Now that we are getting close to Christmas, and the family will soon be arriving- who needs a cocktail? Ha ha! Just kidding.
Here are our Top 3 Cocktails to enjoy this holiday season with your family and friends!
The Poinsettia
This is my family’s Christmas Morning drink of choice. Instead of traditional orange juice mimosas, we do a peppermint twist on cranberry and champagne!
Here’s what you need: Makes 1 pitcher
1 bottle of cold Champagne
1/2 of a 64oz bottle of cold Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail (so about 32oz, save the other half if you want to make another pitcher)
2 shots of Triple Sec Liquor
Candy Canes (You should buy the quanity of candy canes equal to the number of guests that you will have – most people use the same candy cane for refills. )
In order to keep the ingredients cold, I make one pitcher at a time. You don’t want to add ice!
Mix the champagne, cranberry juice, triple sec in a pitcher and stir. Pour into wine glasses and garnish each glass with a candy cane. (The candy cane will melt and give off just a little hint of peppermint). Enjoy!
Santa’s Special Sauce
This is a new cocktail for me this holiday season, and I am obsessed! Two weeks ago, I attended a fabulous holiday party, and this was Santa’s signature cocktail. It’s strong and sooo yummy!
For 1 drink: Mix 3/4 oz of fresh lemon juice, 3/4 oz of maple syrup, and 2 oz of Bourbon in a cocktail shaker with ice. Do the Santa Shake and pour into a scotch glass with ice. “Drink and repeat!”
*Picture & recipe from my friend, Rebecca. See her blog post here.
Glögg
Glögg is a Swedish wine cocktail, and this recipe is a special family tradition for one of our very own writers.
“Muscatel is always hard to find — it’s a kind of cheap, sweet fortified wine. You can substitute with something along those lines. As with many of these kinds of things, the concoction can vary, and this is my dad’s recipe.”
Ingredients: Makes 20 servings
2 qts. dry red wine
2 qts. Muscatel
1 pt. Sweet Vermouth
2 tbs. Angustar bitters
2 cups of raisins
12 whole cardamons (crushed)
1 orange
10 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 1/2 cups of Vodka
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 cups of blanched almonds
Mix everything but Vodka, almonds, and sugar in a 8 qt. pot. Let is stand for 12 hours. Right before serving, add Vodka and sugar and heat. Serve, stir in almonds, and enjoy!
*Thank you to our writer, Inger, for sharing her family’s recipe.
