Drink Matron

Tag: christmas cocktails

  • On the eleventh day of Christmas, Drink Matron gave to me: Other Christmas Cocktails!

    We’ve featured lots of drinks over the last week, most of them warm and traditional. What about the other drinks? The cold martinis, bubbly champagne, and traditions that range from family to family? We’ve asked around and come up with a handful of good ones for you to try at your Christmas Eve party.

    Photo: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Lindsey Ellis BeattyPeppermint Martini

    Ingredients:

    1 1/4 ounces vanilla vodka
    1 1/4 ounces white crème de cacao
    3/4 ounce peppermint schnapps
    Garnish: peppermint candy

    Combine vanilla vodka, white creme de cacao, and peppermint schnapps in an ice-filled shaker. Shake vigorously, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with peppermint candy.

    cranberry champagneCranberry Champagne Cocktail

    Ingredients:

    2 well-chilled bottles champagne
    1 cup well-chilled cranberry juice cocktail, or to taste
    3 Tbsp triple sec

    In a large pitcher combine champagne, cranberry juice cocktail and triple sec. Serve in champagne flutes. Garnish with cranberry, if desired.

    grinch1Grinch Cocktail

    Ingredients:

    1 part vodka, rum, or champagne
    2 parts sprite
    2 parts pineapple juice
    lime sherbet
    whipped cream
    green sprinkles

    Combine booze, sprite, and pineapple juice in a pitcher. Float Lime Sherbet on top. Serve in a large glass. Top with whipped cream and sprinkles. (For kids, leave out the booze. You already know how I feel about giving kids alcohol.)

    cocoa with boozeyHot Peppermint Cocoa

    Ingredients:

    1 pouch of hot cocoa
    1 oz Irish cream
    1 oz 100 proof peppermint schnapps

    In a mug, combine packet of cocoa and hot water. Add Irish cream and peppermint schnapps. If desired, top with whipped cream or marshmallows. Serve.

    apple ciderBoozey Cider

    Ingredients:

    Warmed hot cider
    1.5 oz rum
    .5 oz bourbon
    cinnamon
    nutmeg
    whipped cream

    In a mug, combine hot cider, rum, and bourbon. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg.

     

  • Warm winter cocktails

    It’s December, which not only means Christmas time, but also even colder temperatures, heavier jackets, first snows and first snow storms.

    While the first snow may leave you slipping and sliding all over the road until you’re used to winter driving again, the snow storm allows you to shut yourself in, away from the chances of ending up in the ditch sideways waiting for a tow truck. On these days, it’s nice to curl around the fire, TV, or up with a big book and enjoy a nice hot winter cocktail.

    Some hot winter cocktails are easy to make, and some take a little time, but all will warm your bones on a blistery winter day.

    Spiked Coffee or Hot Chocolate

    Hot chocolate and coffee alone are great for warming up, but get even better with a little Irish cream. Use as much or as little as you want, but once you’ve had any, don’t go out to use the snowblower.

    Irish Coffee

    Ingredients:

    • 1 1/2 oz. Irish whiskey
    • 1 tsp Brown sugar
    • 6-8 oz. Coffee
    • Heavy Cream

    Combine whiskey, sugar and coffee in a mug and stir until dissolved. Float cold cream gently on top. Do not mix.

    Hot Buttered Rum

    Ingredients:

    • 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
    • 4 tsp Butter or margarine, softened
    • Dash Ground Cinnamon
    • Dash Ground Nutmeg
    • 1 1/2 cup Warm Water
    • 1/2 cup Rum
    • Lemon Slices (optional)

    In a two-cup measure, stir together the brown sugar, butter or margarine, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir in the warm water. Serve immediately in mugs.

    Tom & Jerry

    Ingredients for batter:

    • 12 eggs, separated
    • 1 pound sugar (if you’d like it sweeter, add more)
    • 2 ounces aged rum
    • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
    • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
    • 1/2 tsp ground allspice

    Ingredients for Serving:

    • Brandy
    • Aged rum
    • Hot milk
    • Boiling water

    Beat the egg yolks well, then gradually whisk in the sugar. Add the rum and spices. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the yolk mixture until well mixed. Keep batter refrigerated until serving.

    For each drink, put 2 ounces of batter into a mug. Add 1 oz each of brandy and aged rum, and fill with equal parts hot milk and boiling water. Top with grated nutmeg. If using a small coffee cup or classic Tom & Jerry mug, you can cut the serving size in half. Serve with a spoon.

    Just a note: While this recipe is for making your own Tom & Jerry mix, in case you have no time or no urge to make it, frozen batter can be found in bakeries or the dairy coolers at grocery stores, in liquor stores or on the internet.

    Hot Toddy

    Ingredients

    • 1 oz brandy, whiskey or rum
    • 1 Tbsp honey
    • 1/4 lemon
    • 1 cup hot water
    • 1 tea bag

    Coat the bottom of a mug with honey.  Add your chosen liquor and the lemon juice. Separately, heat water in a tea kettle and add the tea bag to make hot tea. Pour the tea into the mug and stir.

    Bourbon Furnace

    Ingredients:

    • 6 oz. hot apple cider
    • 1 1/2 oz. bourbon
    • 3 whole cloves
    • 1 stick of cinnamon

    Combine cider and bourbon in a mug. Garnish with cloves and cinnamon.

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