Food is usually everybody’s favorite part of the holiday season. But what about the drinks? Sure, the end of the year may be the time for eggnog and dark liquor galore, but it’s definitely not limited to those goodies. If you’re feeling like you need some festive ways to spruce up your holiday party, here are some of the best Christmas concoctions:
Grenadine can always spice the most bland drink up, and this cocktail is no exception. For a classy and classic holiday drink try:
1 cl. Vodka
1 cl. Grenadine
100 ml. Champagne
Stir vodka and grenadine with Ice. Fill in a Champagne glass without the ice and fill up with Champagne. Pour in Champagne flute and voila.
Going on a ski trip with some of your closest friends? Roasting some chestnuts on the fire? Then a hot chocolate butternut is the perfect drink for the occasion:
2 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps
0.5 oz. Amaretto
5 oz. Hot Cocoa
Add all ingredients into a coffee mug. Stir well. Garnish with a layer
of whipped cream and serve.
If you really want to impress some party-goers this season, the Candy Cane Swirl is your ticket. While the drink itself may be a simple treat, the rim of candy cane gives the Swirl the twist it needs.
1 oz. SKYY Infusions Raspberry
3 oz. Red Cranberry juice
0.5 oz. Grenadine
0.5 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
Lemon Lime soda
Rim martini glass with crushed candy cane. Combine SKYY Vodka,
Peppermint Schnapps, cranberry Juice and grenadine into a cocktail
shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into martini glass. Top
with lemon-lime soda and garnish with small peppermint candy cane.
Tired of serving the ol’ holiday punch? Bring some culture into your holiday party by serving up a Coquito. This traditional Puerto Rican punch can be compared to eggnog and rum, with a much more simple creative process. The following recipe makes about 36 ounces and takes about an hour to cool.
2 15-ounce cans cream of coconut
2 14-ounce cans condensed milk
6 ounces white rum (use less if you like)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon coconut (or vanilla) extract
Mix all ingredients in a blender. Refrigerate for about an hour before serving. Serve cold.
Quite possibly the most festive shot of all, the Christmas tree is creamy, delicious and screams December to those that were off-put by the palm trees in their backyards.
1/3 oz. Creme de Menthe
1/3 oz. Grenadine
1/3 oz. Irish Cream
Use a spoon to layer the liquor in a shot glass; do not mix.
Nadine Toren also gives us excellent ideas on how to make holiday drinks special. Click here to read her article.
