Holidays are here....what are you drinking?

From Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years the holiday season is full of opportunities to entertain.  It’s that time of year when you are most likely to be hosting a party with friends or family. You can make that gathering a little more festive and special by extending the Holiday spirit to the drinks and refreshments you offer your guests. Not only are we eating some of the best dishes of the year we are introduced to or revisiting amazing cocktails as well.

For many this is the only time of the year they ever really indulge in any form of adult beverage. Even ardent wine fans like to get adventurous during the holidays and clink-clink with a creative cocktail or two. I at one point in my under graduate college days I had a bartenders license so learning how to make new and exciting cocktails has always been a hobby of mine. I am personally a fan of cocktails that are cute and sweet so that leaves a lot of room for me to try all kinds of things.

Holiday themed drinks can range from classics like egg-nog to Christmas inspired martinis, Mulled Wine to fun and tasty drinks like the Grinch or the Holly Berry.  These are wonderful and festive additions to any Christmas or Holiday party. There are, however, many other less traditional options. 

 The holiday season also offers inspiration for decorating glassware and using unique garnishes. Tiny candy canes can make a wonderful and colorful stir stick or garnish. Cranberries add a festive color and can decorate glassware or the drinks themselves. Crushed candy cane makes a unique and festive rimmer for any sweet martini. 

Specialty cocktails which taste like traditional Christmas or holiday treats are a great mood setter. Some Holiday cocktails are complicated and expensive to make, but I have tried to keep it simple. The following cocktails and shots are some that I found interesting. Give a few of them a try and let me know what you think. This is the one time a year you may hear me say "Let's Drink"!

HOT TODDY BASIC                                        

Ingredients:

Generous pinch powdered cinnamon
4 whole cloves
1-1/2 oz whiskey or brandy, rum, gin, or vodka
1 oz sugar syrup or to taste
Boiling water
Cinnamon stick
Grated nutmeg
Lemon slice

Mixing instructions:

Warm a mug or old fashioned glass and add all ingredients, except nutmeg, and fill with boiling water. Stir and top with grated nutmeg. Garnish with cinnamon stick, if you wish.

Any type of whiskey, rum or brandy will make a good toddy. It is a matter of personal preference. Measurements are approximate, depending on how strong, sweet or spicy you want your toddy to be.

ADULT HOT CHOCOLATE

Ingredients:
1-1/2 oz peppermint schnapps
1 cup hot chocolate
1 generous tbsp whipped cream

Mixing instructions:

Pour hot chocolate and schnapps into a warmed mug and stir well. Top with whipped cream.Garnishes 

ENGLISH CHRISTMAS PUNCH

Ingredients:
3 cups strong tea
2 bottles (750-ml each) dry red wine
1 bottle (750-ml) dark rum
1 lb superfine sugar
Juice of 1 large orange
Juice of 1 large lemon


Mixing instructions:
Heat wine, tea and fruit juices in a chafing dish or saucepan, but do not boil. This punch may be served from the chafing dish or transferred to a heatproof punch bowl.

Put sugar into a large ladle and saturate with rum. If ladle is not large enough for all the sugar, put remainder in punch bowl. Ignite rum in ladle and pour blazing into punch. Stir well, extinguish flames, and then pour remainder of rum into punch. Stir again and serve.

Makes about 27 servings.

WHITE CHRISTMAS DREAM

Ingredients:
1 oz amaretto
1 oz heavy cream
1 oz vodka

Mixing instructions:
Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Option: Garnish with nutmeg.

SNICKERDOODLE

Smacking of cinnamon, butterscotch and cream, this snickerdoodle-tini is a delectable, yet modestly-sized, dessert drink.
Ingredients
1 ounce Partida Resposado Tequila
3/4 ounce Baileys
1/2 ounce butterscotch schnapps
3/4 ounce cream
Splash of cinnamon schnapps
Cinnamon stick for garnish

Directions
Combine all ingredients except cinnamon stick in a shaker and shake with ice.
Strain into martini glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

SEVEN LAYER COOKIE

The classic seven layer cookie gets a cocktail makeover that boasts far fewer calories and more festive flair.
Ingredients
Crushed cookie crumbs
3/4 ounce Godiva Liqueur
3/4 ounce coconut rum
1/2 ounce butterscotch schnapps
1/2 ounce Partida Anejo Tequila
1/4 ounce Frangelico
1/2 ounce Baileys
1/2 ounce Amaretto

Directions
Dip the rim of a martini glass in water then in cookie crumbs. Set aside.
Shake remaining ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into prepared martini glass to serve.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT COOKIE

Chocolate and mint are a quintessential holiday pair. Swapping out a handful of chocolate mint cookies for this chocolate mint drink will help you squeeze into that sexy holiday dress.

Ingredients
Finely crushed candy cane
3/4 ounce Partida Blanco Tequila
1 ounce peppermint schnapps
3/4 ounce Godiva Liqueur
1-1/2 ounces cream

Directions
Dip the rim of a martini glass in water and then in crushed candy cane. Set aside.
Shake remaining ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into prepared martini glass. Garnish with a small candy cane, if desired.

TOASTED MACAROON

Turn your love for macaroons into a sweet sipping affair with this coconut rum and tequila drink. If you really love coconut, be sure to garnish cocktail with a sprinkling of finely crushed unsweetened toasted coconut.
Ingredients
1 ounce lite coconut milk
1-1/2 ounces coconut rum
1/4 ounce Licor 43
1/2 ounce Partida Blanco Tequila
1/2 ounce Frangelico

Directions
Combine ingredients in a shaker and shake with ice.
Strain into a glass filled with ice and garnish with toasted coconut shavings on top, if desired.

SUGAR COOKIE

The classic sugar cookie may be one of your kids’ favorite eats but this simple sugar cookie cocktail will fast become one of your go-to holiday treats.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon brown sugar plus more for rimming glass
2-1/2 ounces Partida Resposado Tequila

Directions
Dip the rim of a cordial glass in water then brown sugar.
Add tequila and brown sugar into a shaker with ice and shake ingredients well. Strain into prepared glass.

Simple, themed garnishes can make any ordinary drink look festive. Candy canes can be hung on the rim of a glass or stuck into the cocktail itself (this is particularly nice if the cocktail contains peppermint schnapps).
Candy canes can also be ground up and added to the rim of the glass. This can be achieved by putting sugar syrup on the rim of the glass and putting the ground up candy canes on a plate, then turning the glass upside down on the plate so that the candy cane powder sticks to the sugar syrup.

Small plastic themed toys can be hung on the rim or added to clear cocktails as long as they are large enough to see, don’t risk anyone choking on cocktail decorations! Maraschino cherries and mint leaves look great on a cocktail and achieve the red and green look for Christmas.

Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!