Your Ultimate Holiday Drink Guide

You’re in store for some mouth-watering treats with this week’s installement of The 12 Weeks of Christmas. With the holiday season fast approaching, you’re probably gearing up for some work parties and festivities with friends. What’s a holiday party without delicious holiday drinks?  While planning this year’s staff party, I had everyone submit their favorite holiday drink recipes. They are so amazing, you’re going to love them!

Warm Irish Espresso Recipe

Toni’s Favorite: This will be your new staple for the winter season.

• 2 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 2 shots of espresso
• 2 oz steamed milk
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings

Combine first three ingredients in a coffee mug, give it a quick stir. Feel free to be a bit more liberal with the Bailey’s. Finish it off with a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Enjoy!

Warm Seasonal Cider Recipe

Jenna’s Favorite: She says this non-alchoholic drink is great to make for the whole family.

• 2 cinnamon sticks (3 inches)
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon whole allspice
• 2 quarts apple cider
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1/2 lemon, sliced

Place cinnamon, cloves and allspice in a double thickness of cheesecloth. Bring up the corners of cloth and tie with a string to form a bag. Place cider and brown sugar in a 3-qt. slow cooker and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add your spice bag. Place orange slices and lemon on top. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours or until heated through. Discard spice bag. A great treat for when you need to warm up.

Holiday Sangria Recipe

Laura’s Favorite: You’ll love how this Sangria recipe is as delicious as it is easy, and it gets better as you spice it up with your favorite flavor add-ons.

• 1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja reds, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 cup of strawberries, frozen or fresh
• 1 tsp sweetener
• 2 oz. Apricot Brandy
• 2 oz. Spiced Rum
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup fruit punch
• 2 cups diet coke
• dash of cinnamon

Add your bottle of wine to a large punch bowl. Add cinnamon and sweetener and stir into wine. Add your fruit, Brandy, Rum and juice and give it a good stir. Add pop last to give it a little sparkle. This one is great for holiday parties or any regular girls night.

Warm Buttered Rum Recipe

Robyn’s Favorite: Looking for a warm drink to spice up a cold winter evening? This is it, and it’s so simple to make.

• 2 oz. Dark Rum
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp. whole cloves
• 1 pat butter
• 1 lemon slice
• 1 cup boiling water

Put the cinnamon stick, cloves, lemon peel and rum in a mug. Fill it with boiling water. Float the butter on top, then stir it in. Or serve it with the butter floating and a cinnamon stick for stirring.

Caribou Recipe

Bryce’s Favorite: Don’t let the simplicity of this recipe fool you into believing it’s not delicious. As a proud Canadian, Bryce believes this is the perfect “MAN” cocktail, although his wife is also a huge fan!

• 3 oz. Red Wine
• 1.5 oz. Rye or Dark Rum
• Dash of Maple Syrup

When you combine these three wonderful ingredients you get a feisty smack of deliciousness in your mouth. Be warned, this drink is so tasty, it disapears at a rapid rate.

Dark Chocolate Martini

Heidi’s Favorite: She shares, “I love making martinis because it’s fun – rimming the glasses with sugar, shaking up the ingredients and pouring them into the glass with a dramatic flair! My girlfriends love chocolate and they love martinis, so this is the perfect drink to make at a party”.

• 2 Tbsp. raw sugar
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped dark chocolate
• 2 oz. Chocolate Liqueur
• 2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
• 1 oz. chilled espresso
• 1/2 tsp. fresh orange juice

You can make this scrumptious treat by mixing the raw sugar and chocolate on a plate. Combine the chocolate liqueur, vodka and espresso with the fresh orange juice. Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice. Rim your chilled martini glass with the sugar-chocolate mixture. Strain the cocktail into the glass and garnish with a orange wedge.

Peppermint Martini Recipe

Kelly’s Favorite: The smooth taste of peppermint mixed with the subtle vanilla flavors makes for a very tasty treat.

• 5 oz. Vanilla Vodka
• 2 oz. White Creme de Menthe
• 1/2 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
• candy cane stick for garnish

Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Rim with colored sugar and garnish with a candy cane.

Are you looking for that extra bit of pizazz to make your holiday cocktail party a knock out of the park? Check out these stylish and eco-friendly Wine Glass Tags. There’s space to write your guests name so no one loses their drink. And they’re made from plantable seed paper, so your guests will be able to take them home to plant and grow wildflowers! They’re this season’s must-have item!