Fairytale of New York
I recently discovered a wonderful drink called “A Fairytale of New York”, which like the puzzle has its origins in Canada. The name alone makes you want one, right? Also like the puzzle, this cocktail was inspired by a song of the same name, by the British punk rock band The Pogues, and one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time in the UK. The song was named after a novel (of the same name) by the Irish American novelist J.P. Donleavy, who was born in New York. So as with most enduring fairytales, this one has been passed around the globe a bit as it matures. The Fairytale of New York cocktail is rather old fashioned – it’s a variation on that classic drink. The base spirit is a good Canadian whisky, which provides a nice mellow foundation. Add to that some “winter warmth syrup”, an incredibly delicious potion made with apples, pears, cinnamon, cloves and walnuts, with a hint of orange and a few dashes of bitters, and you have the fairytale in a glass created by bartender Dave Mitton from Toronto. The drink evokes the winter holidays by a cozy fireplace, but the good feelings can be enjoyed any time of year. As a final nod to the Canadian craftsman who created the Lost Treasure box, I amped up the Canada in the winter warmth syrup by substituting the sugar with rich amber maple syrup. It adds another whole layer of depth and flavor to this incredibly delicious drink. If you've never tried whisky or bourbon before, this would be a great place to start. And you can use the extra syrup on your waffles and ice cream.
The Fairytale in Ontario cocktail - so delicious
The Fairytale in Ontario Recipe:
2 oz Canadian Whisky
¾ oz “Canadian Winter Syrup”
2 inch Orange peel
2 dashes walnut bitters (use Angostura as a substitute if needed)
Muddle the orange, bitters and syrup then add the whisky and stir with an ice cube. Mmmmm.
Canadian Winter Syrup:
"Canadian" Winter Warmth Syrup is decadent
1 ½ cups water
1 cup Grade B maple syrup
½ apple, ½ pear peeled and cubed
3 cinnamon stick
A few cloves, nutmeg, and walnuts if you have them
Simmer the ingredients for about 20 - 30 minutes,
strain and refrigerate.
For the original Fairytale: