On February 24, the Slumberland American Birkebeiner will be held in Wisconsin. Known as the Birkie, this event is the most significant cross-country skiing race in North America. The course starts in Cable, passes through forest on the Birkie Trail, extends across Lake Hayward, traverses the American Birkebeiner International Bridge, and ends on the snow-laden Main Street in Hayward. This year, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) and Tattersall Distilling collaborated to celebrate the race’s 50th anniversary with a specially crafted spirit.

The commemorative drink is called WI-SKI, which was conceptualized to honor the Birkie’s 50th year.

WI-SKI is a straight rye matured in maple syrup barrels previously used. The drink embodies the Birkie and traditional Nordic skiing, offering a peppery touch with a bit of sweetness. This combination is even more enjoyable after an active day on the trails. Despite not skiing myself, I had the opportunity to mix WI-SKI in a cocktail, producing a perfect winter drink.

The Cold Rush is Tattersall’s rendition of the Gold Rush cocktail, traditionally made from honey syrup, lemon, and bourbon. With just three simple ingredients, this tantalizing mix infuses warmth from within, whether you are out partaking in winter sports or just a spectator.

Creating a home-made honey syrup for this drink is quite easy. It involves dissolving an equal measure of honey with boiling water.

Are you excited to make an amazing cocktail?

Give a try to the Cold Rush with WI-SKI.

This tasty drink has honey blended with a maple-flavored whiskey, resulting in an excellent fusion. It holds a balanced sweetness, while the fresh lemon juice imparts brightness and a tangy taste. Tattersall enriches their three-year-old Straight Rye Whiskey by aging it in used bourbon barrels, which had maple syrup aged in them for a period extending more than six months. This process introduces notes of maple syrup and faint notes of bourbon into the whiskey.

While I do think this whiskey would be great to try neat, I’m so excited to have discovered this great cocktail that I’ll be drinking it on repeat. WI-SKI would also work great in a Hot Toddy, for those times when you really need to warm up from the cold and snow.

Proceeds from the purchase of WI-SKI benefit the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation’s work to build a new outdoor center at its Mt. Telemark Village property in Cable, Wisconsin.

Have you tried a Cold Rush (or a Gold Rush)? Let me know what you think in the comments!