Let's get into the holiday spirits!
by Jessica Toscano Dec 20, 2021
There are many wondrous memories that accrue during the holidays, and get-togethers with salivating hors d'oeuvres, festive cookies, and lots and lots of booze are just a fragment of what we most anticipate. After all, what else helps us bond — and often cope — with friends and family at seasonal gatherings more than food and alcohol? Emphasis on the latter. But alcohol is not just a mere way to ease the anxiety of prying family members who demand to know why you’re still single, or lighten the tension between friends who love nothing more than to discuss politics at a party. Adult bevs are meant to soothe the soul and satisfy the taste buds, encourage openness and initiate laughter, and all-around feel celebratory in our cocktail choosing.
To help you truly bask in the spirit of togetherness this season, we bring to you nine holiday cocktails to sip stag, down with snacks, or enjoy as dessert.
1. Galliano “Afoggatto”
This espresso shooter turned decadent dessert is one that will surely perk up any houseguest. With each spoonful, this easy pairing serves a classic brand with a modern twist that’s bold and boozy. If it’s a cocktail you crave more, stir this treat until milkshake consistency for the most childish adult bev ever.
Top 1 scoop vanilla ice cream with 1 oz Galliano Espresso in a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with precisely 3 espresso beans.
2. Pennsylvania Dutch “Spiced Nog”
Nothing screams the holidays more than eggnog, and this brand’s velvety-smooth combo of rum, brandy, and blended whisky is no exception. One gracious pour of Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog is enough to warm you, while this concoction’s addition of spiced rum and coffee liqueur will leave you and your guests extra toasty.
In a shaker, combine 2 parts Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog, 1 part spiced rum, and 1 part coffee liqueur. Generously shake, then pour over ice. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkling of nutmeg.
3. Casamigos “Casa Bells”
A slightly tart, slightly sweet refresher for when warm, bold, and heavy flavors don’t suit you. Plus, the extravagance of a smooth top-shelf tequila for when you’re feeling your fanciest aka during holiday festivities.
In a tin shaker, add 2 oz Casamigos Blanco, 1 oz fresh cranberry juice, 1 oz fresh lime juice, .5 oz simple syrup, and .25 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur. Shake vigorously before fine straining into a rocks glass, then add ice. For garnish, gently place a three-cranberry skewer and a dill sprig atop glass.
4. NEFT Vodka “Snowy Day”
Brighten the holidays with this snow-inspired cocktail that tastes every bit as merry as it looks. Like the fluffy white stuff, this bev is chilled, smooth, and impactful. Of course, no martini is complete unless it’s shaken, not stirred.
Combine 1.5 oz NEFT Ultra-Premium Vodka, 1.5 oz white mocha liqueur, and .5 oz peppermint schnapps in a tin shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously, then strain into a martini glass rimmed with crumbled peppermint bark.
5. NOLET'S “French 75”
If sweets are what you’re after this time of year, give this unique to its family gin cocktail a taste. Unlike most gin, NOLET’S is known for its fruit-forward palette, with notes of peach and raspberry. Add fresh lemon juice and top with champagne, and you have a glass of cheer to help ring in the New Year!
In a shaker, combine .5 oz NOLET’S Silver Gin and 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice. Add ice, then shake until chilled. Pour contents into a flute or coupe glass, then top with 2 oz champagne or sparkling wine (NOLET’S recommends Brut). With a bar spoon, gently mix without stirring to minimize carbonation. Finalize with a lemon twist garnish.
6. ALT “Hot Coffee Cocktail”
Liquid THC replaces alcohol in this adult coffee that wakes you up as much as it winds you down. Vanilla coconut milk and ground cinnamon add hints of sweetness that’s topped with fluffy whipped cream and a tang of orange zest. Plus, its brewed warmth equally heats your hands and insides with each gracious sip.
Brew 8 oz of your go-to hot coffee, then add 5 mg of ALT and 1.5 oz vanilla coconut milk*. Top with whipped cream, and dust with ground cinnamon and shaved orange zest.
*Homemade Vanilla coconut milk
In a pot, add 2 cups coconut milk and 1 freshly split vanilla bean. Warm over low heat for 15 minutes or to taste. Be careful not to boil. Strain and allow to cool before crafting your coffee cocktail.
7. Kraken Rum “Holiday Kraken”
Hard dry cider, cinnamon, and dark rum come together to deliver a strong punch (pun intended) with each jolly swig. Never will you find yourself more spirited than after Kraken open the bottles that make this glass of holiday cheer complete.
In a pint glass, add 1 part Kraken® Black Label, 1/4 part cinnamon syrup*, and 1/4 part lemon juice over ice. Top with hard dry cider.
*Cinnamon syrup
In a saucepan, simmer 1 part sugar, 1 part water, and 4 cinnamon sticks. Stir until sugar dissolves, then leave mixture to cool before adding to the cocktail.
8. Coopers’ Craft “Coup de Lait”
Mystically light and airy with a creamy consistency is what you’ll experience when you enjoy the slight warmth that is Coup de Lait. Just one sip, and you’ll never again revisit a bourbon without the memory of this frothy “head in the clouds” sensation.
Using a milk frother (or by dry shaking), froth 1 egg white, then pour it into a shaker with 1 tsp Coopers’ Craft Bourbon, 4 oz whole milk, 2.5 tbsp cream, and 4 tsp powdered sugar. Shake gently, then add ice and shake swiftly. Strain into a coupe glass or highball, and dust with ground nutmeg.
An espresso martini but with Bailey’s makes this adult bev rich enough to enjoy in place of dessert. Not to mention, it satisfies the after-dinner coffee craving you’ll likely have all the same.
Add 50 ml Baileys Original Irish Cream, 25 ml vodka, 25 ml espresso, and a few ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Shake until smooth. Strain into a martini glass, and garnish with 3 coffee beans.
