The 12 Drinks of Christmas

Those who know me well, and who have known me for the past few years, know that this is not my “happiest time of the year” (for me, that’s summertime…. give me heat, give me sunshine!!)….*cough* sorry…. I got distracted. Right, where was I?

Oh yes… Christmas. Winter. Snow. Bleh. So, for me, staying warm, inside, with a good drink makes me happy. So, my 12 Drinks of Christmas (the 12 days being the ones that begin on Christmas night and end at Epiphany on January 5th)? Here it is….(recipes below)

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Four Tyku Tinis
Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Five Jingle Bombs
Four Tyku Tinis
Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Six Bewildered Beauties
Five Jingle Bombs
Four Tyku Tinis
Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Seven New Year’s Kisses
Six Bewildered Beauties
Five Jingle Bombs
Four Tyku Tinis
Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Eight Creme Brulee Martinis
Seven New Year’s Kisses
Six Bewildered Beauties
Five Jingle Bombs
Four Tyku Tinis
Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Nine Christmas Cocktails
Eight Creme Brulee Martinis
Seven New Year’s Kisses
Six Bewildered Beauties
Five Jingle Bombs
Four Tyku Tinis
Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Ten Gin Martinis
Nine Christmas Cocktails
Eight Creme Brulee Martinis
Seven New Year’s Kisses
Six Bewildered Beauties
Five Jingle Bombs
Four Tyku Tinis
Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

Eleven Pop-a-Cherry-tinis
Ten Gin Martinis
Nine Christmas Cocktails
Eight Creme Brulee Martinis
Seven New Year’s Kisses
Six Bewildered Beauties
Five Jingle Bombs
Four Tyku Tinis
Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

And on the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Twelve Mellow Yellows,
Eleven Pop-a-Cherry-tinis
Ten Gin Martinis
Nine Christmas Cocktails
Eight Creme Brulee Martinis
Seven New Year’s Kisses
Six Bewildered Beauties
Five Jingle Bombs
Four Tyku Tinis
Three  Cinnamon Sidecards
Two Woodford Candy Cane Eggnogs
And a Mekhong Partridge in a Pear Tree

Day 1: Mekhong Partidge in a Pear Tree

2 shots Mekhong
¾ shot fresh squeezed Lime Juice
½ shot Elderflower cordial
1 bar spoon of sugar
¼ fresh pear cut lengthwise
3 thumbnail sized slices of fresh ginger root
½ Kaffir lime leaf

In a mixing glass muddle the pear, ginger and sugar into a paste. Add Mekhong and the rest of the ingredients. Add Ice and shake vigorously for 7-8 seconds. Strain into a rock glass over ice. Garnish with torn Kaffir lime leaf.

Day 2: Woodford Candy Cane Eggnog

Woodford Candy Cane:

1 750mL bottle of Woodford Reserve
2 Candy Canes
Empty out bottle of Woodford Reserve into a clean container.
Place Candy Canes at the bottom of the bottle (break Candy Canes into smaller piece if need be).
Pour Woodford back into the bottle and allow the concoction to infuse for 24 hours.
To Serve:
Pour 1 1/2 oz. Candy Cane infusion in a mug. Fill with warm eggnog and stir. Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Day 3: Cinnamon Sidecars

1.5oz Le Tourment Vert Absinthe
.5oz Cointreau
.5oz Fresh Orange Juice
1.5oz Sweet & Sour

Shake well and strain into chilled martini glass with a cinnamon sugar rim with orange twist garnish.
Day 4: TyKu Tini

2 oz TyKu
1 oz citrus Vodka
Shake over ice and serve

Day 5: Jingle Bomb

2 oz Three-O Vodka (any flavor, depending on preference)
4 oz energy drink

Mix in a glass with ice and garnish with a cherry

Day 6: Bewildered Beauties

1 1/2 oz BACARDI® 8 Rum
1/2 oz B&B Liqueur
6 fresh raspberries
2 tbsp Coco Lopez
1 scoop (approximately 1/2 cup) vanilla ice cream

Put all the ingredients into a blender, blend thoroughly, and pour into a wine goblet.

Day 7: New Year’s Kiss

1 oz. Finlandia Cranberry
3 oz. Korbel Champagne

Combine and stir. Pour into a chilled champagne glass. Garnish with cranberries

Day 8: Creme Brulee Martini

2 oz Stoli Vanilla
0.75 oz Port of Crème Anglaise
1 Dash of Simple Syrup
hard caramel for garnish

Blend the above ingredients in a shaker.
Shake well and strain in a Martini Glass.
Decorate with hard caramel.

Day 9: P.i.N.K. Christmas Cocktails

1½ oz p.i.n.k. vodka
1½ oz Godiva white chocolate liqueur
1 oz half & half cream
splash of Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur)
splash of Chambord

Shake vigorously until frothy.  Pour into a martini glass. Garnish with skewered red raspberries.

Day 10: Gin Martini
Bond was wrong – this drink was meant to be stirred, not shaken.

3 oz Gin
splash of extra dry vermouth
Twist of lemon rubbed around the rim, garnished with olives

Pour gin directly into a tall, wide glass (the top of a Boston Shaker is erfect) filled with ice. Add vermouth. Stir gently for a minute. Strain into a cold martini glass.

Day 11: Pop-a-Cherry-tini

1 2/3 oz passion fruit vodka
1/2 oz cherry brandy
1/2 oz creme de framboise
2/3 oz lime juice
1/2 a fresh passion fruit
2 tsps demerara sugar
2 small bunches fresh oregano
6 ripe cherries

Pit the cherries and place them in a shaked with the sugar & oregano. Muddle. Add ice and the rest of the ingredients. Shake. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Day 12: Mellow Yellow

2 oz Gin
2/3 oz Limoncello
2/3 fresh Lemon Juice
4 fresh cilanro leaves
Lemon Sorbet

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a champagne coupe glass over a scoop of lemon sorbet. Add a sprig of cilantro for garnish.

Enjoy, but as always enjoy safely! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

(images provided by brands included in the drinks)