Winter cocktails at their best take a guest’s mind off the weather and into the moment. Entertaining made easy with some festive, holiday ideas.

 

Smirnoff Holiday Punch
Courtesy of Kendra Darling, Simply Darrling

• 10 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Holiday Ornament Vodka
• 12 oz Cranberry-Raspberry Juice
• 4 oz Pineapple Juice
• 20 oz Orange Juice
• 2 oz Lime Juice
• 1 bottle Sparkling Wine
• Raspberry sherbet
• Slices of limes and oranges and frozen cranberries.

Method: Combine all the juices in a punch bowl. Stir in the sparkling wine and the Smirnoff No. 21 Holiday Ornament Vodka. Garnish with frozen cranberries and slices of limes and oranges. Place a ball of raspberry sherbet into a glass. Ladle punch into the glass.

 

Brockmans Golden Era

• 3 oz. Brockmans
• 1 oz. Calvados
• 1 ½ oz. Apricot Brandy
• 2 dashes plum bitters

Method: Shake all ingredients together with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with two blueberries and a twist of clementine zest.

 

 

 

 

Angostura Queen’s Park Swizzle

• 2 oz Angostura 7 Year Old Rum
• 1 oz Demerara Simple Syrup
• 1 oz fresh Lime Juice
• 12-14 Mint Leaves
• Freixenet 6-8 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Method: Build in a Highball or Pilsner glass; muddle mint leaves in lime juice and simple syrup then fill glass with crushed ice. Pour rum over crushed ice and swizzle well until glass is ice-cold and frosted. Pack glass with more crushed ice and top with bitters.

 

 

 

 

Signature Cuvée 

• 750 ml Freixenet Ice Cuvée
• Ice Cubes
• Strawberries or seasonal fruits

Method: Add ice, pour.

 

 

 

 

 

The Dandy by Dubonnet

• 1¼ oz Dubonnet
• 1½ oz Orange Liqueur
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2 dashes Regans’ Orange Bitters

Method: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled. Serve in a Nick and Nora glass, garnished with an orange swatch.

 

 

 

 

Kahlúa’s Cold Brew

• 1 oz Absolut Vodka
• 2 oz Kahlúa
• 3 oz Cold Brew Coffee

Method: Fill a shaker with ice. Add the Absolut, Kahlúa and cold brew. Shake hard for at least 10 seconds to create a nice foam. Strain into a cocktail glass to get rid of all the small ice chips; garnish with coffee beans.

 

 

 

 

 

Rene Barbier’s Apple Cider Kickoff

• 750 ml bottle René Barbier Mediterranean White
• 2½ cups fresh Apple Cider
• 1 cup Club Soda
• ½ cup Brandy
• 3 Apples, chopped (Honeycrisp preferred)
• 3 Pears, chopped
• Fresh Ginger (optional)

Method: Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Refrigerate an hour before serving.