What more appropriate to start the Holiday season with a kick than a Christmas Moscow Mule drink? All decked up in a copper mug and dressed up with a rosemary cranberry skewer, it’s a tough act to follow! For a more dressed up occasion, other Christmas cocktails with vodka might be more appropriate, like a Candy Cane martini or a Sparkling Pomegranate – or consider making margarita.
Come the Holiday Season, drinking eggnog is pretty much considered a ritual, so why not make your own which your guests can choose to have spiked or not…
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Cranberry Moscow Mule
If you ever wondered what is in a Moscow Mule, ginger beer and vodka with a twist of lime juice are the basic components. All the better made with The Great Jamaican Ginger Beer if you can find it, as it adds an extra kick of ginger flavor. A splash of cranberry juice lends a touch of seasonal color to this classic cocktail and is sure to make it a new holiday favorite. Question is: would it really be a Mule if served in anything but an attractive copper vessel…?
Yield: 1 cocktail
Total Prep Time: 5 minutes
3 oz premium vodka
1 oz 100% cranberry juice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
8 oz ginger beer
Garnish (optional): Fresh cranberries, lime wedges and/or rosemary sprigs (2-3”L), bottom leaves removed
1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice; add vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice. Shake well and pour into ice-filled copper mugs. Top off mug with ginger beer and stir to combine.
2. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and lime wedges: to make cranberry sprig garnish, carefully thread 3 fresh cranberries onto the bottom of each rosemary stem. Serve immediately.
Peppermint Martinis
Looking for festive vodka Christmas drinks? Peppermint Martinis combine chocolate and peppermint flavors AND sport an appropriate seasonal crushed candy cane rim – what more could you possibly want? Just make sure you use the WHITE crème de cacao, as the dark version works well in terms of taste but will spoil the look.
TIP: Make sure you use the white crème de cacao for this recipe. Though the taste of the dark crème de cacao works well, it won’t give you the crisp look you are after.
Yield: 1 cocktail
Time to Prepare: 10 minutes
2 oz vanilla vodka, chilled
1 oz white crème de cacao, chilled
1 oz Peppermint schnapps, chilled
Rim:
3 oz peppermint candy, crushed
¼ fresh lime
Optional garnish: Small candy canes
1. Place peppermint candy in a plastic bag and cover with a towel. Pound bag with a meat mallet or rolling pin until candy is crushed into very small pieces. Transfer to a flat plate.
2. Run a small wedge of lime around the rim of a martini glass till very well moistened. Turn the martini glass upside down and place moistened rim onto the plate of crushed peppermint. Turn gently to ensure the entire rim is evenly coated.
3. Fill cocktail shaker with ice and add vodka, crème de cacao, and peppermint schnapps. Shake vigorously until thoroughly combined. Strain chilled liquid into a prepared martini glass and add a small candy cane. Serve immediately.
Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail
Combine pomegranate juice with fizzy sparkling water, and what have you got? Christmas cheer in a glass!
Yield: 2 cocktails
Total Prep Time: 5 minutes
4 oz citrus-flavored vodka, chilled
6 oz 100% pomegranate juice, chilled
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 oz cold sparkling water
Optional garnish:
Lime wedges
Fresh pomegranate arils
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes; add vodka, pomegranate and lime juice. Shake to combine thoroughly. Strain liquid mixture evenly into two champagne glasses and top with sparkling water. Serve immediately.
Cranberry Tequila Margaritas
Traditionally considered a warm weather drink, margaritas have gained in popularity and are now enjoyed all year long. This holiday-friendly version simply requires a fun garnish to complement its appropriately seasonal splash of color.
Yield: 1 margarita
Total Prep Time: 5 minutes
3 oz tequila
2 oz Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
2 oz cranberry juice
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Garnish:
fresh rosemary sprigs, bottom leaves removed, approximately 2-3” long
fresh cranberries
fresh lime wedges
To make cranberry sprig garnish, carefully thread 3 fresh cranberries onto tough rosemary stems.
Fill cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, Cointreau, and both juices. Shake well and strain into ice-filled glasses. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and lime wedges. Serve immediately.
Homemade Eggnog
Ready-made eggnog ingredients typically include eggs, sugar, milk variations and spicing. This cooked version is for those of you who love the rich, creamy taste of classic eggnog, but dislike the idea of using raw eggs. For a spiked version, you can combine eggnog with rum, bourbon or cognac to taste.
Servings: 12
Total Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus time to chill)
12 eggs
1¼ cup sugar
4 cups whole milk
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups evaporated milk
2 cups half and half
1. Whisk eggs and sugar in a medium glass bowl until thoroughly combined. Transfer to a saucepan and stir in whole milk, vanilla extract and ground nutmeg.
2. In a separate glass bowl, stir evaporated milk and half and half until combined.
3. Heat egg mixture over medium-low heat while stirring constantly to prevent the milk from scorching. When mixture reaches 160 degrees on a candy thermometer, remove from heat and slowly whisk in evaporated milk mixture.
4. Cool slightly before tasting. Add more sugar or nutmeg if desired before transferring to an airtight container. Refrigerate overnight or until thoroughly chilled. Serve in mugs and garnish with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks or a dash of nutmeg.
But wait a minute – we still need something to nibble on! Go take a look at our mouthwatering holiday party appetizers…
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