Almost better than what’s in Santa’s bag are these luscious libations for you to savor and serve at your holiday gatherings. Here are 6 great holiday party drinks to make your spirits bright!
Cranberry Rum Percolator Punch
2 32-ounce bottles cranberry juice
4 8-ounce cans pink lemonade concentrate thawed
6 cups apple cider or apple juice
6 2-inch cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice
3 cups light rum
In a percolator, combine cranberry juice, lemonade concentrate, and cider. Place the spices in the coffee basket. Plug in the percolator as you would for coffee. Once the beverage percolates, remove the basket with the spices and stir in the rum. Serve hot.
Banana Snowman
1/4 ounce Bailey’s Irish cream
1/4 ounce banana liqueur
1 ounce white rum
1 ounce milk
1/2 cup ice
Add everything into a shaker, including the ice. Shake like there’s an avalanche until it’s a bit frothy, then strain into the cocktail glass of your choice. Leave it free of garnish, like fresh-fallen snow.
Cinnamon & Cranberry Bourbon Spritzers
6 ounces bourbon
3 ounces Canada Dry Ginger Ale
3 ounces Canada Dry Ginger Ale with Cranberry
splash of cranberry juice
splash of orange juice
1 tablespoon cinnamon simple syrup recipe below, more or less to taste
rosemary, for garnish
for cinnamon simple syrup:
2 cups water
6 cinnamon sticks
2 cups granulated sugar
Give yourself plenty of room on this one: use a large shaker. Fill it about half full of ice and pour in all the ingredients. Shake it firmly, then strain into glasses (with or without ice). Garnish with a sprig of rosemary, cinnamon or fresh cranberries.
for the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, let the water and cinnamon sticks boil on high heat for 10–15 minutes, then add the sugar. Simmer until the sugar dissolves. Pour into a storage container, seal and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Elderberry Sunset Cocktail
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce elderberry syrup
1 teaspoon Bénédictine liqueur
2 ounces Fever-Tree bitter lemon mixer
Start with a shaker half filled with ice. Pour in the vodka, elderberry syrup, and Bénédictine. Give it a full half-minute of strong shaking. Strain into a glass. We like it just chilled so we don’t add ice to the glasses, but you can. Top with the bitter lemon. Garnish with a slice of lemon, or if it’s in season, a sprig of elderberry.
Jack Frost
"It looks crisp and frosty. And it is. But at the same time, it’s light and tropical. Like Christmas at the beach."
8 cups ice (more or less, depending on desired consistency)
1 cup pineapple juice
½ cup blue curacao
½ cup vodka or light rum
½ cup cream of coconut
light corn syrup, for rimming glasses
flaked coconut, for rimming glasses
First, prepare your glasses by dipping their rims in a thin layer of corn syrup poured onto a plate. Immediately dip in coconut flakes. In a blender, add in the ice, pineapple juice, blue curacao, vodka and cream of coconut. Blend until you reach your desired thickness. Pour into the glasses and serve.
Grinch Martini
"This melon-flavored delight is worth the ride down Mount Crumpit. But be careful with the syrup. It can easily overpower with its sweetness."
1 ounce Midori
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce lemon juice or lemonade
1/4–1/2 ounce simple syrup, to taste
1 candy cane for garnish
Pour all the liquids into your favorite, ice-filled shaker and shake it like a frustrated Grinch. Strain into a martini glass and slide in a candy cane for holiday garnish. Rim with red, granulated sugar for a special touch. Not the holidays? Use cherries.