Cheering the Holidays
Mix it up with these festive cocktails
By Stella Fong, Photography by Daniel Sullivan
Festive cocktails prettied with garnishes and dustings make for spirited holiday celebrations. Simple becomes special when chocolate sauce and sprinkles of ground cinnamon are added to stout, and bourbon to sparkling wine. When cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger are stirred into hot chocolate, the warming comfort drink takes on essences of gingerbread cookies.
A margarita made with pink cranberry brings flavors of the season to a drink sipped when temperatures are warmer. This is also true with sangria, but with the shots of cranberry juice and infusions of cinnamon, shouts of olés ring in the cheer to keep the nights from becoming too silent. To jingle the holiday bells, juniper berries and rosemary mimicking the season’s decorations with evergreens, bring fa la las to a gin fizz. For this holiday season, bring cheer to family and friends with a festive cocktail.
Sparkling Bourbon Cocktail
Makes 1 cocktail
For the vanilla bean syrup
½ c. sugar
½ c. water
½ vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
To craft the drink
1 ½ ounces bourbon
2 T. vanilla bean syrup
Prosecco or sparkling wine, chilled
In a small saucepan, add sugar, water, vanilla bean and seeds. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until sugar is dissolved. Let cool to room temperature, then discard the vanilla bean. Add bourbon and vanilla bean syrup to a champagne flute. Top with sparkling wine and serve.
Blackberry Rosemary Jingle Juniper Gin Fizz
Makes 1 cocktail
¼ c. blackberries
2 slices lemon, quartered
1 sprig rosemary
2 t. honey
1 T. juniper berries
Ice
1 ½ ounces gin
Club soda, chilled
Add blackberries, lemon and rosemary to a tumbler. Add juniper berry and honey. Muddle berry mixture until fruit is crushed. Fill glass with ice. Add gin and top with club soda. Stir well and serve.
Gingerbread Rum Hot Chocolate
Makes 1 Cocktail
1 ½ c. milk
1 T. cocoa powder
1 T. dark brown sugar
½ t. ground cinnamon
1/8 t. ground nutmeg
1/8 t. allspice
1/8 t. ground ginger
1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 ½ ounces dark rum
Whipped cream, for garnish
Mini marshmallows, for garnish
In a medium saucepan, combine milk, cocoa powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until cocoa, and brown sugar are dissolved and the milk just comes to a simmer, about five minutes. Whisk in chocolate chips until smooth and stir in rum. Top with whipped cream and marshmallows.
Cinnamon Coffee Chocolate Stout
Makes 1 cocktail
1 T. chocolate sauce
Pinch of cinnamon
Ice
2 ounces brandy
2 T. half and half
Stout
Cocoa powder, for dusting
Add chocolate sauce and cinnamon to the bottom of a pint glass. Fill pint glass with ice. Add brandy and half and half. Top with stout and stir. Dust with cocoa powder.
Mistletoe Margarita
Makes 1 cocktail
For simple syrup
½ c. water
½ c. sugar
To craft the drink
Salt for the rim
2 ounces Tequila
1 ½ ounces triple sec
2 ½ ounces pink cranberry juice
2 ½ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup
Cranberries for garnish
Sprig of rosemary
In a small saucepan, add sugar and water. Bring to a boil over medium and cook until sugar is dissolved. Let cool to room temperature. Rim each glass with a lime wedge and dip in salt. In a cocktail shaker, add the Grand Marnier, Tequila, cranberry juice and syrup and shake for 30 to 60 seconds. Pour into glass. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary.
Santa’s Sangria
Serves 8
For cranberry syrup
½ c. water
½ c. sugar
2 c. frozen or fresh cranberries
1 cinnamon stick
To craft the drink
1 bottle red wine
1 c. cranberry juice
1 c. orange juice
½ c. rum
¼ c. Grand Marnier
1 orange, sliced, plus extra for garnish
1 c. frozen or fresh cranberries
1 c. seltzer water
Ice
In a medium saucepan, add water, sugar, cranberries and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil until cranberries burst and sugar dissolves, about four minutes. Strain syrup through a fine mesh and cool to room temperature. In a large pitcher, add wine, juices, vodka and Grand Marnier. Add orange slices and cranberries. Chill for several hours. Add seltzer water and ice.
