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Get into the holiday spirit with some spirits!

Tune-in to HouseSmarts Radio with Lou Manfredini on Saturdays 6-10am to hear a weekly featured cocktail featuring the whiskey of Whiskey Acres. All of the “Lou approved” drink recipes will be featured right here so you can make them at your holiday gatherings.

Whiskey Acres is the award-winning farm-crafted whiskey from DeKalb and Illinois’ first estate distillery.

Whiskey Acres Bourbon Milk Punch (as heard on HouseSmarts Radio, November 26)

  • 1.5 oz. Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
  • 4 oz. whole milk
  • 1 Tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake well. To serve, pour over ice and top with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Whiskey Acres Bourbon Milk Punch (Lindsey Smithwick/WGN Radio)

Whiskey Acres Old Fashioned (as heard on HouseSmarts Radio, December 3)

  • 2 oz. Whiskey Acres Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
  • 1/4 to 1/2 oz. simple syrup, depending on taste
  • orange wedge/slice
  • bitters
  • Amarena cherry

Cover the bottom of a rocks glass with simple syrup. Add six dashes of bitters. Twist in orange slice. Stir. Add ice. Add 2 oz. of Whiskey Acres Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. Stir for several seconds until the outside of the glass is chilled. Garnish with an Amarena cherry.

Whiskey Acres Old Fashioned (Lindsey Smithwick/WGN Radio)

Whiskey Acres Bourbon & Blues (as heard on HouseSmarts Radio, December 10)

  • 1.5 oz. of Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
  • 1/2 oz. blueberry syrup
  • 6 oz. of lemonade
  • Lemon slice

Fill a glass with ice, then add Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon. Stir in a swirl of blueberry syrup (about 4-5 “swirls”). Add lemonade. Mix with paddle. Garnish with a lemon slice.

Whiskey Acres Bourbon & Blues (Lindsey Smithwick/WGN Radio)

Whiskey Acres Bourbon Slush (as heard on HouseSmarts Radio, December 17)

  • 9 cups water, divided
  • 3 black tea bags
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cans of frozen lemonade concentrate
  • 2 cans of frozen orange juice concentrate
  • 2 cups of Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
  • Ginger Ale for a splash finish

In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add tea bags and allow to steep for 10 minutes. Discard tea bags. Stir in sugar until completely dissolved. In a large container, combine tea/sugar mixture, lemon and orange juice concentrates, water and Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon. Pour into a flat container and freeze overnight. Serve using an ice cream scoop. Top with a splash of Ginger Ale.

Whiskey Acres Bourbon Slush (Lindsey Smithwick/WGN Radio)