Hey Durham!
Are you ready to sip your way through the holiday season with some 19+ festive fun that’s perfect for spending time with friends, family, co-workers or date night?! Then your need to check out the Durham Cocktail Trail – a brilliant self-guided adventure created by The Durham Distillery that’s on now! Yes, this is your chance to explore some local venues and unique cocktails as you sip your way through Durham: A guide to the Durham Cocktail Trail!
🔥🍸$250 GIVEAWAY ON NOW!!! Click here for details!🍸🔥
What is The Durham Cocktail Trail?
The Durham Cocktail Trail is a FREE self-guided tour, that encourages participants journey to some of Durham’s best cocktail spots! Each location offers their own handcrafted festive cocktail that is made with spirits from Durham Distillery that’s now open in Ajax.
How does it work?
A “choose your own adventure” experience right here in Durham Region, participants can visit the Trail map found on Durham Cocktail Trail’ s website, to pick one of 18 local venues they would like to visit. While on the website participants can also set up their “Trail Card” important for collecting “stamps” at each venue! Stamps are issued after the purchase of a featured Durham Distillery cocktail from participating locations via a QR code provided by the restaurant. After collecting 6 stamps participants can redeem them for a $25 giftcard to The Durham Distillery and a chance to win an exclusive whisky prize pack.
Where are the venues located?
With 18 locations across Durham Region you’re sure to find one close to you! We have visited 4 so far and look forward to visiting them all!
1. Chúuk | Mexican Kitchen and Bar
📍 774 Liverpool Rd, Pickering
🌐 Website
The Merry Mojito:
A play on the classic mojito, Chúuk’s Merry Mojito is a picture perfect 10/10! Glittering like a snow globe, the edible glitter sparkles brightly thanks to the clarified lime and peppermint oil. The frozen blue spruce is the piece de resistance completing the winter look!
Recipe:
- 2 oz Durham Distillery Firehouse Spirits White Dog Blackstrap
- 1 oz clarified lime
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 12 drops of peppermint oil
- 1 pinch of edible glitter
Combine all ingredients and shake. Strain into Collins Glass with frozen blue spruce.
2. Nest Natural Durham
📍 7722 Chalk Lake Rd, Uxbridge, ON, L9P 1R4
🌐 Website
The Doughnut Sugar Espresso Martini:
Calling all Espresso Martini’s lovers, this tasty sugar rimmed cocktail is the perfect adult bevie for you! Garnished with a bite sized sugar doughnut the balance of bitter and sweet was the perfect afternoon indulgence with a view! Overlooking the Oak Ridges Moraine it’s a relaxing way to spend time with friends! (The brussle sprouts and charcuterie were delicious too!)
Recipe:
- 1 oz Durham Distillery Patio Lantern Vodka
- 1 oz Durham Distillery Firehouse Spirits Coffee Liqueur
- 1 oz Treblecock Cold Brew
- 0.5oz Forty Creek original cream
- Donut Sugar
Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker and shake vigorously . Rim the glass with donut sugar. Double strain into a Coupe Glass and garnish with a mini doughnut.
3. KB Food
📍 120 Brock St N, Whitby, ON L1N 4H2
🌐 Website
The 1943:
Sweet yet tangy this bubbly citrus drink was one we enjoyed so much we had two! Conveniently located in downtown Whitby, KB food is the perfect place to start or finish your evening out!
Recipe:
- 1.5 oz Durham Distillery Patio Lantern Vodka
- 3/4 oz Liquor 43 (orange vanilla flavour)
- 3/4 oz Passion Fruit Puree
- 3/4 oz Lemon Simple Syrup
- 1 tsp of Egg White Powder
- 1 Cocktail Companion Dried Lime Wheel (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker and shake well. Strain into a Nick and Nora Glass and garnish with lime wheel.
