Are your holiday decorations up yet? Well, I’m not sure if I’m a little late to the game, but I need to be on my toes for that before Christmas arrives. Speaking of the holiday, Christmas trees and wreaths are not the only stars of the show; whether you are hosting a get-together or enjoying a peaceful and cozy night alone, it won’t feel complete without some drinks to sip on. With the fast-approaching holiday season, many people have already started their Christmas shopping, so why not add some cocktail ingredients to your shopping list to give you a head start during this busy time? It doesn’t matter if you prefer something refreshing or creamy; these six irresistibly delicious drinks will spice up your holiday gatherings and put you in the festive spirit. I have also included some non-alcoholic options for all the non-drinkers so you too can get a taste of the festivity!
- Mulled wine/cider
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One of the winter classics. Who does not love some warm and tasty cocktail for the colder season? For those of you who are non-drinkers, simply replace the alcohol components with apple cider to make it a mulled cider!
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of dry red wine
- 2 cups of apple cider
- ¼ cup of brandy
- ⅛ cup of honey
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 orange (thinly sliced)
- 4 whole cloves
- 6 black peppercorn
- Additional cinnamon sticks and orange slices for garnish
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a large pot.
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes on low heat.
- Remove cloves and peppercorn, and it’s ready to be served!
- pomegranate sangria
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You surely will not want to miss out on this yummy sangria! The pomegranate juice adds a little complexity to the flavour, making this beautiful and bold sangria even more lucrative than it already is.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of wine
- 2 cups of pomegranate juice
- ½ cup of brandy
- ½ cup of Triple Sec (orange-flavoured liqueur)
- ¼ cup of pomegranate seeds
- 1 large orange – halved and thinly sliced
- 1 green apple – halved and thinly sliced
- 1 cup of red grapes – sliced in half
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher.
- Cover, and refrigerate it for 4-48 hours.
- Serve with ice.
- Holiday party punch
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Want something a little more refreshing? With only four ingredients, this non-alcoholic mocktail can be enjoyed by everyone; even the kids can help out with this easy drink.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of cranberry juice
- 1 bottle of sparkling cider
- 1L of ginger ale
- ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice (2 lemons)
- 1 orange-sliced
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients over ice.
- Garnish it with orange slices and serve.
- espresso soda
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I am curious to try this espresso and soda combination. Maybe it will be the perfect afternoon pick-me-up to beat the slump.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of sugar
- ¼ cup of ground espresso
- Chilled club soda
- Chilled coffee-flavoured liqueur (optional)
- Chilled vodka (optional)
Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil over high heat until it is completely dissolved.
- Remove it from heat, add ground espresso, and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Strain, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Add ¼ cup of espresso syrup, fill club soda to the top, and serve with ice.
- Coffee-flavoured liqueur and vodka can be added as desired.
- salted caramel white russian
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For all the caramel lovers out there, this might be “the” drink for you! Its creamy texture is like a thin chocolate milkshake, but with vodka. Plus, it looks so aesthetically pleasing, you cannot pass on it.
Ingredients:
- 1 part salted caramel liqueur
- 2 parts salted caramel vodka
- 1 part half and half
- Caramel sauce to garnish
Instructions:
- Combine everything in a shaker.
- Drip caramel sauce down the side of the drinking glass, pour in the cocktail and serve with ice.
- Peppermint Espresso Martini
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Another coffee inspired cocktail, with a holiday twist. This sweet, rich espresso martini is dangerously smooth and easy to drink, and the peppermint flavour definitely adds a little ‘umph’ to it.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 parts peppermint mocha
- 1 part vodka
- 1 espresso
- Splash of cream (optional)
- Crushed peppermint candy cane and honey to garnish
Instructions:
- Dip the rim of the martini glass in honey, and rim it with some crushed peppermint candy cane.
- In a shaker, combine ice with the remaining ingredients.
- Serve it in the martini glass!
I hope you will enjoy these drinks, because I know I will most likely be sipping on them while counting down to Christmas.