Growing up I looked forward to the holiday children’s shows and in particular I loved to watch the Rudolph specials. There was something magical about the kitschy stop motion animation and over the top characters from those shows. This winter’s holiday cocktail pays homage to one of the unsung heroes, the boisterously bearded and mustachioed miner Yukon Cornelius. In a pivotal scene from the epic tale, Cornelius, who is always licking his pickaxe, saves Rudolph and his pal Hermey the elf (who wants to be a dentist) from the Abominable Snowman, by driving it off of a cliff, but he goes over the edge himself as well, in an act of ultimate sacrifice. Gosh what drama! Spoiler alert – he survives!

Cornelius’s cocktail is warming and smoky thanks to mezcal which serves as the base spirit. Herbal alpine intrigue is introduced with Dolin Génépy le Chamois, a legendary liqueur from the French Alps which is made from thirty herbs and botanicals including its namesake mountain sage. The cocktail is sweetened with Cherry Heering, a 200 year old liqueur from Copenhagen with a rich and robust flavor. The cherry is a nod to Rudolph’s nose as well, and similarly guides the cocktail in a festive direction. Cherry and mezcal pair extremely well and the overall combination of flavors is a present you’ll want to give yourself. Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Yukon Cornelius

1 oz mezcal

¾ oz Genepy des Alpes

¾ oz lime

¾ oz Cherry Heering

2 dashes cranberry bitters

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Lime wheel garnish.

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