Christmas Cocktail Recipes

Survive the silly season with these fabulous cocktails!

Cranberry Kick

1 part Vodka
4 parts cranberry juice
1 half lime, juiced

Half fill a highball glass with ice. Add the vodka, lime juice and cranberry juice. Stir well. Add lime wedges and serve.

Christmas Pudding

1 part Drambuie
5 parts Guinness beer
1 part Southern Comfort

Combine ingredients and serve in a red wine glass.

Ginger Snap

2 parts Advocaat liqueur
3 parts ginger ale

Mix Advocaat and ginger ale in a highball glass filed with ice. Garnish with a stemmed maraschino cherry.

Candy Cane Martini

1 1/2 parts vanilla vodka
1/2 parts peppermint schnapps
1 part club soda
Crushed candy canes for garnish

Rim a martini glass with crushed candy canes. Mix vodka, schnapps, and club soda with ice in a cocktail shaker; strain into prepared glass.

Glüwein

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 orange
1 (750 ml) bottle red table wine (Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz, etc.)

Mix water, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and the juice of the orange together in a heavy pot.  Bring up the heat, but do not boil.  Add the orange peel and simmer 15 mins. Serve immediately in preheated mugs.

Eggnog

6 egg yolks
½ cup half and half
½ tsp. nutmeg
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups whole milk
1/3 cup bourbon
1/3 cup rum

Beat the egg yolks, nutmeg, and vanilla in a bowl.  Heat the milk in a saucepan over low heat until it starts to steam. Ladle one scoop of the milk into the egg mixture bowl, then turn the heat off and slowly pour the egg and milk mixture into the saucepan, stirring the mixture as you pour.

Set the heat on low and continuously stir the mixture as it cooks, taking care to keep the bottom from burning.  Cook for 20 minutes, or until the consistency of the mixture is thick and doesn't run.

When the mixture ready, pour it into a heat-safe bowl and add all the remaining ingredients.  Chill thoroughly before serving.  Sprinkle some nutmeg on top of each cup for decoration.