Christmas Cocktails

Christmas Cocktails - mix and make merry this Christmas!

The office Christmas party may be over with the debauchery a lasting merry memory but the shenanigans for the season certainly aren't. The season for festive cocktails has only just begun and that needn't mean mulled wine and mince pies or ginger wine and christmas cake. If you're a party animal or a Brie Vandecamp style hostess, then you may want to try something fancy and delicious but it needn't cost 35,000 pounds like the famed concoction at the A-list Movida club in London, that made headlines in 2007

There's always the good'ol nogg and mulled wine with a boozey punchbowl around but why not try something different this year? spice things up or sweeten them a tad more than you normally do, with a Christmas twist on conventional year round cocktails. A peppermint margherita or a ginger martini with a swirl of orange rind, may be just what you need after a long day or to get your guests to unwind into a relaxed party mode before treating them to richer, fancier treats.

But how in santa's name do you get cocktails that look christmassy, taste christmassy and make you feel like christmas came early or is actually here? Well that's what I'd been thinking, wondering how to steer away from tradition while preserving the aromas that make Christmas so special.

The warm winter flavours of cinnamon, peppermint, chocolate and cherries, in cranberry hues and elfy green tints with snowy finishes and a touch of holly can be yours in a glass with a bit of creativity and basic bartending skills.

There's always a lot you can do with chocolate, especially when you've discovered a low cal hot chocolate mix that makes pink hot chocolate an easy treat for anytime. Options instant chocolate works well hot or cold and tastes even better when stirred in with a bit or flavoured spirit or liquer I discovered.

If you're looking for quick and easy concotions in deep reds and festive greens with sprikles of twinkles and sparkles then read on...to see what my housemate has been sipping, sampling and helping put a name to when my tipple titling took ludicrous to a whole new level.

Elf apple spritzer ...it's green, refreshing and goes well with salty nibbles and cheese straws or melt in the mouth stollen.

All you need is:
Gingerale
Apple juice
a sprinkle of ground ginger
Green food colour

and to garnish:
Raspberry
Silver balls
Mint leaves
Sugar

To make your magical green sprit, place the ground ginger and even a teaspoon of grated apple if you fancy, into the bottom of a tall drink glass and then pour in the apple juice and ginger ale as per your taste. Add a few drops of green food colouring and drop in a few silver balls. To garnish, slit a rasberry halfway through and slide onto the rim of the glass with a few mint leaves through the slit. By this time the silver balls will turn into sparkly effervescence before leaving silver twinkles in the drink.

If you were hoping for a white Christmas in a glass, then you may fancy a Snowconut Prancer...a snow rimmed cocktail to keep you prancing like prancer through the season.

For a Snowconut Prancer,

All you need is:
Instant white hot chocolate
Malibu
White crème de cacao
Milk

and to garnish and finish:
Honey
Dessicated coconut
A Chocolate flake

To whip up this malibu cocktail, coat the rim of a red wine glass with honey and then dip the rim in dessicated coconut.Mix Options white chocolate mix with cold water and then add a little cold milk. Add a shot or two of Malibu and white crème de cacao and then garnish with a chocolate flake and silver star spinkles.

Stars however, may not be enough to light up your Christmas sprit so having Rudolph light the way may be a good idea, which is why there's a Kir Rudolph on the menu here.

For a Kir Rudolph,
All you need is:
Hotchocolate – Options, galaxy or make your own
Kirsch
Crème de cacao

and to garnish:
French Glace cherries
Whipped cream
Red sugar*
Green sugar*

*easy to make if like me you couldn't find it on the shelf at your local Sainsbury's – add a few drops of colour to white sugar, let it dry out and voila!

To whip up this rich velvety cocktail, add hot water to options dark chocolate mix or make a fresh steaming cup (or cups) of hot chocolate. Add a shot of Kirsch and crème de cacao. Top with whipped cream, a glacé sherry and sugar sprinkles

Serve this hot in a mug or chill in a long island iced tea glass.

If you prefer the after 8-ish flavours of chocolate and mint, then you may like to add a minty twist to your chocolate tipple and try Vixen's pillow, a sinfully delicious winter warmer that can also make a cool party drink in a martini glass.

For Vixon's pillow you need is:
Crème de menthe
Crème de cacao
Hot chocolate

and to garnish:
A candy cane- if you don't find any then a candy strip lollipop works too
Whipped cream
Red granulated sugar
Green granulate sugar

To whip up this minty chocolate mix, fix yourself a hot chocolate – instant or fresh - add in the crème de cacao and crème de menthe and top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of red and green sugar. Garnish with a candy cane.

Rich as these luxurious Christmas drinks are, they may not be tipply enough for some. If you like your cocktails strong and aren't fussed about frilly patties and pretty drinks, then Brandy is always soothing when the temperature dips and a Calvados Comet is your answer to a Brandy Snifter full of Christmas.

All you need for a Callvados comet is:
Calvados/brandy
Apple slices
Cloves
Cinnamon

and to garnish:
Star sprinkles

Heat the Calvados. Slice the apple whole and cut out a star from the centre and put the cinammon stick through the star. Stick a few cloves into the slice with the round bulb removed (this can be quite hot) so the 4point star is visible on the apple slice. Let it simmer with the Calvados. Pour into a brandy bowl or snifter and sprinkle with star sprikles.

If you feel like something stronger , then you could always try a Rusty Sleigh.

All you need for a Rusty Sleigh is:
Orange juice
Ginger ale
Crushed candied ginger
Candied peel
Red food colouring

and to garnish
Sugar
A slice of orange
Star sprinkles

Mix the orange juice and gingerals to your taste, and pour over crushed ginger and candied peel in a wide rimmed glass or goblet and then rust it with whatever booze you're in the mood for!
Brandy, ginger wine, whiskey, ale, gin or even some good 'ol perry like Lambrini!
(add a few drops of red and green food colour work to get the right hue).

That would have been the lot if Cupid wasn't around with Vodka cranberry for those who simply like their regular fix..but this isn't the cupid from february, and it's not a plain and simple sling either.

To fix yourself a Star kissed Cupid, all you will need is:
Vodka
Cranberry juice
Rasberries
Sprite/Lambrini/Cherry Lambrini

and to garnish:
Star sprinkles.

Pour in a double vodka and then add In cranberry juice to taste. Drop in a few rasberries and then top up the glass with something sweet and bubbly. Garnish with star sprinkles

Still, starry and seasonally spiced and they are it, wouldn't be Christmas without Candy Cane, so here's one last treat for you.

Candy cane sparkler
All you need is:
Crème de menthe
White crème de cacao
Prosecco

and to garnish:
crushed candy cane and a candy cane stick

Coat the rim of a champagne flute honey and dip it in crushed candy. Then pour a shot of crème de menthe and white crème de cacao into a champagne flute and top up with Prosecco. Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.

To give yourself a break after the flow of fancy drinks have begun to trickle, you can always hire a mobile bartender to keep your guests merry so you can join in the merry making. They show up with all they need and will keep you drinking fancy cocktails all night. The good part is, they'll pack up their stuff and leave so you don't have a mess to clean up after the party.

And....speaking of bartending and cocktails, if you're stumped for ideas and still have a few Christmas pressies to buy , a cocktail making kit is a nice pressie for thoese who like their tipple, Christmas or not.

Either way, the festive season is a good excuse to up the fancimeter on the bar and this year you can surprise your guests with some uber fancy Christmas Cocktails they've never heard of, maybe start by quizzing them on reindeer names and get them to guess what's in the glass from the name, for a bit more fun!

Merry Christmas and Happy Mixing, enjoy!

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