Pixie
Christmas is a joyous season and there’s so much love, unity and laughs in the air. However, thinking about the dinner when all family members are gathered around, can be quite overwhelming and give one the jitters. But, worry not! If there’s any magic potion that can get people to get along, it is none other than alcohol. Here are 7 magical concoctions to get you through an awkward reunion or simply add more cheers to the gathering.
Is it really Christmas if your house and everything you own doesn’t smell of spiced apples and cinnamon? This is one of the popular seasonal favourites and can be made easily. Fill a pitcher with a bottle of red wine, like the Saint Joseph Deschants Rouge which can be purchased from Wineworld. To it, add a few Sri Lankan cinnamon sticks along with slices of 2 apples, a quarter cup of Cointreau, half a cup of brandy and a cup of cranberry juice. Mix them well and keep it chilled for at least 12-24 hours before serving. The presentation is vital and adds that oomph factor, so dip the glass rims in a mix of sugar and cinnamon and serve it with a cinnamon quill.
For those who love white wine, this is a fun drink. To prepare the glass rims, first, melt some chocolate. While that’s being done, take out all your stress by crushing some candy canes. Dip the flutes in the chocolate first and roll them on the crushed candy canes to evenly coat them. Moving onto the cocktail, to each serving combine an ounce of peppermint vodka with 4 ounces of Prosecco and serve!
Combining everything red and seasonal, this sangria is a must try. In a pitcher, add chopped apples, orange wedges, 4 cinnamon quills and half a cup of pomegranate seeds. Into this, pour a bottle of your favourite red wine along with 3 oz. Contreau and 2/3rd cup of vodka. Let all this goodness infuse with each other by leaving it in the refrigerator for at least a day. Just before serving, add the last ingredient- cranberry kombucha. This recipe is sufficient for 8-10 servings.
Why wish for a white Christmas when you can easily make it into a drink and down it? There snowone to judge! In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2 oz. Vanilla vodka, 2 oz. White chocolate liqueur, 1 oz milk of choice (full fat, semi-skimmed, fat-free, almond milk, soy milk). Shake it to your favourite Christmas jam and strain into martini glasses. You can decorate the rim of the glasses by dipping them into coarse white sugar to add some sparkle or roll it on crushed candy cane to give it a more festive look and fa la la la! You’ve now got yourself your own white Christmas in a glass.
This one takes the star when it comes to presentation- it is as festive and creative as it gets. The cocktail is served in a glass ornament and makes drinking a bauble-y experience. Take out the cocktail shaker, add some ice cubes, a cup of vodka, half a cup of Cointreau, half cup of cherry juice, a quarter cup of cranberry juice and freshly squeezed orange juice. Shake it and pour them into clean glass ornaments using a funnel. Take a martini glass and add some sugared cranberries and a single sprig of rosemary. Place the glass ornament within the martini glass and serve. To drink, you’ll have to slowly pour the cocktail onto the cranberries. Oh, what fun!
