If you’re in need of a go-to holiday cocktail this season, we’ve got a gift for you. With a calendar full of delicious meals lined up, mix this festive drink as a digestif. Made with seasonal nocino — a slightly sweet black walnut liqueur — from Columbus-based Watershed Distillery, the smart cocktail gets into the spirit with the addition of cherry liqueur and bourbon. “It’s kind of heavy, chocolatey and nutty with a little bit of smoke from the bourbon and a little bit of sweet from the maraschinos,“ says Phil Hockey, the general manager at Dante in Tremont. The aroma of cinnamon and a dash of bitters aids in digestion. “It really helps settle everything after dinner,” he says.
1 1/2 ounces of Watershed Distillery nocino
1 1/2 ounces of Luxardo maraschino liqueur
1 1/2 ounces of Watershed Distillery bourbon
Two dashes of angostura bitters
Luxardo maraschino cherries (used as a garnish)
Mix equal parts of the three alcohols and bitters. Add ice. Stir and drain into a snifter. Top with a cherry and serve.
