In a fantastical feat of reverse thawing, the autumn influencer has officially awoken. We’ve all seen them dotted across our feeds like leaves along the ground. Flanked by foliage, fully flannelled, and sipping on something steamy, they’re absolutely primed to serve all things ultra-seasonal until the first flakes flutter. And is any fall-weather kit complete without some just-as-cool cocktails? 

For that, we turn to bourbon, the stalwart spirit from Kentucky that’s gone on to captivate the world’s taste buds. This success has been the result of quite a long road. In the decades leading up to its first-ever advertisements in the 1820s, there were already different styles of whiskey to be found in the US. There was also ample evidence going back centuries of charring barrels for flavor benefits (or to eliminate flavors from the container’s previous uses). But it took some intrepid minds over a period of time in the American South to combine these two practices, leading to bourbon’s wonderful—and singular—harmony of charred oak (caramelized vanilla and toffee notes), corn (mild, honeyed sweetness), and additional grains as a minority share (fruity spiced flavors).

To honor this legendary spirit that can do it all, the BRRR-bon Box has us all bundled up with everywhere to go! And just like the best autumn attire, the three cocktails therein are lovely and layered, ready for you to return home to after many battles with the brisk!

We’re flush with falling leaves, but it’s making the flowers much harder to find. Which makes the lovably bubbly Red Daisy that John Dillon’s plucked all the more dazzling. For the mule lovers looking to adapt their bright ginger brew to the chilly months, his cocktail’s got you covered. In it, bourbon shows off its proud Kentuckian kick, with pear-citrus cordial and scorched pear & ginger bitters playing to the seasonal senses, and hibiscus ginger beer bringing the bubbles.

Originally from North Carolina, John is the current bar manager for Chef Jonathan Waxman at the beloved NYC restaurant Barbuto. As an alum of Shaker & Spoon’s Production and Distinct Experience teams and current Click & Mix bartender instructor, John is extremely excited to show off his own creativity in this box!

If you somehow end up spending Thanksgiving with Amor y Amargo head bartender Bruce Shultz, listen up to his Sage Advice on how to adapt some delicious elements from the table to the tipple. That’s just what he’s done with this cocktail that bonds bourbon together with a syrup centered on boiled, grilled, and then pureed butternut squash. ’Tis the season for such a novel yet gourd-geous ingredient to be featured on the drinks menu, especially flavored further with an herbal pop of sage bitters and the German digestif Underberg.

Bruce began his career at Eataly’s Birreria in NYC, then went on to hone his craft under the mentorship of Sasha Petraske and Ben Long at the John Dory Oyster Bar. After stints in San Diego and Charleston, he returned home to NYC in 2021 to assume the head bartender role at Amor y Amargo.

Fresh off DrinkWell Austin’s special Bourbon Heritage Month programming this past September, Ally Goddard’s not quite done thinking about what makes the spirit such a never-ending source of tasty inspiration. And now that she’s more firmly in a fall state of mind, we get to reap the rewards with her Holiday Hymnal, which swirls a holiday tea syrup with flavors of clove, vanilla, almond, and safflower along with bourbon and orange bitters. Spritz with our spiced orange oil for the finishing touch (a brand-new aromatic upgrade to our classic cult-fave orange oil, right on time to target your holiday senses) and serve for some old fashioned tuneful mirth around the table all season long!

Ally is the assistant beverage manager of the cocktail bar DrinkWell in Austin, TX, a team led by S&S fan favorite Caer Maiko. Together they’ve won multiple awards and have been nominees/finalists for many more, including Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Best US Bar Team and Best US Cocktail Bar awards.

Fall fanatics everywhere have put their leaf-peeping on hold to discover what drinkable delights we have in store for the season. Sign up today for the BRRR-bon Box to join this autumn It club that’s thirsty for a November to remember!

🌺🌿🥃,
The Shaker & Spoon Team

*not vegan: nothing