THE STORY
We've never been on a Ski Lift before, but it sounded like a good name for a wintertime cocktail... So we figured we could gather inspiration from our memories of tropical ziplines - that's the same thing basically, right? Ski Lift tastes like riding through the air in a cool breeze - refreshing with just the right amount of bite from the three types of house-made bitters we put in this cocktail. So what if it tastes more like a warm, oceanside breeze than a frigid, mountainside breeze?

THE STORY
Like Tim Allen in The Santa Clause, we woke up like this.
Sleigh All Day tastes like the magic of the first snow - creamy and sweet with just a note of savory spice and nutty warmth in the praline syrup (we make that in-house! Ask us about it next time you're in the tasting room). At least, that's what we think, we've spent most of our winters in New Orleans and haven't seen snow here in a decade... (Remember the magic of that snowfall in 2011?)

THE STORY
We love that citrus season always coincides with the holidays. Is there anything better than a satsuma picked fresh off the branch? Citrus flavors pair so well with traditional winter holiday spices - the tart from the citrus balances the warmth of cinnamon, allspice, clove and nutmeg so well. Since we couldn't yet find good satsuma juice, we opted to experiment with grapefruit juice cocktails. All for Yule is one of our favorite seasonal specialties - the spices in the hibiscus syrup, the smokiness of the 504Gold rum, the tart of the grapefruit juice, and the hint of tropical delight in our house-made paradiso bitters all combine to create something truly unique - we'll have another, please!

THE RECIPE
1oz 504Hibiscus
1oz 504Gold
1oz cherry syrup or cherry juice
1oz lemon juice
Ginger beer

Add rum, syrup and juice to a shaker with ice and shake. Strain over ice. Top with ginger beer to taste.

THE STORY
We're donner-ing our gay apparel to get blitz-en-ed! This cocktail began as a mis-poured version of one of our speciality cocktails for Harry Potter Trivia night... We loved the new version so much we knew it had to stay on the menu somehow! The warmth of the ginger beer combined with the sweetness of the cherry reminds us of holiday dinners. With its bright red color that illuminates anything around it, it seemed obvious to name it after a bright red Christmastime fable - Rudolph's bright red nose!

THE RECIPE

For one
8oz. hot cocoa
2oz. 504Bananas Foster Rum

For a crowd
½ gallon hot cocoa
½ bottle 504Bananas Foster Rum
 
Combine ingredients in pot on low heat, stirring frequently. Serve hot.
​Garnish with marshmallows and a peppermint stick.

THE STORY

Our cofounders Mark and Meagen have a toddler with a Christmas birthday. While he's little before he realizes what a grave injustice this is to his inventory of new toys and deserved birthday attention, his birthday party has been the one time of year that they gather family and friends for a big shindig. Last year, Meagen prepared a stellar platter of sweets with everything from peppermints to marshmallows to cookies. It was the perfect compliment to the mega-sized cheeseburger we cut into pieces like a cake. There's no party this year, but there is boozy hot cocoa with all the fun fixin's. All you need is the base of your favorite hot cocoa with the caramelized, cozy spiced notes of 504Bananas Foster. (Just take the booze out for the kids.) To treat yourself in 2020, go crazy with the fun stuff - marshmallows, peppermint, cookies, whipped cream, even caramels.

THE STORY

Our good friend, the owner and pastry chef behind the macaron pop-up Violet Sprinkles, takes all the credit for introducing this to our tasting room. We had considered eggnog to be a natural mixer for our 504Bananas Foster, but she really brought it to life. And it pairs perfectly with a specialty wreath-shaped chocolate mint macaron. Whether store-bought or homemade eggnog, this is a sure hit for any eggnog lover.

​THE STORY

This fall, Happy Raptor Distilling fulfilled a long-term goal and finally started our own rain garden on the distillery's patio. We have plenty more to do, but we're especially proud of the herbs, citrus, and pepper plants that provide regular ingredients for our bartenders - especially when we're in a pinch! Our habanero plant inspired a whole range of spicy cocktail specials this season, and the holidays are no exception. This delightful, ruby-colored cocktail is a fun addition to any socially-distanced Zoom holiday mixer, adding exactly the spicy kick you want to feel like you're not actually in your living room in leggings and slippers.

​THE RECIPE

For one
8oz. apple juice
2 large pinches mulling spices
2oz. 504Bananas Foster Rum

For a crowd
½ gallon apple juice
½ carton mulling spices
½ bottle 504Bananas Foster Rum
 
Combine ingredients in pot on low heat, stirring frequently to dissolve spices.  Serve hot once all solids are dissolved.

THE STORY

We first thought of this simple combination over the summer when we were taste-testing batches of 504Bananas Foster before its official release. It's safe to say we've been waiting a long time to unveil this simple but absolutely wonderful holiday cocktail treat. We quietly and casually introduced this in our tasting room, and it's quickly become the bestselling holiday special on our menu. While it may sound like a risky combo at first, the notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and caramelized banana in our 504Bananas Foster, combined with the apple and cozy spices of the cider, make it exceptionally suited for chilly winter happy hours.