Spirits can add a bold flavor punch to your cooking—whether you're adding beer to your fish batter or a smoky bourbon to your barbecue sauce. And, seriously, the holidays wouldn't be the same without some rum in our cakes or brandy in the frosting.

But since spirits were designed for drinking—usually at room temp or over ice—many of them can suffer a flavor shift when heated to the high temps necessary in some recipes. And that can kill a dish quickly. To avoid a cooking catastrophe, reach for a bottle of Rave Review! Culinary Spirits instead of your usual go-to bottle.

Affordable and designed specifically for cooking, Rave Review! spirits are made to retain their flavor even under the stress of extreme heat. And that means less risk in your cooking. (And, when you're making your famous all-day ribs, you also don't have to use that expensive bottle of bourbon your dad gave you.)

There are 4 different Rave Review! spirits to cover pretty much any recipe you can come up with: oaky Brandy with a touch of orange zest, a slightly sweet and mellow Rum, Blended Bourbon with a hint of smoke and vanilla, and the earthy Hops, which will remind you of a classic IPA.

I gave the Rave Review! Rum a try in a recipe I've been using for every cookout, tailgate and pool party for the last few years. I take maple syrup, rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and a little cayenne pepper, marinate some sliced pineapple rings in it, then sear the rings on a hot grill until they caramelize. Just ridiculously delicious either by itself, with grilled pork chops, or with coconut ice cream for dessert. And the Rave Review Rum held up.There was a great deep caramel flavor to the rings that is the signature of the dish, definitely more flavorful than when I use my regular rum. (Good. That leaves more of that bottle for coladas.) I'm going to give their Hops a test drive in the grilled steak recipe below, and this holiday (if you're on my list), expect some brandy frosted cupcakes under your tree. My version of holiday cheer.

Rave Review! Culinary Spirits are made with natural ingredients and are available in unique 200ml bottles for $9.99. More recipes are available at http://www.ravereviewspirits.com/raves-recipes

Grilled Steak Yorkshire Style Marinated with Rave Review! Original Culinary Hops

By Chef John Kinsella The Mid-West Culinary Institute Cincinnati, Ohio

(serves 4)

Ingredients

4 8-ounce strip steaks

16 Tbsps. (1 cup) Rave Review! Original Culinary Hops

1/2 cup Olive Oil

2 cloves garlic (minced)

2 sprigs Thyme

1 sprig Rosemary

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

Season steaks with salt and pepper. Mix the Rave Review! Original Culinary Hops and the olive oil together until well blended. Add herbs and place the steaks in the Rave Review! Original Culinary Hops mixture and marinate for 1 hour. Remove from marinade and grill to desired temperature.

Rave Review! Original Culinary Brandy Frosting

Ingredients

1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

½ cup butter, softened

2 tablespoons Rave Review! Original Culinary Brandy

1 or more tablespoons of milk

8 cups powdered sugar

Directions

In large mixing bowl beat cream cheese and butter with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add Brandy then milk and beat until combined. Beat in powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, until smooth and of a good piping consistency. Makes 4-1/3 cups.