It’s that time of year, where we all gather together with friends and family to celebrate the holidays. One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the cocktails. Winter weather lends itself already to some pretty delicious drinks. Add in the holidays, and you get some wonderful cocktails that so good people will be talking about them all year.
Not sure what to make? Here are eight great holiday cocktails that are bound to spice up any holiday get together you have this holiday season (or put you in a holiday mood while you’re relaxing on your couch at home alone).
Warm Apple Pie
Ingredients
2 oz. Winter Jack Tennessee Cider
3 oz. Hot Chai Tea
.5 oz. Maple syrup
1 Lemon slice
Whipped cream
Directions: Squeeze lemon in bottom of mug. Add tea and Winter Jack. Stir in maple syrup and top with whipped cream.
The Winter Getaway
Ingredients
1.25 oz. DeLeón Reposado
.5 oz. Blended sherry
.5 oz. Lime juice
Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a shaker, pour over ice.
Fruity Pebbles Milk Punch
Ingredients
1/2 cup Fruity Pebbles cereal
1 cup whole milk
2 ounces bourbon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ice cubes
Garnish (optional):
1 tablespoon thawed whipped topping
dash of nutmeg
1 teaspoon Fruity Pebbles cereal
Directions: Combine Fruity Pebbles and milk in a cereal bowl. Allow to sit for 30 minutes. Strain out milk and discard cereal. In a cocktail shaker, combine the Fruity Pebbles cereal milk, bourbon and vanilla extract with 3 ice cubes, and shake until frothy, about 30 seconds. Strain into a double-old fashioned glass filled with ice.
Optional: Garnish with a dollop of thawed whipped topping, a dusting of nutmeg and sprinkle of cereal.
Poinsettia Palmetto
With only three ingredients, keep it simple this season and imbibe on a cocktail full of holiday spirit.
Ingredients
1 1/4 oz. Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
1 1/4 oz. La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge
2 dashes orange bitters
Directions: Stir all ingredients with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
The Rusty Sleigh
A seasonal riff on a classic, this Scotch cocktail is sweet but warming, perfect for sipping by the fire.
Ingredients
1/2 oz. Usquaebach Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky
1/2 tsp. orange liqueur
1 tsp. grenadine
1 lemon twist
Nutmeg to garnish
Directions: Stir the Usquaebach, orange liqueur, and grenadine together with ice. Pour into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon twist and a dusting of nutmeg.
Shimmery Christmas Cosmopolitan
Created by Natalie Migliarini of the Beautiful Booze blog
Ingredients
2 oz. of Viniq Ruby
1 oz. of lime juice
1 oz. of cranberry juice
1 cup of ice
Directions: Chill all ingredients for 2 hours in the fridge. Add Viniq Ruby, lime juice, cranberry juice and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake mixture then pour into serving glass.
Winter Jack Mimosa
Ingredients
1 oz. Jack Daniel’s Winter Jack Tennessee Cider
1 oz. Apple Cider
1 oz. Korbel Champagne
Directions: Fill Champagne or wine glass with 1 part of each ingredient.
Minty Orchard
Ingredients
4 oz. Angry Orchard Crisp Apple
1 oz. Vodka
0.5 oz. Creme de Menthe
0.25 oz. Lemon juice
Directions: Shake and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Top with Angry Orchard Crisp Apple. Garnish with a small candy cane and mint sprig.