Winter Wonderland

Darrin Helsel

— 3 min read
Winter Wonderland
  • 2 oz. Rye Whiskey
  • ¼ oz. St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
  • ¼ oz. Cinnamon Demerara Syrup (2:1)
  • ½ oz. seltzer water
  • 2 dash Orange bitters
  • 2 dash Walnut bitters
  • Stir in ice, serve over rock in double old-fashioned glass with orange peel + amarena cherry

Happy Friday, friends, and welcome to October.

While it’s not yet Winter, for reasons I’ll explain below I’ve chosen this homemade variation of an Old Fashioned as this week’s cocktail. My wife and I first tried it around 2015 at a potluck-style cocktail party where each couple brought a unique creation to share. At the time, I wasn’t deeply into cocktail-making (this was pre-pandemic, after all), so I hadn’t yet discovered the magic of St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram.

It was a revelation. Our host, David, absolutely scored with this one. To be honest, I don’t even remember what drink my wife and I brought–the Winter Wonderland completely stole the show.

The first sip tastes like “cinnamon and spice and everything nice.” The rye whiskey provides a spicy foundation strong enough to support the allspice and cinnamon, while walnut bitters add depth and savoriness. Demerara sweetness emboldens the orange bitters and oils from the garnish to balance the baking spice notes. And the seltzer water is both a nod to the Wisconsin-style Old Fashioned and the sparkling tinsel on the tree.

A couple notes to adjust this to your liking:

  • Allspice Dram is intoxicating in every sense of the word, but go easy. Even a barspoon can provide plenty of punch.
  • If you’d like more orange, feel free to add a slice. It fits the flavor theme and won’t overwhelm what is otherwise a spirit-forward cocktail.
  • The seltzer is optional. Traditionally, it helps dissolve sugar cubes in Old Fashioneds. Here, with cinnamon syrup already providing sweetness, it’s more decorative, adding a bit of sparkle for the season. Adjust the amount as you prefer.
  • And finally, cherries. Treat yourself to amarena cherries. They’re widely available and, in the U.S., even stocked at Trader Joe’s for a reasonable price.

Last weekend was my wife’s and my 23rd wedding anniversary. I’m bringing this Winter Wonderland forward in her honour, as it remains her all-time favorite cocktail. Ever since that night in 2015, it’s been a regular at our home bar.

This year’s anniversary was our first since moving back to Kelowna–the very city where we were married 23 years ago at Benvoulin Church. For many of our family and friends from California and Washington D.C., it was a destination wedding. We were grateful then, as we are now, to those who made the trek.

Benvoulin Church

In thanks, we sought to showcase all that Kelowna had to offer at the time. I took my groomsmen on a tour of half a dozen local wineries in Kelowna and West Kelowna: Mission Hill, CedarCreek, Mt. Boucherie, Summerhill and more. We sought out chances to enjoy the lake (though late September wasn’t exactly prime lake season). And of course, we explored the nightlife along Bernard Avenue. Someone even tracked down Cuban cigars, which was possible here in Canada despite the embargo in the U.S.

By the day of the ceremony, my groomsmen and I relaxed in the hotel hot tub before racing to the church just in time. As we took our positions at the altar, I was blessed to see my future wife walking down the aisle to join me. It was a magical time, then and now, and being back here brings those memories into focus.

So tonight, with a Winter Wonderland in hand, I raise a toast to my wife, my partner, my love of 23 years. Here’s to the next 23, back here in Kelowna where we began our adventure.

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