PEPPERMINT/CHOCOLATE MARTINI WITH CANDY CANE RIM
Nothing goes hand-in-hand with the holiday season more than candy canes and chocolate. It’s easy to incorporate these iconic treats into your seasonal cocktails.

2 oz white chocolate liqueur
2 oz vanilla vodka
2 oz peppermint schnapps
Splash of cream or milk
1/4 cup ice
Candy canes

• In a blender, pulse candy canes to crush.
• Wet the rim of the cocktail glass, lower into the crushed candy canes and rotate to cover.
• Blend all liquids in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes.
• Strain into rimmed cocktail glass.
• Garnish with a candy cane or sprinkle with crushed candy.

GINGERBREAD MARTINI
Another seasonal staple is gingerbread, in cookies, edible houses or drinks.

3 oz vodka
3 oz Irish cream
2 Tbsp gingerbread
syrup (or to taste)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 oz cream
whipped cream and crushed gingerbread for garnish

• Place ice and all liquids in a cocktail shaker.
• Shake until well blended.
• Strain into a martini glass and garnish with whipped cream and crushed gingerbread or a whole cookie.

CHOCOLATE MARTINI

2 oz Irish cream
2 oz chocolate liqueur
2 oz vodka
ice
chocolate syrup
shaved chocolate (optional)

• Dip the rim of a martini glass in a thin layer of chocolate syrup to coat.
• Drizzle some syrup inside the glass.
• Combine liquors in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.
• Shake for about 20 seconds, until chilled.
• Pour and garnish with shaved chocolate if desired.

EGGNOG PUNCH
Probably one of the drinks most closely associated with the holidays is eggnog.

2 cups milk
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
6 large egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup bourbon or rum (optional)
whipped cream

• In a saucepan over low heat, combine milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Slowly bring to a low boil.
• In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks with sugar until yolks are pale in colour. Slowly, in small batches, add the hot milk mixture to egg yolks. Whisk to combine.
• Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat until slightly thick but not boiling.
• Remove from heat and stir in heavy cream and bourbon. Refrigerate until chilled.
• Serve topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.

COCONUT MARGARITA
Cranberries are another integral part of holiday feasting and make this coconut margarita and winter sangria particularly festive.

Cinnamon sugar (for rim)
1 1/2 oz silver tequila
1 oz coconut milk
1/2 oz orange liqueur
1/2 oz lime juice
1/2 oz white cranberry juice

• In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the tequila, coconut milk, orange liqueur, lime juice and white cranberry juice.
• Shake well.
• Strain into glass over fresh ice.

WINTER SANGRIA PUNCH

1 bottle of dry red wine (may also use a white pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc)
2 cups cranberry juice
1/2 cup apple cider
1/2 cup brandy
3-4 Tbsp honey (depending on desired sweetness)
1 cup cranberries
1 apple diced
1 pear diced
2 cinnamon sticks (extra for garnish)
2 sprigs of rosemary (extra for garnish plus fruit slice and handful of cranberries)

• Place all ingredients in a pitcher or punch bowl and stir well to combine.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least three hours to overnight.
• Serve over ice with cranberries, another sprig of rosemary and cinnamon stick.

SNOW DAIQUIRI

2 oz light rum
1/2 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz lime juice
1/4 oz sugar cane syrup (available most supermarkets) or simple syrup (combine equal parts sugar and water, boil briefly and cool)
1 egg white

• shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
• Add ice and shake again.
• Strain into a glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge.

BLUE CHRISTMAS MARGARITA
While Elvis sings about a Blue Christmas, create your own blue Christmas cocktail with curacao.

1 cup vodka or rum
1 cup white cranberry juice
1/4 cup blue curacao
1 – 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice ice cubes

• In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, white cranberry juice, curacao, lime juice, and ice.
• Shake.
• Strain into chilled martini glasses.

TANGERNINE MARGARITA

2 oz tequila
1 oz orange liqueur
1/2 oz lime juice
1/2 oz tangerine juice
Salt to rim glass

• Rim a cocktail glass with salt (wet rim with a piece of lime or tangerine then roll in a shallow dish of coarse salt).
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, orange liqueur and juices.
• Shake well and strain into the glass.

TANGERNINE MARGARITA
Add spark to your New Year’s Eve champagne with seasonal tastes of cranberry and pomegranate.

2 oz pomegranate liqueur
2 oz cranberry juice
4 oz champagne chilled

• Combine all the ingredients and garnish with fresh cranberries and pomegranate seeds.