In Home Alone Macaulay Culkin’s character, Kevin McCallister, resorts to turning on all of the lights and moving mannequins around the rooms using ropes to throw off the Wet Bandits. Perhaps no song so wonderfully encapsulates the moment of the “party” that Kevin was throwing as Brenda Lee’s Rocking Around The Christmas Tree. Lively and fun, we wanted to make a drink that would capture this feeling while playfully incorporating some elements in the song title. Enter, Rocking Around The Christmas Tree, a gin based drink, served on a rock.
Rocking Around The Christmas Tree
Rocking Around The Christmas Tree is sweet, herbal, and bright. The lemon notes provide an underpinning for the sweetness from the Drambuie and maraschino. The cherry notes, almond elements, and floral elements all come together to add complexity over the top of the herbal notes from the gin. The rosemary brightens up the nose, and keeps it welcoming you back.
Drink Notes & Recommendations
Molded after a Last Word, this drink contains a large portion of two modifiers, maraschino liqueur and Drambuie. As a result, you should be aware that this drink is sweet, especially at the start. If you find it too sweet, swap out the large cube for crushed ice or pellet ice. A tweak of orange bitters also fits quite well here, while giving an extra citrus note (and cardamom if you used Regan’s).
- Tanqueray London Dry Gin – We went Tanqueray here for the heavier juniper notes. In reflection of the Christmas tree, we’re trying to emphasize that flavor while also giving some herbal notes to play against the sweetness of the maraschino and Drambuie. While we recommend a London dry gin (Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire), you can also use any gin you like.
- Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur – Adding cherry notes, almond, and a hint of spice, this modify is critical in classics like the Last Word, Aviation, and Martinez. We recommend Luxardo, but feel free to use what you can find.
- Drambuie – We chose this scotch based liqueur for it’s honeyed and floral characteristics. If you have to pick another, consider Benedictine.
- Lemon Juice – For best results, use fresh squeezed.
- Garnish (Rosemary) – This must be fresh. For the best results, smack the rosemary around the lip of the glass before inserting to release the oils against the glass for extra fragrance.