With such an abundance of sweet potatoes in our state, the N.C. Sweet Potato Commission has decided to mix things up and challenge bartenders to create drinks inspired by the state vegetable. It’s fitting considering North Carolina is the top producer of sweet potatoes in the United States, providing nearly half of our nation’s crop.

The N.C. Sweet Potato Commission is hosting “Sippin Sweets,” a cocktail promotion during the month of December. Bartenders will create and feature a craft cocktails using state-grown sweet potatoes as a main ingredient. Now when you’re at the local bar, you can point to a couple of health benefits found right in your glass thanks to the trusty root vegetable. After all, sweet potatoes average around 100 calories each and have more fiber than a bowl of oatmeal.

Mixologist Christopher Tamplin’s use of an original sweet potato simple syrup in his drinks served as the inspiration for “Sippin Sweets.” He currently crafts cocktails at the Fiction Kitchen in downtown Raleigh.

“Sweet potatoes are fun to work with in both a cocktail and culinary sense,” Tamplin says. “They have a great flavor on their own but also work well with both sweet and savory flavors and a lot of exotic spices.”

Not only is the food delicious at The Fiction Kitchen, which is known for serving fresh vegan and vegetarian cuisine, but the cocktails are inventive. Tamplin prefers to mix up the drinks based on the local availability of produce, and his cocktail menu changes with the seasons, just like Fiction Kitchen’s plate offerings. Tamplin will be featuring his “Tater In The Rye” cocktail during “Sippin Sweets” and has shared the recipe for you to try at home.

For more cocktail recipes, visit the N.C. Sweet Potato Commission’s website. The mixologists’ cocktail recipes will be posted throughout 2015.

Plan to visit one of your local restaurants or bars participating in “Sippin Sweets” this December. Click on the PDF below to view the list of participants and cocktail names.