Salted caramel appears to be taking on the pumpkin spice mantle of used-in-everything flavors. Now, you can drink salted caramel whisky from Crown Royal. Ode to Food and Drinks posted on Facebook that there are only a few bottles in Sioux Falls and said it has most of them. The restaurant is touting a caramel apple cocktail.

You have to see it to believe it. Hydra Beer Co. has built a “beer tree” out of kegs, and it’s beautiful in a metal-loving sort of way. The tree is on display at the brewery.

Making its competitive debut, Prairie Berry Winery’s dry red blend Jingle captured a silver medal at the Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition in Kansas City. Also winning silvers were Lawrence Elk, Raspberry Honeywine and Red Ass Rhubarb. Cranberry and Anna Pesa Meritage 2014 captured bronze medals.

Love Cinnabons? Schlotzsky’s is having a guest appreciation day Saturday, Dec. 9, that could pay off. The first 100 customers who buy a six-pack of Cinnabon classic rolls will get one free small original sandwich every week for a year. The restaurant opens at 7 a.m.

Join Queen City Bakery and the South Dakota Symphony String Quartet for a morning of holiday music. The free, hour-long performance begins at 10:05 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. The annual event is quite popular, so if you don’t want to stand, get there early for baked goods and coffee.

“A Very Merry Cabaret” is back this year, and there’s a special performance that include brunch. The holiday event starts at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Icon Lounge and Event Hall, with a meal prepared by the chef at Parker’s Bistro. Tickets are $25, and guests must be 18 or older. The cabaret is performed by The Good Night Theatre Collective, and there also are shows Thursday and Sunday nights with $10 tickets.

Put that ugly Christmas sweater you had to buy for the office party to good use. Several bars are having special events for ugly-sweater-wearing drinkers.

• Get Ugly at PAve is Wednesday, Dec. 13, with half-price drinks all day, a free photo booth, a live DJ at 10 p.m. and a contest for a $100 party tab.
• The Mistletoe Mudslide Throwback Christmas Party is Saturday, Dec. 16, at McNally’s Irish Pub. After 6 p.m., get a carafe of Mudslide, Grasshopper or Pink Squirrel cocktails for $8. Bring a donation for the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House and get a free beer on your next visit. Goodroad plays starting at 8 p.m.
• Remedy Ugly Summer Christmas is from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Remedy Brewing Co. Get specials on drinks, listen to live music from Jon Hansen, Dave Rislov and Shane Skinner. The winner of the ugliest sweater contest will receive a trophy and gift card.
• The ninth annual Ugly Sweater Party is Saturday, Dec. 16, at Gateway Lounge. There will be prizes and karaoke from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Bread bowl season is back at Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe. The restaurant toasts the bowls and fills them up with creamy Tuscan tomato or the soup of the day.

Are you a fan of cookie dough? CherryBerry’s two Sioux Falls locations have added scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough to the menu. It’s egg-free and made with heat-treated flour to prevent food-borne illnesses.