Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what indie rock band Whitehall had to say:

Hey! We’re Whitehall and the holidays are one of our favorite times of year. We’ve got a lot of fun traditions including our annual Christmas gift exchange, affectionately and appropriately called ‘Crunkmas’. We indulge in all of the quintessential holiday frivolities including ugly sweaters, swapping gifts and getting irresponsibly drunk on our guitar player, Avery’s, signature rum cider. We thought we’d spread some Crunkmas cheer by sharing the recipe and his tips for each ingredient below.

When I was but a child, I would travel to a faraway mountain range with my grandmother. In the cool mist of the morning, we would hike to the great orchards and pick apples to our hearts content. We would then arrive back home with our bushels of apples and our hearts set on making the most delicious apple cider this side of the Mississippi. After hours of stomping apples to mush and collecting their juices, we would add all of the right ingredients, and we’d end up with a hot mug of cider. To be honest it was just alright, so these days I just buy Motts.

The spiced rum used in this recipe is the perfect compliment to the exotic and carefully curated flavor experience my Jingle Juice will bring. Now, you must be thinking, ‘Don’t I need to spend an arm and a leg on spiced rum!?’ No! You know what I always say, ‘Admiral Nelson’s is good enough.’

In the tropical forests of Sri Lanka there grows a specific spice, cultivated from the dried inner bark of the trees there. This spice is commonly known as “cinnamon”. When encountering “cinnamon”, you may take note of its warm, sweet aroma. This spice has the power to topple entire civilizations, so be careful not to add too much to your recipe.

Ah oranges, the back-bone of the Florida economy. When I was on holiday in Key West, I discovered the oldest orange tree known to man. Even though it was against local customs, I sliced a branch from the tree containing a few oranges, and smuggled my fruits across state lines. I used these to plant my very own Florida orange tree right here in South Carolina. Nothing but the finest fruit.

Now, this last ingredient is a bit of a dealer’s choice. Here in South Carolina, it’s illegal to collect rainwater, but that’s what makes it so good. My family’s been doing it for years. It’s like moonshine. If flirting with Johnny Law is not your speed though, regular filtered water makes an acceptable substitute.