Actually, is it even considered a hard liquor?

Whatever the case I definitely enjoy it and this Southern Comfort Eggnog recipe looks delicious and it’s right on time for the holidays!  Simple to make and incredibly affordable, this is a definite must at any Holiday party.

Give it a shot!

SoCo® Eggnog

1 cup Southern Comfort

1 qt. Dairy Egg Nog

Ground Nutmeg

Glass: Pitcher/Punch Bowl

Method: Blend

Garnish: Nutmeg

Post from: EveryJoe

Perfect Holiday Drink: Ground Nutmeg

Yes, you read that correctly.

Tuaca Liqueur offers some great drink ideas for the holiday season.  For those of you unfamiliar with the brand, its an Italian liqeur that is flavored with vanilla and citrus. Mmmm…. delicious.

This drink recipe brings you the warm comfort of a hot apple pie with the added splash of fun.  This drink would be perfect for any holiday party as it’s sure to warm people up and get the party started!

Enjoy!

1½ parts TUACA® Liqueur

5-6 parts warm apple cider

Pour ingredients into a coffee mug. Garnish with whipped cream and a
cinnamon stick.

Post from: EveryJoe

A Hot Steaming Cup of Apple Pie

Featured on the Fine Living Network, this sweet cocktail brought to you by the National Peanut Board is the most creative and innovative drink I have seen in a long time.  You will have to concoct your own rum infusion, so get ready to roll your sleeves up.

photo courtesty of the National Peanut Board

Try something different and creative this year at your Holiday party; give your guests something they’ve never tasted before.  The mix of dry roasted peanuts and creme de cacao is one of the most decadent cocktail collaborations I have ever heard!  My mouth is watering!  Try this one out at home and please let me know what you think!  I will definitely be doing the same!

The Rum Infusion:

• In a seal able jar, cover 1 cup unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts with 12 oz of
• dark aged rum (best to use Dominican or Puerto Rican rum)
• Leave the mixture in a cool, dark place for 4 days
• Strain out the peanuts and place into the fridge for another day
• Strain the liquid through cheesecloth, and it’s ready to use

The Cocktail Recipe:

Into a chilled tumbler:

• 1 1/2 oz. peanut-infused rum
• 1/2 oz. crème de cacao

Add ice, stir and then strain into a chilled coupe.

Whip some heavy cream using a vigorous 10 second shake, and add a thin layer
on top of the cocktail.

Enjoy!

Post from: EveryJoe

Nutcracker in a Cup

It’s Lon’s Eggnog Martini.

Eggnog and martins don’t seem like a likely pairing to me, but I’m willing to give this a shot.  And this drink would be a great way to spice up any holiday party.  It’s simple and easy and totally worth the effort.

Ingredients

Lon's Eggnog Martini

• 1 1/2 ounces        Meyer’s dark rum
• 1 ounce                Captain Morgan’s spiced rum
• 1/2 ounce             Stoli Vanil vodka
• 3 ounces              Lon’s Homemade Eggnog
• 1/4 ounce             Simple syrup

Combine Meyer’s dark rum, Captain Morgan’s spiced rum, Stoli Vanil Vodka with Lon’s homemade Eggnog and a touch of simple syrup in an ice-filled martini shaker. Shake well, strain and pour into a honey-dipped chilled martini glass with crushed graham cracker rim. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

This serving is for one drink.

Post from: EveryJoe

Eggnog Martini

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)

Post from: EveryJoe

The 12 Drinks of Christmas

Peppermint Twist Candy Cane Martini

Vanilla ice cream
White Creme de Menthe
Giffard Vanilla Syrup

Blend and serve in a chilled martini glass with either a crushed candy cane rim, or just float some crushed candy cane on top. The idea is to keep this drink pristine and white like new snow. Garnish with a mint leaf. We might also try adding a touch of white creme de cacao in here as well. We’ll see.

Holiday ‘Hopper

Consider the Holiday Hopper a Grasshopper with a twist (everything’s got a twist this season!).  Midori has taken one of the more popular Christmas ‘martinis’ and added their liqueur for this melon background that is really quite interesting and makes, in my opinion, a far better cocktail. As with the Grasshopper, use white creme de cacao because the brown makes the finished drink look like some sort of sludge, which is rather unappealing.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Midori melon liqueur
• 1/2 oz green creme de menthe
• 1/2 oz white creme de cacao
• 2 oz half and half
• mint leaves for garnish
• raspberry for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour the ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with a mint leaves and a raspberry.

That’s our start at least – what’s your favourite holiday drink?

(image source: Midori; image for Peppermint Twist coming soon)

Post from: EveryJoe

Experimental Mixology: The Christmas Edition

Drinks After Dark’s exclusive cocktail guru, Steve Kemble, has prepared a Peppermint Moijito for those of us who need a little escape and for those of you who just want to enjoy a dirnk with friends during the season.

To make:

1 oz 10 Cane Rum
1/2 oz Simple Syrup (to taste, really)
Squeeze fresh lime juice
Club Soda
Mint
Crushed Peppermint for garnish

Mix like you would a regular mojito – muddle the mint, lime juice and simple syrup together in a glass, add in the rum,and give it a stir. Add club soda and garnish, give it another good swizzle, and then float a peppermint on the top and serve.

I’m of the mind that Christmas should be about what you’d like it to be about – so if peppermint mojitos makes you happy, enjoy!

Post from: EveryJoe

December Cocktail: Peppermint Mojito

Tim Laird, dubbed America’s Chief Entertaining Officer (CEO) has some tips to make your holiday cocktails as pretty and festive as your freaky-about-Christmas friend’s Christmas decor.

Tim recommends using Tequila and Vodka for your drink bases, because not only do they allow the greatest range of mixability, but they’re generally guaranteed crowd pleasers. You don’t need to stock a ton of mix in order to make a few different drinks which all bring the colors of the season into your glass.

First things first, mix up a pitcher of each of the following and store them in the fridge till well chilled:

The Perfect Margarita Base

1 1/2 oz Herradura Silver Tequila
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz simple syrup

Vodka Drink Base

1 1/2 oz Finlandia Vodka
1/2 oz. orange liqueur

Simply keep combining ingredients until you get a full pitcher.

When you’re ready to use the bases, give them a good stir and then pour them into a  rocks glass or a martini glass. There are several options you’ve got to add to your bases to give you some holiday flair. Try pomegranate juice for a pretty red drink, melon liqueur for a delicate green look, blue-raspberry liqueur or Blue Curacao for a blue concoction or add apple cider for gold drinks.

By using mixers which produce red, green, blue and gold drinks, you’ve pretty much covered the colors of the holidays, and you can likely please even the toughest cocktail critic at your next party!

(image source Brown-Foreman)

Post from: EveryJoe

Deck the halls and Decorate your Cocktails