"Tis the season to be jolly tra la la la..."
What better time is there to have a cocktail? Christmas cocktails are a wonderful thing to enjoy.
You can try Christmas themed cocktails or mix Christmas classics such as Egg Nog. You can even put your own twist on the classic Egg Nog by adding berries for example.
If you want to be the Christmas host with the most then try customizing the cocktails. If your mum loves Turkish Delight then mix her a Turkish Delight Martini, if dad loves his Zabaglione then try a Zabaglione Martini.
I've compiled a great selection of festive cocktails which should see you enjoy the holiday season in festive cheer.
Egg Nog
A Classic Christmas Cocktail
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| Egg Nog |
You can buy Egg Nog in a carton, but why not make your own this Christmas?
Egg Nog
750ml Brandy
1 1/2 quarts milk
1 pint whipped heavy cream
1 cup bar sugar
dozen eggs
freshly grated nutmeg
Seperate the eggs and beat the yolks with the sugar in a large punch bowl. Put the egg whites to one side. Stir the milk and whipped cream into the punch bowl. Add the brandy and refrigerate for at least an hour. Before serving, whip the egg whites stiff and fold into the egg nog. Sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg.
This recipe will fill your punch bowl and should serve about 25 people so is ideal for a party.
Christmas Pudding Inspired Cocktails
...and Cocktails Inspired By Other Christmas Desserts
Who doesn't love Chrissy pud? it's a wonderful tradition in our house. Another tradition is to have trifle on Boxing Day.
In New Zealand and Australia Christmas means pavlova whereas a friend of mine always has ginger snaps.
Let's look at cocktails that evoke our Christmas memories.
Christmas Pudding
1 oz Drambuie
5 oz Guiness
1 oz Southern Comfort
Mix all of the ingredients together and serve in a red wine glass.
Trifle Martini
2 1/2 shots blackcurrant vodka
2 shots Drambuie
1/2 shot chambord
Shake all of the ingredients together with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a cocktail glass to serve.
Pavlova Cocktail
90ml passionfruit vodka
30ml creme de framboise
30ml alize gold
30ml egg white, whipped
Combine alcohol with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass and top with the whipped egg white. Serve with a meringue kiss as a garnish.
Ginger Snap
2oz advocaat
3oz ginger ale
Mix these two ingredients together in a mixing glass with ice cubes. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice to serve.
Christmas Nativity Inspired Cocktails
The Nativity always has angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus and a donkey. There are also the Magi, the Three Wise Men.
The Three Wise Men is also the name of a shooter based around the "wise men" known to their friends as Jack, Jim and Johnnie.
Three Wise Men
1 part Jack Daniels
1 part Jim Beam
1 part Johnnie Walker
Mix the ingredients together and serve in a shot glass.
Christmas Decor Inspired Cocktails!
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Christmas Trees to decorate and leave gifts under. Then there are Christmas Stockings, although when I was younger we just used pillowcases!
Christmas Tree Shot
1 part vodka
1 part green creme de menthe
1 part cherry brandy
Pour the spirits carefully into a shot glass in the order above.
How did the gifts get under the tree or in our stockings to begin with? Why Santa brought them of course. Now we all know that Santa doesn't drink and drive, he prefers us to leave him milk to drink.
When he has finished work however Mrs Claus mixes him up a cocktail that she calls Santa's Sack because he only drinks it once he's emptied his sack.
Santa's Sack
1 oz Baileys
1/2 oz cognac
1/4 oz white creme de cacao
dollops of whipped cream
splash of Goldschlagger
Put the Baileys, cognac and creme de cacao into a cocktial shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass and add a few dollops of whipped cream. Splash some Goldschlagger on the top and enjoy.
Christmas Martini
A Very Festive Holiday Martini
If a drink is called a Christmas Martini then as you can imagine it's a great drink for Martini lovers over the festive season. Combining the flavor of a gin martini with peppermint I find the flavor very unusual.
Christmas Martini
3 shots gin
1/2 shot dry vermouth
1/4 shot peppermint schnapps
mini candy cane
Shake all of the liquid ingredients in a cocktial shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a mini candy cane for that festive feel.
Christmas Candy Cane Cocktails
Candy Canes have become a traditional part of Christmas in the US and other countries around the world. The tradition is believed to have actually started in Germany.
It is said that a choirmaster in Cologne, Germany took straight, white candy sticks and bent them to represent a shepherd's crook. He then handed them out to the children in his "flock."
In 1870s Indiana it is thought that a minister changed the shape slightly to more of a J to represent Jesus. The same person (who is un-named) is credited to adding the red stripes. Legend has it that the white represents purity and the red represents Jesus' blood.
Candy Cane Martini
1 1/2 oz vanilla vodka
1/2 oz peppermint schnapps
1 oz club soda
crushed candy canes
Rim a cocktail glass with crushed candy canes. Pour all of the liquids into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into the prepared cocktail glass to serve.
White Christmas Inspired Cocktails
Since living "down under" I have to say that Christmas just doesn't feel the same. The idea of a white Christmas is perpetuated in the movies and in the songs. Bing Crosby's iconic "White Christmas," and the video of Wham!'s "Last Christmas."
So to celebrate I have to turn to the cocktails!!
White Christmas
1 part creme de bananes
1 part white creme de cacao
1 part whiskey
1 part double cream
Put all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into a cocktail glass and sprinkle grated chocolate on top.
Snowballs
1 part vodka
1 part advocaat
1 part cream
lemonade
Place vodka, advocaat & cream into a cocktail shaker, shake well and pour into a highball glass. Top up with lemonade slowly (the cream and lemonade cause the drink to froth)and gently stir.
Hot Chocolate Cocktails
Keep Warm At Christmas Time!
There's nothing better than curling up with a mug of hot chocolate in the middle of winter, or is there? These hot chocolate cocktails will make a fantastic addition to your Christmas Cocktail party.
Hot Chocolate Cocktails
There's nothing better in winter than to sit around a fire with a lovely mug of hot chocolate.....unless you count hot chocolate with extras! Yes, adult...
So "have yourself a very Merry Christmas....." and try a few of these delicious cocktails this holiday season.
