Festive Cocktail Ideas for the Holidays

The holiday season is already here. Christmas decorations and displays are up. Stores are preparing for holiday shoppers. For us, this means hosting a family dinner or having a few friends over for a get together. Sharing our home and celebrating with family and friends is what the holidays are all about. I am always looking for new recipes to try. When I have company I like to serve great food, but I also like to have something special to drink. I'm not much of a drinker, myself, so I usually offer wine or beer. This year I wanted to try something a little bit different. Lucky for me a friend of our family recently graduated from bar tending school. She told me about all these festive cocktail recipes and I decided to share them with you. I haven't prepared them yet, but they sound fantastic. Whether your throwing a Christmas party, having an intimate dinner or invited to someone's home, these drink ideas will be the perfect compliment for the occasion. Enjoy them with someone special this season and please responsibly. Happy Holidays to all.

The Grinch

2 oz Midori
1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar

Mix all three ingredients together in shaker filled with ice. Serve in a martini glass with a green cherry.

Candy Cane Martini

11/2 oz vodka
1 tsp peppermint schnapps

Shake with ice and garnish with a mini candy cane or mint leaf coated with sugar.

White Christmas

4 oz eggnog
1/2 oz white chocolate liqueur
1oz Southern Comfort

Mix eggnog with Southern Comfort and liqueur. Top glass with a few white chocolate shavings for an extra sweet treat.

Peppermint Stick

11/2 oz creme de cacao
1 oz peppermint schnapps
1 oz cream ( use light if you're watching your fat)

Combine in shaker with ice. Serve in glass with crushed candy cane on rim or garnish with candy cane.

Christmas Cosmo

1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz cranberry juice
1tsp fresh squeezed lime juice
1 oz vodka

Shake all ingredients at once with ice. Serve in frosty cocktail glass.

Holly Berry

11/2 oz gin
1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz raspberry liqueur
fresh raspberry and mint leaf for garnish

Combine ice, gin, and lemon juice in shaker. Mix well. pour into cocktail glass and top with raspberry liqueur, but do not stir. Garnish with berries and mint leaf.