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I will admit, I am basically a little kid when it comes to the holidays. I love to decorate. I love all the food. I love the presents and the family traditions. I want to spend Christmas day with my presents and my pjs. I don't want to grow up yet and have to do the present wrapping and work to make Christmas happen. I like the spoiled child role.
As a reformed spoiled child, I have created cocktails and special treats for my family. I do wrap Christmas presents (preferably with bourbon in my hand). I try to help with the food process though I'm the least successful at it. In this list, I have a bunch of cocktails that will put you in the spirit and also are pretty low-key so while they look amazing, they require very little actual work (goals, right?). I like to have a variety of cocktail options for my holiday celebrations depending on how fancy I want them to be and who I am having over. I hope these cocktails will help you when you are thinking about your holiday parties.
Did someone say snowy night?
Martini
Pro Tip: This is a great cocktail for girls night or a romantic night in. It balances a level of fancy to impress while being delicious and easy to take sips of while trying to seem sexy or make eyes at your lover.
Ingredients
2oz Gin
1 oz Blackcurrant liqueur
1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
1/2 Blood orange juice
1 1/2 oz White Cranberry juice
Garnish: Cranberries
Recipe: In a shaker with ice, pour gin, black currant liqueur, dry vermouth, blood orange juice, and white cranberry juice. Shake until cold. Garnish with cranberries.
Christmas Cocktail
Gin cocktail
Pro Tip: This is my mom and I's favorite easy at home cocktail. It takes work to set up but then you can just pull it out and drink it easily while watching Christmas movies and cuddling with your dogs by the fire. It's also a great cocktail to have stocked in your fridge for when you have surprise guests or ones you completely forgot where coming over. It'll be impressive but not something where you have to stress about gathering all the ingredients quickly.
Ingredients
1 cup Gin
1 Orange
1 Lemon
1 cup of Cranberries
Ginger Ale
Garnish: Cranberries
Recipe: In a sauce pan, heat water, sugar, and cranberries until sugar melts and cranberries pop open. In a pitcher, muddle orange and lemon. Add the cranberry mixture and let cool. Muddle the cranberries. Add gin, cover, and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. When ready to serve, pour half gin mix from pitcher and top with ginger ale. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary sprig.
To keep you warm and cozy
Hot Cocoa
Pro Tip: This cocktail is a great step from being a spoiled child but also an adult. It's an adult beverage that looks like a kid cocktail. This can be dangerous at parties because you can't tell the alcohol in the mug. It is great for a little Netflix and chill because it will get you tipsy and flirty and doesn't require more than one.
Ingredients
Hot Chocolate Mix
1 oz Kahlua Peppermint Mocha Liqueur
1 oz Frangelica
1/2 oz Rumchata
Garnish: Marshmallows
Recipe: Make hot chocolate with milk or cream. In a mixing glass, pour kahlua, frangelica, and rumchata. Stir. Pour into hot chocolate and stir. Garnish with marshmallows.
Bourbon will keep you warm at night
Bourbon cocktail
Pro Tip: This a great cocktail for when you are feeling festive but also not quite into the sweet cocktails. I like it for when you are having a long week but you want to be in the spirit. It's definitely a bourbon drinker cocktail but I could see it be switched out for gin or vodka easily.
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Lemon juice
2 oz Cranberry juice cocktail
Top with Ginger beer
Garnish: lemon wedge
Recipe: In a shaker with ice, pour bourbon, lemon juice, and cranberry juice cocktail. Shake until cold. Pour into a chilled highball glass with ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with lemon wedge.
It’s that Gin Time of Year
Gin Martini
Pro Tip: This cocktail is great for a party or an intimate gathering. It's definitely a strong cocktail so make sure you serve it with warning and with an appetizer. I love it as a strong happy hour festive drink and something to enjoy by a fire or after a long day (again it is strong!)
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz dry vermouth
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz Ginger liqueur
About an 1 oz of Sparkling Apple cider
Garnish: lemon peel
Recipe: in a shaker with ice, pour gin, dry vermouth, lemon juice, and ginger liqueur. Shake until cold. Pour into a chilled coupe glass. Top with sparkling Apple cider. Garnish with a lemon peel.
A little Vodka for your Party
Vodka Martini
Pro Tip: This is my holiday party cocktail. It's a pretty cocktail to greet guests but not something that you have to keep drinking. It introduces you to the party and the theme.
Ingredients
2 oz Dutch Chocolate Vodka
1 oz Rose liqueur
1 oz Dry Vermouth
1/2 oz Simple syrup
1/2 oz lime juice
Optional Garnish: Rosemary Sprig
Recipe: In a shaker with ice, pour dutch chocolate vodka, rose liqueur, dry vermouth, and simple syrup.
I hope you enjoy these Holiday themed cocktails. I know I enjoy making them and tasting them. Especially as I watch all the holiday movies and sit by the fireplace with my dog. It's how I move myself out of the spoiled child mode and into a more grown up adult.
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