It's
that time of year that almost everyone will be hosting a party with family and
friends or enjoying an evening with neighbors who drop in. Make that gathering
a little more festive and special by simply adding a little holiday cheer to
beverages. With a few bar staples at home holiday themed drinks that range from
classics like Kir Royals to festive martinis can be mixed up in a minute. Fun,
tasty drinks like The Grinch or Angel's Kiss are a little unique, flavorful and
easy to make.
The holiday season also offers you a time to be inspired
to create drinks made in decorative glassware and gives you an opportunity to
use unique festive garnishes. Tiny candy canes can make a wonderful and
colorful stir stick. Cranberries or a sprig of mint can also add an instant
holiday look to any cocktail.
Here are some of our favorites … |
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| The Grinch |
| Ingredients |
 |
2 oz. Midori |
|
1/2 oz. Lemon juice (fresh) |
|
1 tsp. Sugar syrup |
Directions |
| 1. |
Mix all ingredients in an ice shaker. |
| 2. |
Strain into a chilled martini glass. |
| 3. |
Garnish this green drink with a red cherry. |
|
| Angel's Kiss |
| Ingredients |
|
1/2 oz. brandy |
|
1/2 oz. crème de cacao |
|
1 tbsp. cream |
Directions |
| 1. |
Pour ingredients carefully into a pretty curved glass in this
order:
a) Crème de cacao
b) Brandy
c) 1 tbsp. Cream |
| 2. |
Top with a dollop of freshly whipped cream. |
|
|
 |
Nothing sparkles quite like a chilled glass of champagne
making them the perfect choice for the holiday season.
Tips for enjoying
fine champagne: |
|
Don't reserve Champagne cocktails for special occasions. With a
value-priced sparkling wine, you can afford to make them often. |
|
For the base, choose a sparkling wine that you would drink by
itself. |
|
Chill the Champagne or sparkling wine and any other major
ingredients, such as fruit juice. These drinks are rarely served on the rocks,
but they should be ice-cold. |
|
Do use a flute, the tulip-shaped glass designed for sparkling
wine. It shows the bubbles best. A flute is a must for Champagne cocktails that
call for a sugar cube in the bottom of the glass. |
|
Exercise restraint, especially with sweet ingredients. The best
cocktails have just enough sweetness to balance the acidity of the wine. |
|
Handle sparkling wine gently or you will diminish its
effervescence. If the drink is built in the glass, add the other ingredients
first, then top gently and slowly with sparkling wine. Allow space for the wine
to bubble up; when the bubbles die down, resume pouring. No need to stir. |
|
Invest in a stopper if you will not be using the whole bottle
right away. A good Champagne stopper can keep a partial bottle effervescent for
at least a day. |
|
|
| Champagne Cocktails |
|
| Pomegranate Fizz |
| You'll Need |
|
1/2 ounce fresh pomegranate juice |
|
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier or Cointreau |
|
Chilled Champagne or sparkling wine |
|
Orange twist, optional |
Directions |
| 1. |
Combine the pomegranate juice and Grand Marnier or Cointreau in
a flute. |
| 2. |
Slowly top with Champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with an
orange twist if desired. |
|
|
| Classic Kir Royal |
| You'll Need |
|
Cassis (1-2 tbls.)or, Stonewall Kitchen's
Kir Royale Mixer |
|
Champagne (about 6 ounces) |
|
Flute or Champagne Glass |
Directions |
| 1. |
Pour the chilled Cassis into the Champagne glass. |
| 2. |
Add the chilled Champagne and serve. |
|
|
| Classic Bellini |
| You'll Need |
|
1
part Peach Schnapps or Stonewall Kitchen's
Bellini Mixer |
|
3
parts Champagne (or Sparkling wine) |
Directions |
| 1. |
Pour the chilled Schnapps into the Champagne glass |
| 2. |
Add the chilled Champagne and serve. |
|