Whether you’re celebrating with friends or sitting quietly, staring contemplatively into a fire this festive season, when it comes to holiday libations, Christmas is a great time to break out of old habits and embrace your inner elf. So why not ditch the rum and eggnog this year in favour of something a wee bit different?
We asked Peace Arch News staff members to share their favourite holiday drink recipes, and they delivered. Here are 12 that sounded pretty good to us. Some are fairly straightforward, while other concoctions may require a bit of planning and a trip to the shops.
White Christmas margarita
Silver tequila – Silver (or blanco) tequila is best so the cocktail keeps its pure white colour
Orange liqueur – Triple sec, Grand Marnier or Cointreau
Cream of coconut
Fresh lime juice
Club soda/soda water
Garnish options: Fresh or sugared cranberries, rosemary sprigs, slices
Sugar lime rim: Lime zest, sugar, and salt
Make the sugar rim for the glasses by mixing the sugar, lime zest and a pinch of salt together.
Rub a lime wedge around the rim of each glass, then dip them in the sugar mixture
Next, add the tequila, triple sec, cream of coconut, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Give it a good shake, then strain it into the glasses, and top it with a splash of club soda.
Christmas Margarita recipe variations
Add a splash of white cranberry juice for a little extra flavour
Try a cinnamon sugar rim instead
Switch the tequila with coconut rum
Blend this recipe in a blender for a smooth margarita
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Charles Dickens’ Sherry Cobbler
2 orange slices
1 tablespoon sugar
4 oz. amontillado sherry
Berries (in season) for garnishing
Maraschino cherries for garnishing
1 lemon wheel for garnishing (lemon slice with a slit cut into it to fit on edge of glass)
Muddle orange slices and sugar at the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add sherry and ice and shake. Strain ingredients into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with seasonal berries, maraschino cherries and a lemon wheel. Serve with a generosity of spirit.
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Fire drill (shooter)
Here’s one from our ad manager Steve Scott that is sure to ward off the winter chills.
Fill a shot glass with 40% Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey and 60% tequila
This combination can also be mixed into lime jello to be served as jello shots
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Holiday Ornament Cocktail
This cocktail from Peace Arch News Classified specialist Geetu Atwal is all about the presentation.
To serve it properly, you’ll need clear glass ornaments, available at most major craft stores.
1 1/2 oz vodka
3/4 cups cranberry cocktail (any variation that strikes your fancy)
Lime wedge
Fresh cranberries
Red and green sugar sprinkles
Sprig of fresh rosemary
In a shaker, add vodka, cranberry cocktail, and ice. Shake
Carefully fill glass ornaments with the mixture, using a spout or funnel
Rim a cocktail glass with red or green sugar sprinkles
Add fresh ice, lime wedge and fresh cranberries to glass. Garnish with sprig of rosemary.
Gently set glass ornament inside the glass and serve.
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Snow Globe Gin and Tonic
Here’s another fancy holiday drink from Geetu and her family
Pour an inch or so of water into the base of a tall glass
Stand a rosemary sprig upright in the glass and freeze
Measure out gin into the glass and top with tonic water (vodka and soda/7 Up work as well)
Serve to guests with a piece of cotton candy that they can add to their drink. Sit back and watch the magic happen.
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Christmas in a Glass
Former Black Press reporter Sheila Reynolds swears this is a tasty combination, so we’re taking her word for it.
Add one ounce of Fireball cinnamon whiskey to a glass of ice
Top with cranberry-raspberry cocktail to taste
Serve garnished with frozen blueberries or cranberries
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Candy Cane Champagne Cocktail
Ingredients
1oz peppermint Schnapps.
Plus, more for glass rim.
Finely crushed peppermint candy cane.
Prosecco or your favourite sparkling wine.
Place peppermint schnapps on a small plate. Place crushed candy cane on second small plate.
Dip the rim of a champagne glass in the schnapps, then in the mints. Pour 1oz schnapps into prepared glass and top with Prosecco.
– Crystal Camire, Circulation
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Jessica’s Christmas Cocktail
1 oz. Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey Whiskey
1 oz. Irish Cream liqueur
Pour over ice. Enjoy
– Colin Simpson - advertising sales
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Bringing the warmth: Blueberry tea
1 oz. Grand Mariner
1 oz. Amaretto
4 oz. Earl Grey or orange pekoe tea
Warm a snifter glass by filling with hot water while brewing the tea
Pour out water, add the Grand Mariner and Amaretto, and top with hot tea
Garnish with an orange slice, peel or wheel and a cinnamon stick
– Tricia Weel, editorial
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Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
This one can be served with or without alcohol
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
6 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
2 4-oz. Semisweet chocolate bars, chopped
2 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 tsp. Instant coffee or espresso
15 jumbo marshmallows
8 oz. Irish cream liqueur (optional)
Shaved chocolate
Whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder in a six-quart slow cooker. Add in milk slowly, whisking constantly
Stir in heavy cream, chopped chocolate, vanilla extract and instant coffee.
Cover and cook on low for two hours. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and well combined. Add marshmallows
If you’re using Irish cream, add it now.
Set the cooker to warm and serve in cups topped with marshmallows and shaved chocolate.
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Christmas Mojito
8-10 fresh mint leaves
25 ml lime juice
2 tablespoons caster sugar (fine-ground sugar, not to be confused with icing sugar)
50 ml white rum
100 ml cranberry juice (cocktail)
Soda water
Pomegranate seeds to garnish
Muddle together the mint leaves, lime juice and sugar in a glass.
Pour rum over it and stir. Add ice and cranberry juice. Top up with soda water.
Garnish with a sprig of mint and pomegranate seeds
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Sugar Cookie Cocktail
1 1/2 oz vanilla vodka
1 1/2 oz Irish cream
2 oz whole milk
1 oz Amaretto
1 tsp powdered sugar
Ice
Vanilla frosting and sprinkles
Dip rim of glass in frosting. Pour sprinkles in a shallow dish and dip frosted glass rim. Set glass aside
In a cocktail shaker, combine the vanilla vodka, Irish cream, milk, Amaretto, powdered sugar and ice. Close lid and shake for at least 15 seconds to mix and chill. Pour into glass and serve immediately.
If you choose not to rim the glass with frosting, you can add an extra teaspoon of powdered sugar to the cocktail.
