Wise Men Cocktail

For most, the Christmas season starts too early; by the time the day itself arrives, we are ready to clear out the clutter, spend our gift money on bargains and make resolutions to go to the gym. The reality is that Christmas starts with Christmas and lasts for twelve days, at which point the Epiphany season begins. The term epiphany means “to show” or “to make known” or even “to reveal.” In the Christian tradition, it remembers the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child. The wise old man (also called senex, sage or sophos) is an archetype as described by Carl Jung, as well as a classic literary figure.

So, as we let our belts out a notch, head for the slopes, or just settle into our holiday rut, let’s focus for one brief moment on some holiday wisdom—or sagacity. To celebrate the season, here is a cocktail that focuses on the herb sage, or Salvia officinalis which is the perennial, evergreen plant that we use to season dressing, stuffing, pumpkin ravioli—and now, a cocktail!

Bourbon whiskey, infused with fresh apples and sage, forms the heart of this cocktail. Simply take an air-tight jar, fill it with Bourbon (I use Maker’s Mark) and add several fresh apple slices and a sprig of fresh sage. Let this sit overnight or even for a few days but not much longer as the sage can grow bitter if left in too long. Apple cider further extends the apple flavor and a rim of celery salt cuts through the sweetness and makes this drink—basically a Manhattan with cider instead of red vermouth—an off-sweet, celebration of seasonal flavors. The wisdom, we hope, will follow. I can’t vouch, however, for gold, Frankincense and Myrrh………