The holiday season is upon us, and with that comes big and small festivities. You may find yourself hosting a party this season and need to pair your festive food with some equally impressive drinks. Before you even start thinking about what you’re going to make you may be wondering, where is the liquor store near me? It can be a challenge putting all the pieces together for your year-end bash, but luckily we are providing a list of 6 easy-to-make cocktails that will up your hosting game this holiday season.
1. Brandy Alexander
Move over eggnog! And welcome back a classic, the Brandy Alexander. Originally made with gin instead of brandy, a Brandy Alexander is made by putting 1 ½ ounces of cognac, 1 ounce of dark creme de cacao, and 1 ounce of cream in a shaker with ice until chilled and pour into a coupe glass. Top with shaved nutmeg for that added touch of holiday spice, It’s so delicious I’ll need to find a liquor store near me and get the ingredients.
2. Pumpkin Spice White Russian
For some, it’s not pumpkin spice season; but regardless this cocktail may convert you and your guests into pumpkin spice lovers. Grind up some graham crackers to make fine crumbs, mix in pumpkin spice, and sugar, then set it aside on a plate for dipping your rim. Dip the top of your serving glasses in water and place in the rim mixture until it coats it evenly. In a shaker with ice pour in 3 ounces of vodka, 3 ounces of pumpkin spice creamer, and 1 ½ ounces of Kahlua, pour this tasty mixture into a glass and top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin spice.
3. Cranberry Margarita
Every time I visit a liquor store near me, I notice the tequila aisle getting longer because of how popular it is becoming. A sure hit will be this tasty cranberry margarita that’s easy to make, start with squeezing four limes and add that juice to a shaker along with ½ a cup of tequila, a ¼ cup of triple sec, and one cup of cranberry juice. Shake those ingredients together and before pouring, cover the rim of two glasses with either sugar or salt to enhance the flavor of the tequila. Pour the mixture of your shaker over some ice and get ready to take your fiesta to another level.
4. Gingerbread Martini
I have always enjoyed gingerbread cookies but as I got older I found an amazing recipe that mixed some adult beverage fun, with the classic taste of my favorite holiday treat. A gingerbread martini is super easy to make and I can usually find all of the ingredients at the liquor store near me. In a shaker with ice, you’ll mix 1 ounce of gingerbread syrup, 1 ½ ounces of vodka, 1 ounce of half-and-half (non-dairy works too). When you’re done shaking it together, grab your favorite decorative martini glasses and pour in some liquid holiday cheer.
5. Apple Cider Sangria
We often think of sangria as a summertime beverage, but what if we brought it into the holiday season with a twist? An apple cider sangria is easy to make and can be prepared well ahead of your guests’ arrival. I start by getting a good bottle of wine from the liquor store near me and adding it to a large drink pitcher filled with 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 chopped apple, 1 sliced orange, and ½ cup of frozen cranberries. Next, I add in 2 cups of cider and ½ a cup of caramel vodka, then after leaving it in the fridge for around three hours, it’s ready to be served to the masses.
6. Grapefruit and Sage Champagne Spritzer
Not every holiday drink has to be an obvious ode to the red and green scheme that covers every department store in December. This recipe for a grapefruit and sage champagne spritzer has a bit of earthy flavor, zing, and mouth feel that will elevate the mood of any scrooge this season. You’ll want to start by adding 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water to a small pot, simmering until the sugar dissolves. Then, add in 2 bunches of fresh sage leaves and stir for 30 seconds to infuse the flavor, set this aside to cool. In a shaker mix 3 ounces of grapefruit juice, 1 ½ ounces of the sage simple syrup you made earlier, and two dashes of Angostura bitters, and then pour that over ice in a whiskey tumbler. The best part is of course adding the bubbly champagne I purchased at the liquor store near me, ½ of a cup will do the trick, and then add a couple of sage leaves to garnish.