We love the hustle and bustle of the holidays and the joy of gathering with friends and family over good food and yummy cocktails. But to keep the holidays from becoming an exhaustive whirlwind of errands and kitchen prep, we like to keep things festive but simple, which means we get more quality time with loved ones gathered by the fire or playing games. Keep reading for an easy, holiday-inspired meal everyone will love. 

Seasonal Craft Cocktails...Fast:Just add four parts bourbon (or rye) to one partPappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Old-Fashioned Mix, which is made by our partners at Bittermilk, and garnish with orange peel before serving. 

A Christmas Main as Easy as it is Delicious:Our Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup takes this glazed ham from ordinary to extraordinary and it’s just right for the holidays. But don’t count on leftovers. Instead, plan on friends and family coming back for seconds and thirds. 

Maple Glazed Ham:

Ingredients:

• 1 (9-pound) store bought bone-in spiral ham
• 3/4 cup water

• 1/2 cup Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Place ham in a roasting pan and pour about 3/4 cup water into the bottom of pan. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour and 40 minutes or until heated through, soft and tender.
3. Make the glaze: whisk all ingredients together in a saucepan until smooth and heat over medium-low to medium heat until simmering. Simmer for 2 minutes and remove from heat.
4. When ham is heated through, remove the aluminum foil, and pour or brush the glaze over the top to cover completely. Raise oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
5. Return the ham to the oven and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until glaze is caramelized and bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with desired fixings such as a variety of mustards, pickled shallots or cornichons.

Two Simple Tasty Sides:Spicy green beans that are table-ready in fifteen minutes and make-ahead roasted sweet potatoes get a seasonal flavor boost courtesy of a trio of our most popular barrel-aged pantry staples. 

Bourbon and Maple Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups strong coffee, brewed from our Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Coffee beans
• 9 tablespoons Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup
• 3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup bourbon
• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 5 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (about 8 medium), peeled and cubed
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds or pecans

Instructions:

1. Stir coffee, maple syrup, and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Bring mixture to a boil; cook until thickened and reduced by half, 6-7 minutes.
2. Remove syrup from heat; add bourbon and 2 tablespoons butter. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until sauce is reduced to about 3/4 cup, 40-45 minutes (mixture should be thick enough to coat a spoon, but not sticky, and will thicken as it cools). Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Sauce can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; chill. Rewarm before serving.
3. Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 425°. Melt remaining 7 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan; pour into a large bowl. Add sweet potatoes and oil and season with salt and pepper. Divide potato mixture between 2 large rimmed baking sheets and roast, turning potatoes often and rotating sheets halfway through, until potatoes are tender and start to turn golden brown and crisp around the edges, 30-35 minutes. DO AHEAD: Potatoes can be roasted 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm before continuing.
4. Transfer potatoes to a serving platter. Drizzle some warm sauce over and sprinkle with almonds; serve remaining sauce along-side for those who want more.

Spicy Green Beans

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 1 lb. fresh green beans ends trimmed
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
• ½ tablespoon Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pepper Sauce (1 tablespoon if you like your food spicy)
• 1 tablespoon Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup

Instructions:

1. In a large cast iron skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the green beans, salt and pepper.
2. Cook the green beans, stirring often, until they just begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
3. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the hot sauce, the garlic and maple syrup. Cook, stirring, until the beans are tender-crisp and coated in the sauce, 1-2 more minutes. Serve immediately.

Snacks & Desserts:A simple (not-so-vanilla) ice cream sundae and a bourbon-and-berry yogurt parfait make for uncomplicated, crowd-pleasing treats this holiday season.  

Ice Cream with Brittle and Maple Syrup

Ingredients:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup
• Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Nib Brittle

Instructions:

1. Scoop your desired portion of vanilla ice cream in a small bowl.
2. Crumble pieces of brittle on top
3. Drizzle with a generous serving of maple syrup
4. Enjoy!

Yogurt Parfaits

Ingredients:

• Greek yogurt
• Fresh berries
• Granola
• Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup

Instructions:

1. Layer the yogurt, berries, and granola.
2. Repeat
3. Drizzle with a generous serving of maple syrup
4. Enjoy!

Bourbon Balls 

This one’s as easy as adding a12-pack (or four) of our Bourbon Balls to your shopping cart. One bite of our handmade bourbon balls, flavored with Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year, and your guests will thank you. Best part: No cooking; no cleanup.