5 Amazing cocktails for the holiday season
HEERIYE HEERIYE
Holiday season is upon us and we are all in search of one thing. What kind of alcohol are we drinking? No need to fear your favorite event planner is here. This small guide to 5 amazing cocktails for the holiday season will have your invitees saying "you did what?" When those special moments arrive, you’ll be a master at cocktail making, I’ll include my special recipes for these must have seasonal drinks at your holiday event.
As a Latina growing up, you’re surrounded by your immense extended family, the lovely kitchen smells, kids running around & the shots you take with your Tio while playing domino. Being Colombian is not easy when you know you have to upkeep with your 95-year-old grandma taking shots. For this reason, my first and favorite holiday spirit is Aguardiente Antioqueno. If you’re not familiar with aguardiente (which translates in English to fire water) let me proudly acquaint you with this strong, smooth alcohol made from anise and sugar cane. The most popular way to drink aguardiente in Colombia is in shots, nice cool shots; however, I bring you my personal twist on this traditional liquor.
1.The Aguardiente Sour; a traditional Colombian cocktail made with orange juice, sugar, egg whites, lime juice and aguardiente liquor. This concoction will keep you warm inside during the cool holidays. Rejoice during your event(s) in style with this memorable cocktail.
Now as a New Yorker I have encountered a great diverse number of Latinos and their traditional holiday drinks. One that holds near and dear to me is the Coquito. When it comes to holiday celebrations, especially Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) eggnog is a must and in the island of Puerto Rico it’s called Coquito. If you’re just here for the recipes you got to try this one!
2. Coquito is an alcoholic drink very similar to eggnog; and in Puerto Rico this delicious drink is almost guaranteed to be found at every dinner table, domino table and at the just because table. Chocolate Cookie Coquito (a favorite of mines) is a chocolate flavor coconut eggnog. For the ones that want something more on the “hidden” side and want to celebrate with the family listening to warm Christmas music, salsa or merengue this is a way to do it. The ingredients of this delicious consist of coconut cream, evaporated milk, vanilla & rum. Of course there’s more but I’m going to let you see it for yourself here.
Now I am no mixologist but have been around plenty of crafty drinks and creative bartenders to have learned a thing or two. With that being said let me wine you down Bourbon Street, no I’m not talking about Louisiana but this southern comfort cocktail will have you asking for more than in exchange of beads this holiday season.
3. Wino and Bourbon are a flavorful fall drink that delights your pallet and lets you wine down during this holiday season. I’ve been a wine drinker for about 5 years, tasting different reds and whites from different wineries to even making my own; just to find what suits best. I constantly was looking for a way to give it a punch and making it extra. When leaving a liquor store in Manhattan, Four Roses Bourbon caught my eye & the light bulb went on. I took a leap of faith in mixing the bourbon with white wine (I personally prefer Sauvignon Gris or Merlot Blanc) and thankfully it was surprisingly refreshing. The real trick is to pick a wine you like and let is sit for a while, the flavors will mix and the magic will happen.
No other drink seems better suited for a celebration than Champagne, we cannot forget the classic beverage of all time. The sparkling bubbly has been part of the holiday season for decades and it would be very tasteless to not include it. When those special moments arrive, you'll want to make sure you know how to open and serve this special beverage. This classic concoction is a perfect way to ring in the new year at midnight, sip while cooking Christmas dinner or even while lounging around with the family during Thanksgiving.
4.Revolutionize the classic Champagne cocktail with sorbet in place of the traditional sugar cube and bitters. You can use strawberry, passion fruit, or whichever sorbet flavor you prefer. A recipe that is so simple your guest will want you to bartend at their events.
Let’s take a minute to take in all the spirits talk and make sure we point out the cocktail of the hour. Yes, you guessed it, Whiskey!! Whiskey is an all-time celebration classic, always a great go-to cocktail. Delight in the holiday season with this whiskey recipe with a festive twist.
5. I introduce to you ‘Pomegranate Maple Whiskey’. It is so much fun to take such a timeless cocktail and tailor it to your fun event. Similar to a mojito but with a whiskey bend. My inspiration comes from my grandfather Anibal whose favorite go to spirit was a glass of good olé’ Old Parr on the rocks. So I decided to take grandpa Ani’s favorite drink and put my spin on it. Maple pairs tastefully with pomegranate in this drink, giving enough sweetness that you can skip the simple syrup. If you don’t have flavored whiskey, use plain and add a little maple syrup for sweetness. Top with sparkling water for a little fizz if you want!
Go ahead and toast with family and friends, get together with the neighbor and cheer the holiday season on with these delightful mixes. Don’t forget to download all recipes to use at home and contact us for all your holiday event planning and needs. This cocktail collection and fantastic recipes are perfect for any event not just the holiday season.
