Holiday Cocktails

Poinsettia Cocktail

Ingredients

1/4 cup vodka

1/4 cup Champagne

1/2 cup cranberry juice

Crushed ice

2 strips orange zest, each about 1/4-inch wide and 2 inches long 

Directions

Combine vodka, champagne and juice in a large-stemmed red wine glass. Add crushed ice and stir until mixture is well chilled. Twist the orange strips over the glass, drop them in and serve.

Mapletini

Ingredients

2 shots Irish cream liqueur

1 shot brandy

1/2 shot cinnamon schnapps

1 teaspoon maple syrup

Ice

Cinnamon stick, for garnish 

Directions

Place ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

White Chocolate Eggnog

Ingredients

1 quart eggnog

1/2 cup white rum (recommended: Myer’s Platinum)

1/2 cup white chocolate liqueur

1 cup whipped topping

Grated white chocolate, for garnish

Pumpkin pie spice, for garnish

Directions

In a punch bowl, combine eggnog, rum and white chocolate liqueur. When ready to serve, whisk the mixture to a frothy consistency and pour into cups. Place 1 heaping tablespoon of the whipped topping into each cup. Garnish with grated white chocolate and a sprinkling of pumpkin pie spice.

Cider Jack Cocktail

Ingredients

2 ounces applejack liqueur
1 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce grenadine or simple syrup
Hard apple cider
Ice

Directions

For each drink, shake applejack liqueur, lemon juice and grenadine or simple syrup in shaker with ice. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with hard apple cider and serve with a cinnamon stick.

Pear Bellini

Ingredients

2 shots pear nectar (recommended: Kern’s)

1 shot pear brandy

Crushed ice

Chilled, extra-dry champagne

Sliced pears, for garnish

Directions

Stir pear nectar and pear brandy in a chilled glass. Divide pear blend into 2 rocks glasses filled with crushed ice. Top with chilled champagne and garnish with sliced pears.