Cocktail Inspo for the Ho-ho-holidays

Holiday soiree season is in full swing and you’ll need some fresh new drink ideas to wow your winter guests. Good Food Polk has you covered! We’ve compiled a list of five fab cocktails to imbibe, babe. Cheers!

1. Mistletoe Margaritas

Recipe from How Sweet Eats: howsweeteats.com/2017/12/christmas-margarita-mistletoe

INGREDIENTS

• coarse salt for the rim

• 2 ounces Grand Marnier

• 1 1/2 ounces tequila

• 2 ounces white cranberry juice

• 2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice

• 1 ounce simple syrup

• lime for garnish

• fresh cranberries for garnish

• rosemary for garnish

Simple Syrup:

• 1/2 cup water

• 1/2 cup sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Rim each glass with a lime wedge and dip in the course salt. Fill each glass with ice.

2. In a cocktail shaker, add the grand marnier, tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, and syrup and shake for 30 to 60 seconds. Pour over the ice. Garnish with extra limes and fresh cranberries! Throw a sprig of rosemary if you wish.

Simple Syrup:

1. Stir together the water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until the sugar dissolves and bring the mixture to a simmer. Remove from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.

2. Peppermint Martinis

Recipe from A Couple Cooks: acouplecooks.com/peppermint-martini

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ounce 30 proof or 60 proof* peppermint schnapps (or white Creme de Menthe)

• 1/2 ounce** vodka

• 1 1/2 ounces Creme de Cacao

• 1 1/2 ounces heavy cream

• Peppermint candies and grenadine for the rim (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare the rim: Crush the Crush the peppermint candies and place them in an even layer on a plate. On another plate, add a small pool of grenadine, or simply wet the rim of the glass with water using your finger (grenadine is easiest and works best). Run the rim of a martini glass in the grenadine first, rotating the glass so the rim is evenly coated. Then roll the rim in the crushed candies until evenly coated.

2. Shake the drink: Place the peppermint schnapps, vodka, Creme de Cacao, and heavy cream in a cocktail shaker. Add a handful of ice and shake until cold. Strain the drink into the prepared martini glass.

NOTES

*Check the bottle before you make this drink! If using 100 proof (50% ABV) schnapps, use half the quantity and customize to taste.

**To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons

3. Wassail

Recipe from Oh So Deliciouso: ohsodelicioso.com/wassail

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Gallon apple juice or apple cider

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate

• 1 orange sliced

• 2 teaspoons whole cloves

• 2 teaspoons whole allspice

• 3 sticks cinnamon

• 2 whole nutmeg or 1 teaspoon ground

DIRECTIONS

Stovetop:

1. Tie spices into a large piece of cheesecloth. Alternately, you can pour liquid through a fine mesh strainer after steeping.

2. Mix apple juice, orange juice concentrate and sugar into a large pot.

3. Add orange slices and spices, stir to combine.

4. Heat just to boiling, then reduce to low and steep for 1 hour.

*Visit the website for Instant pot and slow cooker instructions.

4. Gingerbread White Russian

Recipe from Half-Baked Harvest: halfbakedharvest.com/gingerbread-white-russian

INGREDIENTS

Gingerbread Syrup:

• 1/4 cup honey

• 3 tablespoons molasses

• 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Gingerbread Russian:

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) vodka

• 1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) Kahlua

• 1-2 ounces (2-4 tablespoons) gingerbread syrup

• 1-2 ounces (2-4 tablespoons) heavy cream

• cinnamon sticks and gingerbread cookies for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Gingerbread Syrup:

1. In a medium pot, combine 1 1/3 cups water, the honey, molasses, ginger and cinnamon. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 3-5 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla. Let cool. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Gingerbread Russian:

1. Fill a glass with ice. Add the vodka, Kahlua, and gingerbread syrup. Stir gently. Add the heavy cream and stir to combine. Garnish with cinnamon and gingerbread cookies, if desired.

5. The Grinch Cocktail

Recipe from Sula and Spice: sulaandspice.com/grinch-cocktail

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 ounces Midori liqueur

• 1 ounce limoncello liqueur

• 5 ounces lemon-lime soda

• Red sanding sugar

• 1 strawberry

• 1 mini marshmallow

DIRECTIONS

1. Wet the glass rim and dip in red sanding sugar to coat.

2. Add Midori, Limoncello and soda to a cocktail shaker with some ice. Shake well.

3. Pour into martini glass or over ice in an old-fashioned glass, as desired.

4. Garnish with strawberry and marshmallow to resemble a Santa hat and serve.