The holiday spirit abounds from the time Thanksgiving weekend begins to the time New Year counts down. Cocktail parties for the office, friends and neighbors provide occasions for gatherings with differing needs. One might need punches and coffees for neighbors stopping in for a moment or two with greetings. Family and friend type holiday parties require classic cocktails and specifically chosen martinis to suit particular palates since the gathering means hours of nibbling finger food and chatting over good times. Office parties might suggest simpler martinis and cocktail recipes with fewer ingredients that still keep within the classic style yet appeal to a broader audience.
Put a little Holiday Cheer into your season with a few of the seasonal drink recipes below. Stay tuned to The Intoxicologist site for more festive cocktail recipes for all your party needs.
Christmas Fizz
2 ounces Right Gin
2 teaspoon Cranberry Jam
1 ounce Sweet Vermouth
1 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 ounce Simple Syrup
1 Egg White
1 dash Peychaud’s Bitters
2 ounces Sparkling Water
Lemon Wedge and Cranberry Garnish
Place all liquid ingredients except sparkling water in mixing glass with ice. Shake vigorously until frothy. Add sparkling water to highball glass over fresh ice. Top with strained cocktail shaker mixture. Garnish with lemon wedge and cranberry.
Jack Frost
2 ounces Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
2 Tablespoons Cherry Juice or Grenadine
1/4 cup Orange Juice
1/4 cup Sour Mix
Maraschino Cherries Garnish
Combine all liquid ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with maraschino cherries.
p.i.n.k. Christmas Cocktail
1-1/2 ounce p.i.n.k. Vodka
1-1/2 ounce Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
1 ounce Half & Half Cream
Splash of Frangelico
Splash of Chambord
Red Raspberries Garnish
Combine liquids in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until frothy. Pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with skewered red raspberries.
Holiday Sangria – created by Chef Ryan Scott
1 bottle Dry Red Wine
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Orange Juice
1 Orange, thinly sliced
1 Lemon, thinly sliced
2 whole Pink Grapefruit, peeled, seeded and segmented
1 Papaya, diced
1 Mango, diced
3/4 cup Red Grapes, halved
2 bottles Zipang Sparkling Sake
4 cups Ice cubes
Place wine and brown sugar in large pitcher. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Add in orange juice and fruits. Let mixture stand for 30 minutes. Divide between 8 serving glasses. Pour over fresh ice. Top with sake.
Corzo Holly
1-1/2 parts Corzo Reposado Tequila
3/4 part Fresh Lime Juice
1 part Simple Syrup
3 Fresh Strawberries – Quartered
3 Fresh Basil Leaves
1/8 part Balsamic Vinegar
Fresh Strawberry Garnish
Muddle strawberries, basil leaves and vinegar in mixing glass. Add remaining liquid ingredients with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with fresh sliced strawberry.
Cazadorez Mistletoe Margarita
1-1/2 parts Tequila Cazadores Reposado
2 parts Pomegranate Juice
1/2 part Sour Mix
1/2 part Triple Sec
1/2 part Grenadine
Splash Fresh Lime Juice
Lime Wedge Garnish
Salt for Rim
Rim edge of rocks glass with salt if desired. Set aside. Combine all liquid ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with lime wedge.
Silent Dos Lunas Night
1 ounce Dos Lunas Silver Tequila
1 ounce Pomegranate Juice
Chilled Champagne
Place tequila and pomegranate juice in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Top with champagne. Stir gently.
42Below Holiday Punch
1-1/2 parts 42Below Passionfruit
1 part Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 part Martini Rosso
1/2 part Benedictine
1 part Red Wine
1 part Spiced Syrup* (cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, orange peel, clove and star anise)
2 part Pink Grapefruit Juice
Garnish with fruits of choice.
*Spiced Syrup – 2 parts Sugar, 1 part water: Dissolve over low heat with cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, orange peel, clove and star anise spices added in. Allow to cool.
Place all ingredients in large pitcher. Stir. Add large block of ice. Serve immediately.
G’ingle Bell
1 ounce G’vine Nouaison
1/4 ounce Lillet Blanc
1/2 ounce Apple Liqueur
1/2 ounce Simple syrup
1/4 ounce Lime Juice
Place ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into cocktail glass.
Sleigh Ride
4 ounces Hot Apple Cider
1 ounce Averna
2 ounces Whiskey
1/2 teaspoon Honey
Cinnamon Stick
Place Averna and whiskey in heat proof mug. Add hot cider and honey. Stir with cinnamon stick. Allow cinnamon stick to infuse into drink for a few minutes before serving.
Christmas Snowball
1/4 ounce Anisette or Pernod Absinthe
1/4 ounce Crème de Violette
1/4 ounce Heavy Cream
1/4 ounce White Crème de Menthe
1 ounce Plymouth Gin
Place all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake thoroughly to blend and chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute.
Tinsel Bellini
2 ounces HPNOTIQ
1 ounce Limoncello
1 ounce Champagne
Splash of lime juice
Sugar for Rim
Rim chilled champagne flute with sugar. Set aside. Place Hpnotiq, limoncello and lime juice in mixing glass with ice. Stir or shake to chill. Strain into sugar rimmed champagne flute. Top with champagne.
White Christmas
1 ounce Right Gin
1 ounce Baileys Irish Cream
1/2 ounce Bénédictine
1/2 ounce Half & Half
Fresh Grated Nutmeg and Cinnamon Garnish
Place all liquid ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into cocktail glass or dessert wine glass. Dust with nutmeg and cinnamon.
Candy Cane Swirl
1 ounce SKYY Infusions Raspberry
3 ounces Cranberry Juice
1/2 ounce Grenadine
1/2 ounce Peppermint Schnapps
Sprite or 7Up
Candy Canes
Rim chilled martini glass with crushed candy cane. Combine SKYY Vodka, Peppermint Schnapps, Cranberry Juice and Grenadine into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously to chill. Strain into candy cane rimmed martini glass. Top with splash of Sprite. Garnish with small peppermint candy cane.
Berry Merry Christmas
1-1/4 ounce Right Gin
3/4 ounce Pomegranate Liqueur
2 ounce Pomegranate Blueberry Juice
1/4 ounce Blueberry Syrup
3 dashes Blood Orange Bitters
2 wedges Lime (squeezed)
1 ounce Sparkling Wine
Fresh Strawberries and Blueberries Garnish
Place all liquids except sparkling wine into cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into highball glass over fresh ice. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with sliced strawberries and blueberries.
Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.
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