5 Festive, Holiday-Approved Cocktails
‘Tis the season for deliciously festive cocktails! I’ve been watching Drink Masters on Netflix and have been inspired by the delicious cocktails the contestants create. The drinks are culinary masterpieces expertly crafted just as a Michelin star chef would a five-course meal. With the holidays rapidly approaching, here are 5 Festive, Holiday-Approved Cocktails and recipes to create them at home.
Apple Cider Martinis
4 oz. vodka
2 oz. cointreau – or triple sec
6 oz. apple cider
1-2 oz. orange juice
apple slices – to serve
cinnamon and sugar – for the rim
Instructions:
Prep martini glasses. Take a lemon slice and run it around the rims of the martini glasses. Then dip glasses into a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.
Slice apple. Thinly slice an apple and top with some fresh lemon juice (to prevent browning).
Combine ingredients. Use a cocktail shaker, and combine all ingredients – apple cider, vodka, Cointreau, and orange juice. Add ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds or so.
Serve. Pour martinis into prepped glasses. Add some apple slices and a cinnamon stick.
I came across this Apple Cider Martini recipe this fall and thought it would make the perfect holiday cocktail to accompany Thanksgiving festivities. We used Spiced Apple Cider from Trader Joe’s and decided to forgo the orange juice entirely. This recipe yields two martinis and pairs beautifully with good company or an evening curled up while watching a holiday movie. I also tried an Apple Cider Margarita recipe this fall, and while it was tasty, we found we preferred the combination of vodka and apple cider to tequila and apple cider.
Poinsettia Cocktail
1 oz. cointreau
2 oz. cranberry juice (unsweetened)
1/2 glass champagne
For the garnish: 1 rosemary sprig, whole cranberries
Instructions:
Place the cointreau and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold. Strain the liquid into a champagne flute.
Top off the glass with champagne. Garnish and serve. (Note: You can also make a large batch of cointreau and cranberry juice ahead if desired, then measure out 3 oz. per glass.)
Any cocktail with bubbles is always a yes on my list! While my go-to is Borrasca Prosecco, any Champagne, Cava or Prosecco will work for this festive cocktail. A rosemary spring and cranberries to garnish are what give this cocktail an extra special flare and super nostalgic, holiday-forward aroma.
Holiday Sangria
1 (750 ml) bottle red wine
1 cup brandy
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups cranberries
1 orange, sliced
1 apple, cubed
2-3 cinnamon sticks
4 sprigs rosemary, plus more for garnish
1 bottle sparkling apple cider, chilled
Equal parts cinnamon and sugar, for rimming the glasses
Instructions:
In a large pitcher combine the red wine, brandy, sugar, cranberries, oranges, apples, cinnamon sticks and rosemary. Mix well, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight.
Just before serving add the sparkling apple cider, stir to combine. Serve over ice, in a glass rimmed with a mix of cinnamon and sugar, garnished with fresh rosemary sprigs.
Sangria is always a crowd-pleaser, especially during the holiday season. For the host, this is the perfect drink for a holiday gathering because it can be made in advance, tastes amazing and the fruit acts as an easy garnish/snack. Plus, you truly can’t go wrong with the fruit you add to the holiday sangria, if you have it, add it in!
POMEGRANATE FRENCH 75
2 oz. gin
2 oz. pomegranate juice
1 oz. simple syrup
Champagne or Prosecco, for topping off the drink
Pomegranate seeds, for garnish
Instructions:
Combine the gin, pomegranate juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds until chilled. Strain the mixture into two champagne glasses and top with champagne. Garnish with desired amount of pomegranate seeds.
The Pomegranate French 75 is a festive twist on a classic French 75. The only difference is trading pomegranate juice for lemon juice and a lemon twist garnish for pomegranate seeds. Even if you don’t typically prefer gin, this drink is worth trying at least once.
Classic Hot Toddy
¾ cup water
1 ½ ounces whiskey
2 to 3 teaspoons honey, to taste
2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
1 lemon round
1 cinnamon stick, for garnish
Instructions:
In a teapot or saucepan, bring the water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug.
Add the whiskey, 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water. Taste, and add 1 teaspoon honey for more sweetness, and/or 1 teaspoon more lemon juice for more zing.
Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick.
Nothing warms you up quite like a Hot Toddy, especially during the holiday season. If you aren’t a fan of whiskey, you can substitute it for another dark liquor like brandy or spiced rum. For a little extra flavor, try steeping a black tea bag or even adding in a splash of apple cider.