Christmas. Cocktails.

Well hey there, and welcome back to another week of The Meat Platter. Did you miss us? ‘Cause we missed you! Our interviewees have taken a break to spend time with their loved ones the rest of the year, in case you were curious! But we have some fun folks scheduled for 2026 and we hope you’ll stick around to check them out.

In the meantime, as the year winds down and we turn up the volume on family time, what better way to kick off everyone’s Christmas holiday than with some cocktails?

Before you start mixing things up, hit play on our December Spotify Playlist. While we would be fine if it was “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on repeat, we held back and threw in some classics. It’s Christmas on a low volume, just the way we like it.

Make sure you follow to our Spotify page, too while you’re subscribing to all of our other playlists. Click, click, click, click……

There’s something about the weeks leading up to Christmas that brings people closer to the flame 😏…candles on the mantle, coals in the grill, and glasses raised with something warming inside. It’s the time of year when a subtle hint of smoke in a cocktail feels exactly right.

We’ve put together three easy Christmas cocktails that invite a touch of smoke without requiring a real torch, but if you’re interested, this would be a badass party trick.

Each drink is simple, memorable, and built for the kind of gatherings where conversations stretch long into the evening. We call that “linger, longer” around here.

1st up, a Smoky Citrus Spritz

This is the drink for a friend who loves a little seasonal flair, but keeps it between the lines.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin or vodka

• ¾ oz cranberry simple syrup or cranberry juice

• ½ oz lemon juice

• Sparkling Water (boring) or Prosecco (now we’re talking!)

• Garnish with a smoked dried orange wheel

Build beverage over ice, top with bubble and garnish with a smoky citrus slice.

Smoked Dried Orange Wheels:
Slice oranges ¼-inch thick, bake at 200°F for 2–3 hours, then finish with 5 minutes of applewood smoke on the cool side of a grill. You could just add wood chips to a little water in the oven, too. But we get you might not want your house to smell like a smoker for the next few days.

Host Notes

• Make a whole tray of the smoked orange wheels—they store beautifully and look great in water, iced tea, or tucked into gift baskets.

• This cocktail is easy to batch in a large pitcher: just add the bubbly right before serving.

• It pairs nicely with charcuterie, nuts, or salty snacks while guests arrive.

Next up, The Ember Old Fashioned

Every gathering needs one “sits quietly in your hand while conversations unfold” kind of cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon

• ¼ oz maple syrup

• 2 dashes orange bitters

• Orange peel

• Optional: a few drops of smoked simple syrup

Stir with ice, strain over one big cube, flame the orange peel (tongs and over the stove- don’t over complicate), and finish with smoked syrup if you’re fancy.

Smoked Simple Syrup:
Set a small bowl of equal parts sugar and water into a charcoal grill for 10–15 minutes so the syrup warms and absorbs a gentle smoke- pretty epic.

Host Notes

• Offer two versions: “classic” and “smoky,” letting guests choose their level of adventure.

• Great after dinner with cookies, pie, or even a board of dark chocolate. Skrrrrt.

Lastly, the start of the show: The Smoked Wing Bloody Mary

For Christmas morning, or for that family gathering where everyone drifts in at their own pace, this is the drink that stops conversations—in a good way.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka

• 4 oz tomato juice

• ½ oz olive or pickle brine

• Hot sauce & Worcestershire

• Celery salt & black pepper

• Lemon

Garnish: you guessed it…with a smoked chicken wing

Shake the drink with ice, pour into a tall glass, and skewer a lightly smoked wing right on top.

Smoked Wing Garnish:
Season simply with The Founder, smoke over charcoal for 20–30 minutes, and chill if making ahead.

Host Notes

• Add easy garnish options on the side: olives, pickled okra, celery, or crispy bacon. Set up that Bloody Mary this year. Just do it. They’ll love it.

• Perfect with breakfast casseroles, biscuits, or leftover holiday ham. The excuses are endless.

Cheers, and merry drinking!

I told my wife I’d pace myself this Christmas….
—So now I walk slowly to the bar!