Cranberry Cooler

RECIPE:

1½ parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon 1 tablespoon cranberry jam 1 tablespoon maple syrup 1 drop vanilla extract 3 parts cranberry juice Splash club soda Fresh cranberries for garnish

Add the Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, cranberry jam, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cranberry juice to a shaker. Add ice. Shake vigorously. Strain over ice and add a splash of soda. Garnish with cranberries.

After cocktails, show guests that even old-time favorites can become new. Brined with Maker’s & accompanied by a savory bourbon gravy, this recipe for Brined Turkey Breast is sure to please even the most cynical traditionalists.

Prep time: 8 hours Cook time: 2½- 3 hours Level: Intermediate

Maker’s Mark® Bourbon Brined Turkey Breast Serves 6-8

1 brined whole turkey breast, 6-8 lbs (recipe follows) 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup Maker’s Mark® Bourbon ¼ cup cider vinegar ½ cup apple juice 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced ½ lb slab bacon, cut into ¼-inch thick pieces 2 carrots, peeled and sliced into ½-inch thick pieces 1 head fennel, cut into ¼-inch thick slices vertically 1 large red onion, cut into ½ inch thick slices/rings 10 cloves whole garlic 1 gala or granny smith apple, pitted, cut into ¼ inch thick slices 4-5 fresh bay leaves Salt and fresh black pepper 1 recipe Maker’s Mark® Bourbon Turkey Gravy (recipe follows)

1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Remove the turkey breast from the brine and pat the outside and inner cavity dry. Season generously with salt and pepper, and the minced thyme inside and out. 2. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, vinegar, apple juice, brown sugar, and rosemary, whisking until well combined. 3. In the bottom of a small roasting pan/large casserole dish, arrange the bacon pieces, carrot slices, fennel, onion, garlic, apple slices, and bay leaves. Pour the marinade over the vegetables and then place the turkey breast on top, breast side up. 4. Roast the turkey for an hour at 400F, basting occasionally with pan liquid. Reduce the heat to 350F and continue to cook until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 158F and the skin is golden brown, about an hour and a half more. 5. Allow the turkey to rest for at least 30 minutes, tented in foil. The meat will continue to cook as it rests. Slice the turkey breast and serve over the confit of vegetables with the Maker’s Mark® Bourbon turkey gravy.

Bourbon Brine

½ cup Maker’s Mark® Bourbon 1 cup kosher salt 1 cup sugar 6 cups water 1 piece cinnamon stick 10 pieces allspice berries 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 5 cloves garlic, crushed 2 bay leaves 1 sprig thyme 1 whole turkey breast, 6-8 lbs

1. Combine everything except the turkey breast in a large pot. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar and salt dissolves. Simmer for 10 minutes then remove from the heat. Allow the brine to cool down completely. 2. Place the turkey breast (breast side down) into the brine in a large container. (Or you can put the turkey in a triple layered plastic bag and pour the brine in, tying the bag at the top). Allow the turkey to cure for 6-8 hours, then remove from the brine.

Bourbon Turkey Gravy

Makes 1 quart

6 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 pieces turkey wings, chopped into 2-inch pieces 1 onion, minced 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 bay leaf 1 sprig thyme 1 sprig sage ¼ cup flour ¼ cup Maker’s Mark® Bourbon ½ cup red wine 3 cups chicken or turkey stock 1 tablespoon brown sugar Splash red wine vinegar, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over high heat. Brown the turkey wing pieces in the pot, then add the onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, and sage. Reduce the heat to medium-high, then sauté the aromatics with the turkey wings until they begin to soften and color, about 10 minutes, then sprinkle the flour on top, stirring to coat well. 2. Cook out the flour for 2 minutes then add the Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, red wine, stock, and brown sugar, stirring with a wooden spoon until well combined. Continue to stir the gravy. It will thicken as the liquid begins to heat up. Once the gravy has thickened, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the gravy for at least 30 minutes, until the alcohol has cooked off and the gravy is flavorful. Add water or stock as necessary for desired consistency and season to taste with vinegar, salt, and pepper. Strain the gravy before serving.

Everyone knows that there’s always room for dessert…and a warm drink. Wind down after a long day of conversation & laughs with these simple Gingersnap Cookies & a Maker’s inspired Toddy.

Prep time: 1 hour 20 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Level: Easy

Maker’s Mark® Bourbon Gingersnap Cookies

¾ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature ½ cup dark brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar ¼ cup unsulphured molasses 3 tablespoons Maker’s Mark® Bourbon 1 egg ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon ground pink peppercorns (optional) 1 cup sanding sugar, or Demerara Sugar

1. Cream the butter and sugars on high speed together using a stand mixer or hand held mixer, until light a fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Beat in the molasses, Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined, another minute. 2. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and pink pepper. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, add the dry ingredients into the butter and eggs, folding to combine. Mix the dough evenly, and then refrigerate covered for an hour until the dough is well chilled. 3. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop the dough in and spread out 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Bake in the middle rack of the oven for 12-15 minutes, until slightly chewy. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

Yuzu Toddy By Derek Alexander

RECIPE:

2 heaping bar spoons of yuzu honey, recipe below* 1 part Maker’s Mark® Bourbon ¾ part Laird’s® Applejack Brandy ½ part yuzu juice 5 parts hot water

1. Combine all ingredients and serve hot.

Yuzu Honey ¼ cup yuzu rind* ½ cup honey ½ cup water 10 tablespoons sugar 1½ teaspoons pectin 2 tablespoons yuzu juice

1. Add water to yuzu rind and bring to a simmer. 2. Mix the sugar and pectin together. Stir into the water and yuzu, pouring in a thin, steady stream while stirring. Bring to a boil. 3. Add the honey and stir until the mixture is thick. 4. Add the yuzu juice. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Keep refrigerated when not in use.

*Tip: You may substitute a bottle of citrus tea from an Asian Market for the honey if you can’t source yuzu.