A Holiday cocktail this Christmas Eve and the greatest Christmas song ever recorded in my lifetime share a name…..

This Is the Fairytale of New York Cocktail.

I found this cocktail via a Google Alert for whiskey articles. It was published on @IrishCentral on 23 December, 2019. The Fairytale of New York cocktail is essentially an Old Fashioned all dressed up for Christmas. They first heard about it via the delightful site Aperitif Friday, the author of which learned about it as part of a gift from a friend who read about it at Smitten Kitchen, who in turn adapted it from Dave Mitton of The Harbord Room in Toronto, via Imbibe Magazine. 

It gets its name from The Pogues song that is my favorite Christmas song ever. I know it’s not for everyone but there is something great about a Christmas song that is at once a rousing drinking song, a song about the Irish immigrant experience, and a Christmas Carol all at the same time.

For the "Winter Warmth" syrup:

1 ½ cups water

1 cup raw, demerara, or turbinado sugar (granulated works too)

1/2 apple – peeled, cored, and diced

1/2 pear – peeled, cored, and diced

12 walnuts

3 cinnamon sticks, broken up

6 whole cloves

1 whole nutmeg

To make the Winter Warmer syrup, combine ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir occasionally to make sure that the sugar dissolves, continuing to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Cool on the stovetop for 2 hours, then strain into a glass jar and place in the refrigerator. Will keep for up to three weeks so you can try it in other beverages, too! 

For the Fairytale of New York cocktail

1 oz Winter Warmth Syrup

Orange peel

3 dashes of bitters (orange, walnut, or angostura will work)

3 oz good Irish whiskey

Ice

Cinnamon stick

To make the cocktail, combine the Winter Warmer syrup, orange peel and bitters into a cocktail glass. Muddle the ingredients with a wooden muddler or the back of a spoon. Add Irish whiskey and the ice (we recommend one large cube if possible) and stir to combine. Use a cinnamon stick instead of a swizzle stick or cocktail straw.

Sláinte!