4. Durham Distillery
📍 25 Mill St. Ajax, ON L1S 6J8
🌐 Website
Durham Distillery is the most unique stop on the Durham Cocktail Trail, where you not only get to indulge in sipping on delicious cocktails, you also learn to make them too! That’s right, Durham Distillery offers a weekly mixology class where you learn to make and enjoy 3 delicious festive drinks! We loved the locally made charcuterie box that is part of the experience, and yes participants will earn a digital stamp for their cocktail trail map for attending too!
Recipes:
Tart To Heart:
- 1 oz London Calling Dry Gin
- 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
- 1/2 oz Egg White
- 1/2 oz Cream
- 1/2 oz Lavender Syrup
- 1 Bar spoon Lemon Curd
- 1 Cocktail Companion Dried Lemon Wheel (for garnish)
Add London Calling Dry Gin, dry vermouth, lemon curd, egg white, cream and lavender syrup to a shaker and dry shake (no ice) for 20 seconds. Add ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into a Coupe Glass and garnish with a dried lemon wheel!
Calling Bird
- 1 oz Free Bird Canadian Rum
- 1/2 oz Campari (or less)
- 2 oz Apple Cider
- 1/2 oz Falernum Syrup
- 3/4 oz Lime Juice
- 1 Cocktail Companion Dried Apple Slice (for garnish)
Add Free Bird Canadian Rum, Campari, apple cider, falernum syrup and lime juice to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into a Highball Glass filled with ice and garnish with a dried apple slice!
Mistletoe Mule:
- 1 1/2 oz Apple Pie Moonshine
- 3/4 oz Cranberry Juice
- 1/2 oz Lime Juice
- 2 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
- Ginger Beer (or ginger ale) to top
- Cinnamon Stick (for garnish)
- 4 Cranberries (for garnish)
Combine Apple Pie Moonshine, cranberry juice, lime juice, and aromatic bitters into a rocks glass with ice. Stir to combine. Top with ginger beer and then garnish with cinnamon stick and cranberries.
Our team is having a ton of fun exploring local Durham Region venues along the Durham Cocktail Trail and now that you’ve read how to “Sip Your Way Through Durham: A Guide to the Durham Cocktail Trail”, we hope that you enjoy this festive fun too! Don’t forget to check out the rest of the local gems below and here’s a video overview of the fun!
🎥 Durham Cocktail Trail Overview Video! 🎥
Other Restaurants on the Trail Map:
5. The Yardbird
📍 50 King St E, Bowmanville, ON L1C 1N2
🌐 Website
6. The Port Social
📍 189 Queen St, Port Perry, ON L9L 1B9
🌐 Website
7. Berry Hill Bistro
📍 82 King St W, Oshawa, ON L1H 1A6
🌐 Website
8. Bistro ’67
📍 W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, second floor Durham College, Whitby campus, 1604 Champlain Ave, Whitby, ON L1N 6A7
🌐 Website
9. Brewer’s Pantry
📍 15 King St E, Bowmanville, ON L1C 1N1
🌐 Website
10. Jester’s Court Pub & Eatery
📍 279 Queen St, Port Perry, ON L9L 1B9
🌐 Website
11. Little Beasts Brewing – Oshawa Centre Pop-Up
📍 2075 Forbes St Unit 4, Whitby, ON L1N 9X1
🌐 Website
12. Lobby Bar 70
📍 70 King St E, Oshawa.
🌐 Website
13. Marwan’s Global Bistro
📍 187 Queen St, Port Perry, ON L9L 1B8
🌐 Website
14. OneTen Kitchen + Bar
📍 110 Lupin Dr, Whitby, ON L1N 1X8
🌐 Website
15. The Springwood
📍1645 Dundas St E Unit #1, Whitby, ON L1N 2K9
🌐 Website
16. The Torchbearer Taproom
📍 1785 Taunton Rd E Unit 2, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K5
🌐 Website
17. Three Six Kitchen
📍 36 King St E, Bowmanville, ON L1C 1N2
🌐 Website
18. Urban Pantry
📍 14 Toronto St N, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1E6
🌐 Website
Thanks for “Sip Your Way Through Durham: A Guide to the Durham Cocktail Trail” and subscribe for more Durham Region fun!
