Cocktail Cadre

🎄🍸 25 Days of Christmas Cocktails

Day 23

Tonight’s cocktail is the Pasadena Christmas, a personal riff on the Santa Clara Christmas I first encountered in Imbibe magazine years ago.

The original uses equal parts Tequila, Mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, and sweet vermouth. I swap the vermouth for Manzanilla Sherry to keep things drier and brighter, then finish the drink with a light Laphroaig Scotch spritz from an atomizer for a gentle layer of smoke.

The intent is pure mood: sitting by a fireplace (or an outdoor fire pit), smoke in the air, and a distinctly Pasadena take on Christmas: warm, relaxed, and quietly festive.

Simple build with an easy orange peel garnish, and best enjoyed slowly.

🎄🍸25 Days of Christmas Cocktails, Day 19

This is a drink I don’t make often, but one that carries a lot of meaning.

Tonight’s cocktail is a Keoke Coffee, made with brandy, crème de cacao, Kahlúa, hot coffee, and whipped cream. My parents discovered this drink back in the 1990s and loved it so much it became a regular part of their holiday season.

It’s not about being flashy or modern. It’s about comfort, familiarity, and honoring the small traditions that stick with us over the years.

Cheers to the drinks that feel like home.