
bitters
Stacks – Redbreast 15 Years
I really enjoy Redbreast whiskies. So, I was pleased to have the opportunity to review the 15 Year Old here on the blog. Of course, I also tried it in a short drink.
Oats in the Water – Faude Damson
Another great spirit from Florian Faude is his damson eau de vie. While this is a great sip on its own, I decided to use it in a Manhattan variation. This also gave me the chance of opening my bottle of Faude Vermouth.
Paint the Rust – Engel Lemon Quince Eau de Vie
When I visited Manuel in June 2026, he introduced me to lemon quinces. A variety I did not know existed! As the eau de vie has a powerful aroma, I decided to combine it with some Scotch and honey liqueur.
Bonnie Hill – Ferrand Double Cask
Sometimes I do get ideas while browsing the internet. In this case, I discovered a new banana liqueur which spiked my interest. So, I combined it with some cognac for an Old-Fashioned variation.
Oakwood – Chairman’s Reserve Master’s Selection
I already featured the Chairman’s Reserve Master’s Selection Coffee Still version in March 2026. Now, I also had the chance to review the John Dore Pot Still bottling. Yes, I mixed a cocktail with it, too.
Secret Meeting – Vallein Tercinier V.S.O.P
The Vallein Tercinier V.S.O.P cognac has recently been given a new design. Fortunately, Kirsch Whisky was kind enough to send me a bottle to sample. I opted for a Cognac Summit variation, which turned out to be the perfect choice for such hot days.
Hymnostic – Ode Ruby Wood
When you have an open bottle of champagne in our fridge it is best to use it in a sparkling wine cocktail! So, this is exactly what I did. On top of that, I combined it with the natural red aperitif from Ode.
Aquavit Cocktails – Wild Wood
I basically, kept some elements of the modern classic Norwegian Wood cocktail from Jeffrey Morgenthaler, but twisted them slightly. Obviously, the resulting drink tastes quite different from the original.
One Bottle One Drink – Norwegian Wood
Before I was preparing the article on the Linie Paloma, I was made aware that it was a long time since I last featured aquavit on the blog. To change that, I mixed up Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s Norwegian Wood.