The holiday parties are happening, and if you happen to be looking for the perfect drink to serve at your next event, we’ve got a suggestion that mixes two of our favorite adult beverages: wine and whiskey. The New York Sour is a sophisticated cocktail, with a citrusy rye base topped with a splash of vino, that will impress your guests. When all is said and done, this festive cocktail looks like a crackling fire in a glass and will make everyone merry. 

Or if you want to warm up with a pre-party drink, you can always stop by a Nordstrom restaurant to have a New York Sour prepared for you by our friendly team. 

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California cuties Ally Walsh and Casey Wojtalewicz are ideally matched. The two met through a mutual friend and quickly fell in love while sipping cups of joe around the City of Angels. Their shared passions for the beverage, for travel and for giving back to the people they encounter provided a natural bond from which their relationship grew. Eventually, the duo decided to make their personal relationship a professional one, forming Canyon Coffee in 2016.

Canyon Coffee sources organically grown beans from international farms, usually paying more than the fair trade price to farmers they work with. In coming months, the company plans to expand its importing to involve additional regions. We caught up with Ally and Casey to talk about coffee. Get their tips for brewing the perfect cup for the person you love, and watch the video of them around L.A. in some styles from Treasure & Bond (exclusively at Nordstrom).

GET COACHED ON COFFEE

Phew! You made it over the first holiday hurdle. Congratulations, you’ve won a drink. Take some time before Christmas to recharge with a classic cocktail that’s also making a comeback. This lemony botanical martini is the refreshing burst of alcohol-infused hydration you need to get you on to the next leg of your present shopping and party planning. A maraschino cherry and a touch of floral liqueur bring this tipple to the next level.

And if you need a break during your intrepid errand running, you can always stop in at a Nordstrom restaurant to have an Aviation prepared for you. Hit pause for a minute before getting back in the gift-hunting game. 

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To celebrate the refreshing new boutique sodas (pops, if you prefer) that we’re carrying at selected Nordstrom stores, we’re experimenting by adding our favorite adult ingredients (clear, brown or bubbly) to these distinct flavors.

When we heard there was a fluorescent blue soda made by Jeff’s brother, we knew we had a winner on our hands. Who is Jeff or his brother? No clue, but he put his name on it—or his sibling’s—so it had to be good.

Photo and recipe by Tom Burritt

You’d expect peach soda to be pink, but Redondo Peach shatters all the norms. And so will this delectable mojito that pairs perfectly with an endless supply of sun and sand—even if the beach is really just a figment of your imagination. Our concoction is like drinking in the ocean air on a coast lined with peach trees, coconut groves and blueberry bushes. So soak up the deep blue with a little rum for a vicarious vacation that’ll be peachy.

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To celebrate the refreshing new boutique sodas (pops, if you prefer) that we’re carrying at selected Nordstrom stores, we’re experimenting by adding our favorite adult ingredients (clear, brown or bubbly) to these distinct flavors.

Next in our series is a beverage with an Australian twist: the Kanga Mule uses Buderim Ginger Brew plus some fruit accoutrements for a refreshing drink to nurse while you’re sitting Outback.

Photo and recipe by Tom Burritt

Variations of the classic mule aren’t hard to come by, but the Aussie-style ginger brew from Buderim makes this a cocktail with an exotic kick. The typical ginger “beer” has a certain amount of spice that we’ve all come to expect, but Buderim’s has a sweet and tangy balance that makes it one of the smoothest we’ve tasted. Drawing out the sweet with tones of blackcurrant, lemon and berries makes this the one your mates will remember.

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To celebrate the refreshing new boutique sodas (pops, if you prefer) that we’re carrying at selected Nordstrom stores, we’re experimenting by adding our favorite adult ingredients (clear, brown or bubbly) to these distinct flavors.

Next in our series is a delightful drink reminiscent of our childhood literary canon, the Wilder Wonka, made with Batch Craft Soda’s snozzberry-flavored soft drink.

Photo and recipe by Tom Burritt

What once was available only in a wallpaper-based medium for in-home consumption (if you were a candy tycoon, at least), that great “snozzberry” flavor is now the backbone of your favorite cocktail. The mysterious fruit won’t be adorning your garden any time soon, but the combined berry flavors in this soda make a fizzy mixture that’s a golden ticket to party popularity. Make Willy proud. Because Mr. Wonka was right when quoth he, “Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.”

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To celebrate the refreshing new non-alcoholic boutique sodas (pops, if you prefer) that we’re carrying at selected Nordstrom stores, we’re experimenting by adding a few of our favorite adult ingredients (clear, brown or bubbly) to these distinct flavors.

The series kicks off with a favorite that uses Saiteaux Absinthe Botanical Soda. Alone, the soda has a pleasant, effervescent taste.

Photo and recipe by Tom Burritt

While botanical-flavored beverages are striving to gain a foothold on mainstream menus, everybody has a story about their first (or last) sip of absinthe.

You won’t be “tripping” from this cocktail made with Saiteaux’s Absinthe Botanical Soda, but the sparkling beverage is a highly refreshing brunch-class concoction. Gin and grapefruit highlight the underplayed herbal flavors of the anise-heavy soda, adding to the freshness of the carbonation. Lemon, bitters and mint give a glistening finish that will carry down to your toes.

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Just in time for your Thanksgiving plans—whether they be getting together with family and friends or eating turkey in front of the TV—the geniuses at Tastemade have gifted us some yummy holiday dishes that you’ll want to keep in your recipe repertoire.

Whip up Megan Mitchell’s scrumptious side for your holiday meal this season—and hold on to the recipe for anytime fall is in the air. This hearty and flavorful autumn dish will have dinner guests coming back for scoops of seconds. Turns out nutty squash is the perfect complement to spicy sausage.

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Just in time for your Thanksgiving plans—whether they be getting together with family and friends or eating turkey in front of the TV—the geniuses at Tastemade have gifted us some yummy holiday dishes that you’ll want to keep in your recipe repertoire.

We started with dessert first, so be sure to check out these delicious nibbles if you missed Amy Lee’s Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites. Now we’re on to the meat and potatoes portion of our holiday feast—or at least the potatoes part here.

Vijaya’s savory tubers add a spicy eastern flavor to your dinner. This easy-to-make side dish is a Thanksgiving staple with a twist that’s sure to please your dining companions.

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