Tis the season to be jolly…and for a little indulgence! And what could be more indulgent than a festive cocktail to celebrate the holidays? Here at Irish Drink Shop, we’ve made a list of the 12 Cocktails of Christmas to help get you into that jolly mood (and be the life of the party no doubt!) These include some classic and some very modern recipes to try your hand at this holiday season! So, whether you like a boozy hot chocolate with lashings of cream and syrup or just simple hot whiskey, there’s something for everybody on this list! 



1) Mulled Wine


Ingredients:

1 Bottle of Leza Garcia Tinto Familia Crianza

1 Large cinnamon stick, or 2 small ones

2 Star anise

4 Cloves

2 Strips lemon zest, pared using a vegetable peeler

4 Tbsp caster sugar


Our wide range of red wines are available here


Method:

Put the red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 mins. Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infuse for about 30 mins. To serve, heat without boiling and pour into mugs or heatproof glasses.



2) Egg Nog


Ingredients:


6 medium free-range eggs, separated

150g golden caster sugar

500ml whole milk

400ml double cream

350ml Plantation Original Dark Rum 

(Non alcoholic rum option: Caleno Dark & Spicy) 

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon  or a mixture of the two, depending on your preference

Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste


Method:


Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl with 100g of the caster sugar until the mixture is pale yellow and thick (this is best done with an electric handheld mixer). Stir in the milk, double cream, and the rum and/or bourbon. You can add a little grated nutmeg as well, if you like your nog this way. Pour the mixture into two 750ml/1½ pint bottles with stoppers and store in the fridge for up to two weeks. (The alcohol will prevent any spoilage of the eggs or cream.) Place the egg whites in a box and freeze until ready to serve the egg nog. When ready to serve, defrost the egg whites into a clean metal or glass bowl. Using a handheld electric mixer, whisk the egg whites until foamy and opaque. Add the remaining 50g of sugar and whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed. Pour the egg nog from the bottles into a large bowl and fold in the egg whites until well combined. Ladle the egg nog into glass tumblers and serve with a little freshly grated nutmeg over the top of each glass.




3) Hot Toddy (Hot Whiskey) 


Ingredients:


50ml Jameson Original whiskey

3 Tsp honey

1 Cinnamon stick, snapped in half

1 Lemon, half juiced and half sliced

2 Cloves


Want to swap for your favourite whiskey? Then be sure to browse our extensive range of whiskies available here!


Method:

Whisk the Jameson Original whiskey and honey together and split between 2 heatproof glasses. Add half of the cinnamon stick to each, then top up with 200ml boiling water. Add a splash of lemon juice to each, then taste and add more to your preference. Finish each with a slice of lemon, studded with a clove, and serve immediately.



4) Baileys Hot Chocolate


Ingredients:

Baileys Irish Cream

Cocoa powder

Milk

Sugar

Vanilla extract

Cinnamon

Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips


Want something a bit sweeter? Browse our full range of Baileys available here!


Method:


Prepare hot cocoa and pour into a mug. Stir in Baileys Original Irish Cream. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup.



5) The Grinch Cocktail


Ingredients:


60ml Mozart White Chocolate Cream Liqueur 

30ml Gabriel Boudier Creme de Menthe Green 

30ml Nusbaumer Liqueur De Menthe Poivree 

1 Packet White Hot Chocolate

120ml Hot Milk

Whipped Cream

Christmas Sprinkles


Method: 


Pour the white hot chocolate into a mason jar or heat-proof glass. Stir. Add the Mozart White Chocolate Cream Liqueur, green creme de menthe and peppermint liqueur. Stir. Top with whipped cream and Christmas sprinkles.

Garnish with a candy cane. 



6) Christmas Gin Cocktail 


Ingredients:

50ml Copeland Gin

25ml Mixer Lemon Juice

15ml Orange Juice 

15ml Campari

1 tsp caster sugar 

1 egg white 

Ice

A grating of nutmeg 

Orange peel or cocktail cherry to garnish


Method:


Put the Copeland Gin, Mixer Lemon Juice, orange juice, Campari, sugar, and egg white in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well for 15-30 seconds. Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass, grate over a little nutmeg, and garnish with some orange peel or a cocktail cherry.




