Raise a toast to the 2020 holiday season with your choice of 20 festive drinks from some of New Jersey’s top distilleries and wineries. Because staying home and being your own mixologist (or letting a pro do the work with a cocktail to go) has never been more stylish.
Northern New Jersey
Located in Jersey City, Corgi Spirits is a small-batch craft distillery. This maker of specialty gins, whiskey and vodka shared their secrets for making an Earl Grey Hot Toddy and Thyme for Cider. Recipes for both cocktails can be found here and the needed spirits can be purchased online for safe, curbside pickup.
Old York Cellars in Ringoes has three perfect cocktails for those times you want to curl up by the fire in your holiday PJs. Bookmark this page for their Cabernet Chocolate Latte, Hot Mulled Red Wine and Hot Mulled White Wine—plus more decadent recipes—and buy the right vino for your favorites here.
If you prefer to have an expert do the shaking and stirring, you can always get a S’Mores Martini or North Pole Cosmo to go—along with several other specialty drinks—from Jersey Spirits Distilling Co. in Fairfield. Decide on your order here, then hop in the car for convenient curbside pickup.
If you prefer a ready-to-pour jolly libation, get your favorite stemware (or stemless glass) ready for Belvidere-based Four Sisters Winery’s Holiday Seasoned Spicy Red Table Wine, available for purchase online. Enjoy this selection—with its hints of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg—chilled, at room temperature or warmed.
Central New Jersey
‘Tis the season for comforting flavors and Sourland Mountain Spirits, a farm distillery in Hopewell. Their in-house mixologist has developed an extensive collection of cocktails using their own hand-crafted products. For the holidays, we recommend the bourbon-based What’s Shakin Bacon or rum-based Admiral Vernon. Find recipes for both here and order your favorite spirit online for pickup at the distillery or home delivery.
Sugar and spice and everything nice comes together to craft this decadent Vin Brûlé from Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington. Bonus: The recipe, found here, has also been used to treat the common cold in the Alps region. Purchase the Rosso Della Valle for your very own Vin Brûlé online.
4 JG’s Winery in Colts Neck will get you in the spirit of the season with its Curbside, Christmas Trees & Cup of Cheer, held weekends leading up to the holiday. After you select the merriest of seasonal decor with a fresh-cut tree, you can toast your find by raising a warm glass of their Spiced Vino on-site or with their pickup kit.
Southern New Jersey
Calling all cranberry lovers! With a vineyard in Hammonton and tasting rooms at additional locations throughout the state, Tomasello Winery is a popular producer of fruit wines (including cranberry!) and traditional varietals. Purchase your wine online and make yourself a Cranberry Mule, Sparkling Cranberry Sake or Cranberry Sauced cocktail—recipes for these drinks (and more!) can be found here.
Located in Cape May, Nauti Spirits takes pride in its farm-to-bottle vodka, gin and rum. This craft distillery boasts a creative rotating menu of to-go cocktails featuring its spirits. We found seasonal inspiration in Dem Apples and Drunkin Punkin, but you can check out all of their current offerings here.
Bellview Winery, boasting 20 estate-grown varietals from Landisville, brings the cozy this holiday season. You can purchase their Red Wine Hot Chocolate Kit online for pickup at the winery or order their Merry Christmas White wine for pickup or delivery.
To wrap this list up in a pretty bow, we have one more ready-to-pour option from Balić Winery in Mays Landing. You can sip and savor their Holiday Wine with natural spice flavor all season long. Learn more about the premium reserve wine here and visit this page for instructions on ordering by phone or email.
Explore all of New Jersey’s distilleries, wineries and breweries to find locations near you. Remember to call ahead to ensure visitors are being welcomed when you plan to arrive.
