Cocktails are fabulous for a Christmas party. You can serve them pre-lunch. You can serve them pre-dinner.
And of course, cocktails always hit the right note at a party.
Being greeted by a tray of enticing drinks makes a good first impression on the guest. (And remember cocktails don’t have to be alcohol-based. Non-alcoholic cocktails can be delicious.)
Cocktails can be served in a variety of glasses – tumblers, champagne flutes, Hi-balls or traditional martini glasses. To coin a famous phrase, some are “shaken”, some are “stirred”. You may need a cocktail shaker and you’ll definitely need some crushed ice.
If you’re serving large numbers, remember you can hire/borrow glasses from a supermarket.
Anyway, to work .
Christmas Cocktail Recipes
Champagne Cocktail – a classic
For one glass: 1 lump cube sugar, 2 drops Angostura bitters, 1 tablespoon brandy, 4 parts cold Champagne
Put the lump of sugar into the base of a Champagne glass. Shake the bitters onto the sugar. Add the brandy. Pour in the iced Champagne. Garnish with lemon and serve.
Egg Nog – enough for 8-10 people. Warming.
12 eggs, 12 teaspoons sugar, 1/2 bottle whisky, 1/2 bottle dark rum, 1 pint thick cream, 2 pints milk, grated nutmeg.
Separate the eggs, putting the whites into a mixing bowl and the yolks into the punch bowl. Beat the yolks until smooth, adding the sugar bit by bit. Then add the whisky and the rum little by little, stirring all the time. Whip the cream until stiff, then fold into the punch bowl mixture. Add the milk and stir everything. Whip the egg whites until stiff and then combine them into the mixture. Stir together gently, pour into glasses topped with the sprinkled nutmeg.
Moscow Mule
For one glass: 3 ice cubes, 2 parts vodka, Ginger beer
Put the ice cubes into a tumbler. Pour the vodka and as much ginger beer as you want over the ice. Stir gently and serve.
Virgin Pina Colada
For one glass: 6 parts pineapple juice, 2 parts coconut cream, 1 cup crushed ice
Put all ingredients into a blender and mix at high speed. Pour into a hi-ball glass and serve.
Vodka Martini – will you have it shaken or stirred?
For one glass: 4-5 ice cubes, 1 part dry French vermouth, 3 parts vodka, 1 olive
Put the ice cubes into a jug. Pour the vermouth and vodka over. Stir well and then pour into a chilled martini glass. Drop in the olive and serve.
Happy Christmas Cocktail making!
Cocktail photograph by The Culinary Geek via Flickr
these are awesome, I would def suggest using voli vodka, I’ve tried it before and it tastes great!