Christmas Cocktail Recipes

Cocktails and Christmas tend to go hand in hand. Whether it’s a decadent twist on hot cocoa or a sweet and spiced cider cocktail, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to sip a few fancy drinks during the most wonderful time of the year. Perhaps you need to get through an awkward work mixer, or maybe it’s the only way to tolerate a certain in-law. Regardless of your reason this season, these festive Christmas cocktails are sure to keep your spirits high and your Grinch low.

Candy Cane Cocktail

Ingredients

For Candy Cane Infused Vodka:

• 1 cup Vodka
• ½ cup Vanilla Vodka
• 6 6- inch Candy Canes

For Candy Cane Cocktail:

• 3 ounces Candy Cane Vodka
• 2 ounces Crème de Cacao
• Dash Angostura Bitters
• 2 6- inch Candy Canes

Directions

To infuse the Candy Cane Vodka:

1. Pour plain vodka and vanilla vodka in a jar with a lid. Add 6 candy canes, broken up so the liquid covers them. Allow it to sit in a cool, dark location for 3-4 days, shaking periodically to mix any sediment into liquid.
2. .When ready to use, strain through 2 layers of cheesecloth to trap any sediment. Seal in a jar, store in a cool, dark location until use.

To make 2 Candy Cane Cocktails:

1. To make Candy Cane rimming sugar: place 2 candy canes in a chopper or blender and process into a granulated sugar. Rim cocktail glasses.
2. Add Candy Cane vodka, Crème de Cacao, Bitters and ice to a shaker; shake and strain into a rimmed cocktail glass.

Gingerbread White Russia

Ingredients

• 4 oz whole milk
• 4 oz vanilla vodka
• 4 oz Kahlua
• 4 oz ginger beer
• ⅛ tsp ground ginger
• cinnamon for rimming glasses
• sugar for rimming glasses
• whipped cream for topping
• crumbled ginger snaps for topping

Directions

1. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a shallow plate. Lightly wet rims of two glasses and dip the rim in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat the edges.
2. In a cocktail shaker full of ice, mix milk, vodka, Kahlua, ginger beer, and ground ginger and shake.
3. Strain into chilled glasses.
4. Top with whipped cream and crumbled ginger snaps and enjoy!

Jack Frost Cocktail

Ingredients

• Honey for rimming glasses
• Flaked coconut for rimming glasses
• 8 cups ice (more or less depending on desired consistency)
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• ½ cup blue curacao
• ½ cup vodka
• ½ cup cream of coconut

Directions

1. Rim the glasses: Pour a thin layer of honey onto a plate and dip the rims into it, then dip in coconut flakes.
2. In a blender, blend ice, pineapple juice, blue curacao, vodka and cream of coconut until desired consistency is reached. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Egg Nog Cocktail

Ingredients

• 1 ounce bourbon
• 1 ounce 2% milk
• 1 egg yolk
• nutmeg to garnish
• ¾ ounce winter syrup
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 2 cloves

Directions

Winter Syrup directions:

1. In a small pot, combine all ingredients, bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved.
2. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a glass bottle or jar for storage. Place cinnamon stick back in syrup for additional flavor.
3. Store in refrigerator.

Cocktail directions:

1. In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, egg yolk, milk, and winter syrup.
2. Dry shake without ice for about 20 seconds, this will help emulsify the ingredients, and give the cocktail body and froth,
3. Add ice to cocktail shaker, and shake for about 15 seconds, until chilled.
4. Double strain cocktail into a glass, and grate fresh nutmeg on top.

Christmas Cookie Martini

Ingredients

• 1 shot vodka
• 1 shot Baileys Sweet Italian Biscotti Coffee Creamer
• 1 shot almond liqueur
• ¼ shot Cointreau
• 1 shot club soda
• Garnish: Orange peel, cookie

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into chilled martini glass.
2. Garnish with a cookie and orange peel, if desired.