Colada Old Fashioned

This is our refactored “Old Fashioned” with a twist! One of the earliest examples of a cocktail dating back to the early part of the 19th century, we thought the Old Fashioned could use some 21st century tweaks.

Using our Spirit Hawk Cofresi varietal, a reimagined taste experience can be created. Opening with a pleasant rye taste, you will experience notes of pineapple and a lingering light coconut aftertaste gently melding the best of American whiskey and Spirit Hawk’s unique varietal – Cofresi.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon Demerara Syrup

• .75 oz of Spirit Hawk Cofresi Brandy

• 1.25 oz of a good Rye (ideally at least 4 years old, 100 proof)

• Alternately, similar amount of a good Bourbon

• 2 dashes of West Indian Orange bitters

• 1 dash of Angostura bitters

• Single large spherical or cubical ice cube

Directions

In a heavy bucket glass, place a large ice cube, Demerara, Spirit Hawk Cofresi, Rye (or Bourbon), and the Orange and Angostura bitters. Stir well, and optionally garnish with a twist of orange peel. Enjoy!

Bremble Empress Martini

We desired to find a new twist on the venerable martini. Experimenting with several gins, liquid ingredients and garnishes, we are presenting the “Bremble Empress” martini. It was challenging work, but we’re glad we persevered.

Using our Spirit Hawk Bremble varietal, we found that the addition of Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin elevates the flavors of both products in an approachable, fragrant, easy to construct, and refreshing modern martini.

Ingredients

• .75 oz of Sprit Hawk Bremble Brandy

• .75 oz of Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin

• .25 oz of quality Vodka

• Lemon peels (2)

• Fresh Blueberry

Directions

Chill a stemmed martini glass. Combine in a Boston Shaker our Spirit Hawk Bremble, Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin, and quality Vodka, adding ice and a slice of lemon peel (no fruit) into the shaker. Shake vigorously, strain into the chilled martini glass. Garnish with another lemon peel twist and add a fresh blueberry. Enjoy!

“Bremble On” Martini

Taking another run at the venerable martini, in combination with Spirit Hawk Bremble brandy varietal, we found two great martini options, two variants. One of our cofounders stated, “I would totally order either of these at a classy establishment”.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz of Sprit Hawk Bremble Brandy

• ¾ oz of Sweet vermouth (Antica Formula being our choice)

• Option 1: Luxardo cherry + juice

• Option 2: Lemon peel spritz and garnish

Directions

Chill a stemmed martini glass. In a Boston Shaker, add ice, the Spirit Hawk Bremble brandy, the sweet vermouth, shake vigorously. Strain into the martini glass.

For Option1 (rich and luxurious): add Luxardo cherry plus a bit of the Luxardo cherry juice into the martini.

For Option 2 (light and refreshing): Spritz (twist) the lemon peel over the surface of the liquor and drop the peel into the martini.

Serve and enjoy promptly.

Ceylon Egg Nog

Just in time for the 2025 Christmas season (or anytime one desires an Egg Nog), we thought Spirit Hawk Ceylon varietal would add a punch to plain Egg Nog. We were correct!

There are at least two variations on this theme, we present one with a plain Egg Nog base (straight from the milk section in the grocery); and one with a commercial “boosted” Egg Nog. Lastly, we give a clue to making your own Egg Nog. Merry Christmas!

Variation 1: Plain Egg Nog base ingredients

• ¾ oz of Sprit Hawk Ceylon Brandy

• ½ oz of Koloa Dark Rum (or other molasses-based rum, without spicing)

• 6 to 8 oz of Egg Nog

• Dark chocolate twizzle stick garnish

Directions

Using a bucket (highball) glass, add the Egg Nog, followed by the Ceylon and the Rum. Stir gently to mix the liquors into the Egg Nog; garnish with the dark chocolate stick. Lounge while consuming and watching the 1951 movie “Scrooge”.

Variation 2: Commercial Egg Nog base ingredients

• ¾ oz of Sprit Hawk Ceylon Brandy

• 6 to 8 oz of commercial Egg Nog (we’re partial to the Pennsylvania Dutch brand)

• Dark chocolate twizzle stick garnish

Extra credit: Make your own Egg Nog

Probably the best recipe that we have found for from-scratch Egg Nog comes from Dr. John A. Thompson’s recipe in the venerable River Road Recipes, August 1974 edition, page 249, in the section “How Men Cook”. (apocryphally this was discovered by one of our cofounders while attending Tulane University in the late 1970’s, and has been featured at his brother’s Newport Harbor Boat Parade party for more than 40 years)

Ceylon “Logans Run”

Using our Spirit Hawk Ceylon varietal (cinnamon overtones), we developed a bountiful fruit forward and smooth take on the classic martini.

Ingredients

• ½ oz of Sprit Hawk Ceylon Brandy

• ½ oz of Le Verger liquor

• ½ oz of good Vodka

• Orange peel garnish

Directions

Chill a stemmed martini glass. In a Boston Shaker, add ice, Spirit Hawk Ceylon brandy, Le Verger, and Vodka. Shake vigorously, strain into the chilled martini glass. Brush rim of the glass with the Orange Peel garnish, twist and atomize onto the top of the liquor, and place into the glass. Enjoy!

Ceylon: “Spirit Hawk Summer Spritz”

Thinking about late spring / summertime, we designed a nuanced “Spirit Hawk Summer Spritz”, a refreshing long drink for those glory days of summer, using our flexible Spirit Hawk Ceylon brandy.

Ingredients

• 1 oz of Sprit Hawk Ceylon Brandy

• 1 oz of a good bourbon (Maker’s Mark being our favorite)

• Sparkling apple cider (Martinelli’s being our favorite)

• 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Directions

Fill a Tom Collins (long) glass with ice. Add the Spirit Hawk Ceylon brandy, the bourbon, then add the sparkling apple cider to fill the glass. Add the Angostura bitters; stir gently with a long bar spoon / twizzle, serve promptly.

Valencia: “The Balboa”

Eric Bernauer, a friend of Spirit Hawk, used our Spirit Hawk Valencia varietal to craft a new take on the Manhattan cocktail. Extensively tested in December of 2025 while on Balboa Island, we present “The Balboa” martini.

Ingredients

• 1 oz of Sprit Hawk Valencia Brandy

• 1 oz of Bulleit Rye (or a good rye variant, such as Frey Ranch)

• ¾ oz of sweet vermouth (Antica Formula being our choice)

• Orange peel twist

Directions

Chill a stemmed martini glass. In a Boston Shaker, add ice, the Spirit Hawk Valencia brandy, the Rye and the sweet vermouth, shake vigorously. Strain into the martini glass. Using the Orange peel, mist over the top, and place it into the cocktail glass.