Active Time

　　5 minutes

　　Total Time

　　35 minutes

　　A boozy whiskey cocktail that's equal parts mezcal smoke and festive sweetness, thanks to a warm, spice-infused maple syrup.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 1 cocktail

　　

For the maple-spiced simple syrup:

1/2 cup maple syrup

　　2 star anise

　　2 cinnamon sticks

　　5 whole cloves

　　

For the cocktail:

1 1/2 ounces Tennessee whiskey (such as George Dickel)

　　1/2 ounce mezcal

　　3/4 ounce maple-spiced syrup

　　3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

　　Lemon twist, for serving

　　

For the maple-spiced simple syrup:

Step 1

In a small saucepan, combine maple syrup with spices and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Cover and let stand for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight), and then strain into a clean container.

　　

For each cocktail:

Step 2

In a cocktail shaker, combine whiskey, mezcal, maple-spiced simple syrup, and lemon juice. Add ice and shake. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and garnish with lemon twist.

　　do ahead:

　　The maple-spiced simple syrup can be made up to 3 weeks in advance, and will make enough for 10 cocktails.