2025 Holiday Challenge Results

Before jumping into the 2025 Holiday Challenge Results, let’s review the entries that were submitted.

The Entries

Once again, our holiday cocktail challenge attracted a variety of entries:

• Luigi’s Limoncello – Rob & Gina Hundza
  • Luigi Mungioli’s Limoncello is legendary.
  • This Italian lemon liqueur has made many appearances at our party, but before the challenge was opened to all holiday cocktails.
  • When the contest field was no longer limited to eggnog entries, Rob was on the naughty list. But I assured him that if he could score some of that sweet-and-tangy beverage, it could be entered into the competition straight from the bottle.
  • Rob apparently got off the schneid this year… And Luigi’s Limoncello is baaaacck!
• Santa 75 – Jack Sweeney & Olivia Tucker
  • Inspired by the bright, effervescent French 75, this seasonal spin imagines what might happen if Santa himself stepped behind the bar after a long night of deliveries.
  • In the glass, the Santa 75 sparkles with quiet sophistication. Pliska XO Brandy brings notes of dried fruit, honeyed oak, and soft vanilla, lending warmth and depth to every sip. The mulling-spice-and-rosemary–infused syrup blends flavors of clove, cinnamon, and citrus peel. At the same time, fresh rosemary adds an aromatic evergreen lift with each hoist of the glass, turning every sip into a sensory holiday experience.
  • Every classic deserves a little holiday magic—and the Santa 75 was born from the idea that celebration should feel warmer, richer, and just a touch more nostalgic this time of year.
• Apple Vintage – Gus & Kate Karau
  • The Apple Vintage was inspired by our Mom’s apple-cranberry pie. We have it every Thanksgiving, and it’s perfect for the holidays.
  • We decided to put a spin on a classic old-fashioned, adding cranberry-cinnamon syrup and apple juice to the base recipe.
• Kringle’s Black Krussian – Catherine Hinton
  • Legend has it that when Kris Kringle grew tired of the same old milk-and-cookies routine, he went looking for something darker, warmer, and decidedly more grown-up.
  • The result? A bold winter reinvention of the classic White Russian, infused with spice, depth, and just enough indulgence to add the “Ho-Ho-Ho” back into your Holiday Season.
• Cranberry Inspiration – David Harty & Jeanne Gossland
  • Cranberry Inspiration was created as a holiday-minded homage to the classic vodka cranberry: clean, refreshing, and endlessly reliable… but dressed up just enough for the season’s celebrations.
  • On the palate, Cranberry Inspiration is vibrant and balanced: Cool, clean, 9-times distilled vodka up front, followed by lively cranberry brightness, and softened by a rosemary-infused simple syrup. The festive garnish of fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary helps deliver a herbal finish that lingers just long enough to invite another sip.
  • It’s light, refreshing, and perfectly-suited for long conversations, full glasses, and easygoing holiday gatherings.
• Just an Old Fashioned Nog – Britt & Cam Hemsell
  • What if the most timeless cocktail of all time met the most nostalgic drink of the season?
  • The result is a quietly confident eggnog that borrows its soul from the Old Fashioned—spirit-forward, balanced, and unapologetically classic.
  • In the glass, this nog is luxuriously smooth, with the familiar structure of an Old Fashioned shining through. Up front, you’ll get deep notes of caramel, vanilla, and warming spirits from the whiskey. Then, you’ll find hints of baking spice and expressed citrus lingering on the finish, making each sip feel like a favorite cocktail wrapped in a warm, holiday sweater.

The Votes

It was another spirited competition with lively voting.

Each voter received 100 points to allocate towards the participating entries. Points could be distributed however the voter wanted, with one exception: We asked anyone who submitted a cocktail for judging allocate only 50 points to their own entry.

The chart below shows the average number of points allocated to each entry.

The Champions

The winner this year was Jack & Olivia’s Santa 75

Bonus

For those of you who read this post to the end, here is your reward: A lighter, less sweet (but very yummy) eggnog recipe that is super-simple to make using Anejo Tequila and Amontillado Sherry.

There is no need to separate eggs, raid the spice drawer, or cook a custard for this one!