Prosperity

As we close in on the end of the holiday season, if you are like us at the Firewater Lounge, you have lots of leftovers. That includes eggnog. Lots of eggnog. Sassy Cow, Southern Comfort brand, Nature’s Touch, whatever. Actually, we got more since it was on after-Christmas sale! A good share of the time, we drink it sans liquor because we like it so much (that includes the little Lounge Lizards). But if you do add booze to it, you should do it with style...and use more liquid leftovers.

Here’s how. If you have a half-bottle of a great red wine like a Bordeaux or Merlot (or, hell, a table red that you like) in the fridge over-oxygenating, pull it out. Make yourself a batch of 2:1 rich simple syrup (boil 1 cup of water with 2 cups of sugar) and let it cool. Add a 1/2 to 1 cup of the red wine to the syrup and stir. Voila, claret syrup! ‘Claret’ here refers to the color, not the specific wine.

Now let's start combining the leftovers into a magical Christmas drink the Lounge is known for...

Prosperity
1 1/2 ounces bourbon (we used Woodford, double-oaked)
2 ounces eggnog (we used Southern Comfort's)
3/4 ounce claret syrup
Dash cranberry bitters (Angostura would work as well)

Add all ingredients into a stirring vessel with ice. Stir until North Pole cold. Garnish with shaved nutmeg.