Your Traditional Christmas Drinks

Jules

Jules

SF VIP
Do you have any favourite drinks that you only have about this time of year? Do you have a special recipe for them?

Egg nog. Hot buttered rum. Hot apple cider. Special drinks, with or without alcohol, that only come occasionally.

I used to have a recipe for a good hot buttered rum that you stirred with a cinnamon stick. Rum was optional.
 

Eggnog - we prefer a recipe that cooks the eggs and milk. Makes it super-smooth and enhances the flavor. Always freshly grated nutmeg on top. I use a combination of Bacardi Gold rum and Black Saddle bourbon.

I bought the latter whiskey based on some on-line reviews and when I tried it, I HATED it! So it sat in the cupboard for a couple of years until I threw some into my batch of eggnog, as I was low on the Remy Martin cognac I used to add with the rum.

To my surprise, it was absolutely wonderful in the eggnog, far better than the cognac. Has to sit overnight to mellow out, but that's no biggie.
 

Cider and Maple Old-Fashioned​

A twist on the classic old-fashioned with added seasonal flavors of apple cider and pure maple syrup creates this sensational Cider and Maple Old-fashioned.

Ingredients​

  • 5 ounces bourbon
  • 1 ounce pure maple syrup
  • 1 ounce apple cider
  • 4-6 dashes of orange bitters
  • Cinnamon sticks to garnish

Instructions​

  • To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the bourbon, pure maple syrup, apple cider, and orange bitters. Shake to combine.
  • Strain into two rocks glasses filled with ice and then garnish each with a cinnamon stick.
 
We don't drink alcohol. Williams Sonoma had drinks available in their store to promote the products during the holidays.
Ever since I tasted this, it became our favorite drink for the holidays.
It consists of their Five Apple Cider Concentrate, Mulling Spices jar, Mulling Spice Ball, and Cinnamon Sticks. They serve it warm. (If you do not want to buy it from them, you can reproduce it easily at home using supermarket products bought at a lower price).
 
We have 6 to 8 friends over for Christmas dinner and last year I switched from
my 'Old Fashioned' to the Original Mai Tai for the pre-dinner drink.

Aged Rum, Grand Marnier, Lime juice, Orgeat syrup and a little Dark Rum.
Garnish with lime wedge and cocktail cherry.
Easy to make and seemed to be a hit.

My idea was to take the edge off the cold temps with a summer drink, for those hanging out on the outside deck.

I'll offer both this year.
 
I put the Hot Butter (Rum) Drink in Recipes. It’s not low calories but you know what you’re getting unlike with those mixes.
 
I like the Williams-Sonoma mulling spices. I use it with apple cider & those who wish can add bourbon or cognac to their mug.
It's also good to use in Glühwein which I'll make for Christmas.

Another cocktail we like is Northwoods #2 (makes 2):

3 Tbsp. gold rum
2 Tbsp. brandy
1 1/2 Tbsp. apple cider
1 tsp. pure maple syrup
3/4 tsp. lemon juice

ice cubes
2 thin apple slices

Combine first 5 ingredients in cocktail shaker; fill with ice. Cover and shake vigorously until cold. Strain into 2 coupe glasses. Cut slit in each apple slice and attach to rim of each glass.
 

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