7) Hot Buttered Rum


Ingredients:


100ml Saison Rum 

200ml Water

25g Butter

1 Blood orange, zested and juiced

4 Cloves

1 Star anise

1 Tsp ground cinnamon

1 Bay leaf

1 Tsp maple syrup


Method:

Heat all the ingredients in a pan until hot but not boiling, while stirring. Let it sit for a few mins, then strain into a flask. 



7) Sloe Gin Fizz


Ingredients: 

50ml Bathtub Sloe Gin 

25ml Mixer Lemon Juice

2 Tsp sugar syrup

Ice

Sparkling water

Lemon slice

Premium Freeze Dried Raspberries


Method:


Pour the Bathtub Sloe Gin, Mixer Lemon Juice, and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker and fill up with ice cubes. Shake well until the outside of the shaker feels cold, then strain into a tall glass filled with more ice. Top up with sparkling water and stir gently. Garnish with a lemon slice and raspberries. 



8) Candy Cane Cocktail


Ingredients: 

1 Candy cane, crushed, for garnish

30ml Absolut Vanilla Vodka

4 Dashes Gabriel Boudier Creme de Menthe Blanc

74ml Cranberry juice

Ice cubes


Method: 


Place crushed candy canes on a small plate or saucer. Wet the outside rim of a chilled martini glass with water. Holding the glass by the stem, rotate the rim to coat with candy. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, creme de menthe, cranberry juice, and ice; shake until well combined. Strain into prepared glass; serve immediately.



9) Cranberry Mimosa 


Ingredients:

375 ml Cranberry juice

750 ml Cattier Brut 1er Crut

180 ml Grand Marnier 

Fresh cranberries and rosemary, for garnish


Method:

Fill a champagne flute ⅓ full with cranberry juice. Add 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier. Fill the remaining glass with Cattier Brut 1er Crut. Garnish with some cranberries and rosemary.




10) Snowflake Martini 


Ingredients:


90 ml Mozart White Chocolate Cream Liqueur

60 ml Vanilla Vodka

2 Tbsp. double cream

Ice

1 Lemon wedge, for rim

70 g White sanding sugar, for rim


Method:


Using a lemon wedge, wet the rim of your martini glass. Dip in sanding sugar until rim is coated. In a cocktail shaker, combine white chocolate liqueur with vanilla vodka and double cream. Fill shaker with ice and shake well. Strain mixture into prepared glass and serve.



11) Christmas Punch


750ml La Farra Valdobbiadene Superiore Brut Spumante Prosecco

1l Cloudy apple juice

Ice

250ml Monkey Sloe Gin

50ml Jägermeister

1 Ball stem ginger, finely sliced plus 2 tbsp of the syrup

3-4 Sprigs rosemary

1 Clementine, finely sliced


Method:


The day before you want to serve, put the grapes in the freezer for around 8-12 hrs or until frozen. Chill the prosecco and apple juice in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, put the frozen grapes and a generous handful of ice in a large 2-3 litre punch bowl and pour all of the remaining ingredients on top. Stir gently to combine, then serve. Sits well for up to 3 hrs before putting the ice in.



12) Christmas Sangria


Ingredients:


1 Bottle (750 ml) Los Aguilares Pago El Espino

500 ml pomegranate or cranberry juice

250 ml Johnny Fall Down Late Apples Cider

125 ml Hennessy 

60 ml honey Arils from 1 pomegranate

250 ml cranberries

1 Green apple or green pear, chopped


Method:

Add fresh fruit to a large pitcher. Combine all the remaining ingredients separately, then add to fresh fruit and stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold. The longer the sangria sits, the more flavourful it will be. Prepare the sangria ahead of time if possible, up to a full day before serving.


We hope you enjoyed our 12 Cocktails of Christmas recipes. All cocktail equipment is available here for all your mixology needs!  Need more inspiration? Join our mailing list and we’ll keep you posted about our latest news and offers. Join here at:http://eepurl.com/hhIkv5 (you can unsubscribe at anytime).

 If you have any further questions, feel free to give us a call at +353 1912 3253 or contact us on Facebook, Twitter, or email at info@irishdrinkshop.com


Nollaig Shona Duit & Slainte!


Irish Drink Shop Team