The Holiday/Christmas season is certain my favorite – How predictable - I love the spirit of giving and the sense of family that most of us opt to embrace. I feel very fortunate for being able to spend this special season with my family and dear friends for the past years. Now that things have shifted a little and I’m currently living in Palm Springs, a few thousand miles from my family, I’ve opted to do things a little different.
I don’t know if you can relate, but it seems like all the Christmas/Holiday parties, gathering, or celebrations usually don’t involve any creative cocktails. Wines, some kind of liquor, or eggnog, mostly surround these gatherings. As a host, when I thought of “Cocktails” I immediately associated it with expensive and elaborated drinking, but I’ve come to understand that is really not.
I decided to share a list of my five favorite cocktails for this celebratory season (or any occasion) that require minimum ingredients and easy making process. I tried to include very different drinks, to potentially fulfill your guest’s cocktail preferences.
1. The Hurricane
Ingredients:
- 1.5 Oz Dark rum
- 2 Oz Lemon juice
- 2 Oz orange and passion fruit
- Club soda
- Crushed ice cubes
- Lemon wedges and fresh
- cranberries, to decorate
Directions:
- Fill an 8 Oz glass with crushed ice.
- Shake the rum, lemon juice, and orange and passion fruite juice until well combined and pour into the glass.
- Top off with a splash of club soda and garnish with lemon wedges and cranberries
2. La Bodeguita
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp simple sugar syrup
- 1.5 Oz Jamaican rum
- 2 Oz of lemon juice
- Club Soda
- Crushed ice cubes
- Fresh mint leaves to taste, plus extra to decorate
- Lemon wedges as garnish
Directions
- Put the simple sugar syrup, mint leaves, and lime juice in a small jar and mash the mint leaves with a muddler or spoon.
- Add crushed ice cubes and the Jamaican rum,
- Top off with a splash of club soda
- Dress with mint leaves and lemon wedges
3. Cordless Screwdriver
Ingredients
- Juicy orange wedges
- Granulated sugar
- 1.5 Oz chilled vodka
Directions:
Based on the pictures, I would think the making process of this drink is very self-explanatory, but let me breakdown the few steps.
- Rub the rim of the shot glasses with an orange wedge, then dip in a saucer of sugar to frost
- Pour the chilled vodka into the shot glass
- Dip an orange wedge into the sugar
- Down the vodka in one gulp and suck on the orange : )
4. Palm Beach Martini
Ingredients:
- 1.5 Oz white rum
- 1 Oz of gin
- 2 Oz Pineapple Juice
- Fresh cranberries and lemon wedges to decorate
Directions:
- Shake the rum, gin, and pineapple juice vigorously over ice until well frosted
- Strain into a chilled martini glass
- Complement with cranberries and lemon wedge on the side of the glass
5. Bellini
Ingredients:
- Lemon wedge
- Granulated sugar
- 2 Oz peach juice
- 2.5 Oz Chilled champagne
Directions:
- Rub the rim of a chilled champagne flute with the lemon wedge, then dip in a saucer of sugar to frost.
- Pour peach juice into the prepared glass
- Add the chilled champagne
Now is time to partyyyyyy..!! Remember, DON’T drink and drive. Happy New Year : )
Until next time,
