Basically a Bartender

12 Cocktails of Christmas – Day #3: Santa Clausmopolitan

For Day #3 another classic drink with the slightest Christmas twist. The Cosmopolitan recipe is only a slight difference to this, in that it calls for less Cranberry Juice. But being Christmas time having that extra hit of sweet juice can be extra refreshing!

What You’ll Need:

Glass: Cocktail Glass

Ingredients:

Cranberry Juice
Vodka
Fresh Lime Juice
Cointreau

Garnish: Orange Twist or Zest

Making the Drink:

The first shaken drink of the season!

Add 50ml of Cranberry Juice to shaker
Add 40ml Vodka
Squeeze 1/2 a Lime (20ml)
Add 10ml Cointreau
Fill shaker with ice
Shake for 20 seconds
Strain into cocktail glass
Garnish with orange twist or zest
Serve and enjoy

Feeling Fancy?

If an orange twist isn’t a fancy enough garnish and you want some of those extra citrusy summery flavours, grab a lighter and carefully light the orange zest to release oils, then twist the peel over the drink to infuse flavours in the drink. Then take the zest and run the skin along the rim of the cocktail glass.

12 Cocktails of Christmas – Day #2: Mistletoe Mule

For the Day #2 of Christmas cocktails, another easy one. The Moscow Mule is a classic cocktail, and actually the one that made Vodka go viral in America. The copper mug was introduced to market Vodka and this cocktail, and its now also known as a ‘mule cup’. The Mistletoe Mule is the classic but with a Christmas spin.

What You’ll Need:

Glass: Copper Mug (Mule Cup) or Rocks Glass

Ingredients:

Vodka
Ginger Beer
Fresh Lime Juice

Garnish: Mint Sprig and Candy Canes

Making the Drink:

Once again this drink doesn’t require much explaining:

Fill Copper Mug with ice
Add 40ml of Vodka
Squeeze 1/2 a Lime (20ml)
Fill with Ginger Beer
Garnish with crushed candy canes, a candy cane and a mint sprig
Serve and enjoy

Feeling Fancy?

This is another simple drink, so if you’re wanting something a bit extra, try muddling the candy canes and mint and some pomegranate seeds, then adding ice and ingredients and stirring, then garnish as per the recipe with pomegranate seeds as well. The muddling will release some extraordinary minty flavours!

12 Cocktails of Christmas – Day #1: Jingle Juice

For the first Christmas cocktail, I thought a nice easy one. Through almost the whole month of December, people are entertaining family and friends, and as much fun as it. Can be, it can be as equally expensive, time consuming to prepare, and exhausting. This holiday punch is a perfectly simple and tasty drink to show off something a bit more than just champagne at your next holiday gathering. Not only is it cheap and easy to make, but delicious too!

What You’ll Need:

Glass: Punch bowl and Rocks Glasses or Stemless Wine Glasses

Ingredients:

Vanilla Vodka
Prosecco / Champagne
Cranberry Juice

Garnish: Strawberries and Mint, or Cranberries and Rosemary

Making the Drink:

This doesn’t require much explanation, but:

Add 1 bottle of Vanilla Vodka to punch bowl
Add 1 bottle of Prosecco or Champagne
Add 1 bottle of Cranberry Juice
Fill bowl with ice
Add in garnishes as you please
Serve with spoon and glasses

Feeling Fancy?

This is a pretty simple drink, so if you’re wanting to go the extra mile, try freezing strawberries and mint or cranberries and rosemary in an ice cube tray and creating garnish ice cubes! As they melt into the drink it adds flavour and a whole new level of pretty!