For many adults holiday celebrations and alcoholic beverages go hand-in-hand. Experiment with these holiday cocktail recipes to find a signature drink or two for your next celebration.
Stocking a Holiday Bar
With parties and get-togethers planned for the holiday season you don’t want to leave your bar running on empty. Here are some suggestions to have a well-stocked alcohol cabinet:
The Basic Mixing Ingredients:
- Sparkling water
- Hot cocoa mix
- Regular and decaffeinated coffee
- Seasonal fruit juices: cranberry, pomegranate, apple cider
- Ginger ale
- Plenty of ice
The Basic Liquors:
- Champagne or sparkling wine
- Cream liquors such as Bailey’s, Kahlúa or Godiva
- Rum – your favorite light and dark brands
- An orange liqueur such as Triple Sec
- Red and white wine
- The holiday schnapps: butterscotch, peppermint
- Vodka
Festive Garnishes:
- Flavored rimming salts and sugars such as cinnamon sugar
- Cinnamon sticks
- Citrus fruit cut into wedges
- Miniature candy canes
- Fresh mint or rosemary sprigs
- Ground nutmeg
- Pomegranate seeds
Hot Toddies
‘Tis the season to stay warm! Serve up hot beverages spiked with just the right ingredients to warm your guests on a chilly night. Hot toddies can be offered individually or you can setup the ingredients for a hot toddy buffet.
- Santa’s Hot Cocoa – mix a cup of hot chocolate powder with hot water and add a jigger of peppermint schnapps, a dollop of whipped cream and hang a mini candy cane from the rim.
- Hot Spiced Cider – simmer a gallon of apple cider over the stovetop with four cinnamon sticks, a teaspoon of star anise and a teaspoon of whole cloves. Optionally you can purchase a package blend of spices specifically for spicing apple cider. Measure into serving mugs with ample room on top to add a ½ ounce of apple flavored schnapps, or a splash of bourbon, and a stick of cinnamon.
- Spiced Tea – add to a steaming cup of black tea: one ounce of spiced rum, a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, a tablespoon of honey and garnish with a cinnamon stick or lemon wedge.
Holiday Cocktail Drinks
Surprise guests with a jolly cocktail drink sure to put them in the mood to celebrate. These are best mixed in small batches.
- Cranberry or Pomegranate Cosmo – in a cocktail shaker mix two parts of vodka or cranberry vodka, one part orange liqueur, one part cranberry or pomegranata juice and a splash of lemon juice. Serve with a couple of cranberries or pomegranate seeds in the bottom of the glass.
- White Christmas – first variation: equal parts vodka, amaretto and heavy whipping cream mixed in a cocktail shaker and garnished with nutmeg. Second variation: one part each of vodka, white chocolate liqueur (such as Godiva’s), and peppermint schnapps, two parts heavy whipping cream, mix as above and garnish with sprig of mint or chocolate shavings.
- The Candy Cane Martini – mix equal parts vodka, peppermint schnapps and club soda in cocktail shaker until cold. Garnish with the miniature candy canes hung on the rim of the glass or crush the candy canes in a zip-seal bag with a rolling pin and roll the moistened rim of the glass in the candy pieces.
Suggested Reading:
Holiday Cocktails by Jessica Strand, Chronicle Books 2003, ISBN 081184157x
The Craft of the Cocktail by Dale Degroff, Clarkson Potter 2002, ISBN 0609608754
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