Seasons Greetings! We are neck-deep in the Holiday Season, and what a year it’s been! The weather is chilly, the fires are lit, and now is the time to take a moment and relax with family, take a deep breath, and enjoy one another’s company. For those who enjoy a drink around the holidays, here are a few specially chosen holiday favorite cocktails to whip up, enjoy, and celebrate the season with! Happy Holidays!
With Memphis having so many great breweries, distilleries, and food artisans, there are so many ways to give your cocktails some local flair. Check out our tips on recipes throughout the article!
1. Warm Tea-and-Cider Punch 
INGREDIENTS
- 6 c. fresh apple cider
- 8 English breakfast tea bags
- 1 sliced lemon
- 4 1/2 oz. bourbon
- Make it Local: Use a bourbon from Blue Note!
Directions:
Bring 6 cups of fresh apple cider to a boil in a large saucepan.
Reduce heat and simmer until cider is reduced to 3 cups, 30 to 45 minutes.
Remove from heat and add 8 English breakfast tea bags and 1 sliced lemon; steep for 4 minutes. Discard tea bags.
Stir in 4 1/2 ounces bourbon. Serve warm.
Courtesy of countryliving.com
2. Holiday Sangria
INGREDIENTS
- 1Bottle sparkling apple cider
- 1Bottle red wine
- 1 cupBrandy
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 cups cranberries
- 1Orange, sliced
- 1Apple, cubed
- 2-3Cinnamon sticks
- 4Star anise
- 4Sprigs rosemary, plus more for garnish
- Make it Local: Cane and Herb has so many great syrups to kick your cocktails up a notch. Add their Orange Infused syrup to this recipe!
Directions
In a large pitcher (or punch bowl) combine all ingredients. Stir to mix, cover and set in the refrigerator overnight to allow flavors to come together. Serve over ice garnished with fresh rosemary sprigs.
Courtesy of themodernproper.com
3. Mistletoe Moscow Mule 
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- Ginger beer Q or Fever tree are ideal
- Garnish cranberries, lime & mint or rosemary
- Optional 1/2 tsp fresh ginger
- Make it Local: Use one of Old Dominick’s vodka options!
Directions
Fill two copper mugs with ice. Pour 1-ounce vodka and 1/2 ounce lime juice over ice in each mug. Pour ginger beer into each cup until mostly full. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds, crushed candy cane, and garnish with a whole candy cane and a mint sprig.
Courtesy of delish.com
4. Boozy Grinch Punch
INGREDIENTS
- 1 (0.13-oz.) packet Kool-Aid Lemon Lime mix
- 4 c. water
- 4 c. ice
- 3 c. lemon-lime soda
- 2 c. pineapple juice
- 2 c. vodka
- 1 c. ginger ale
- Lime wedges, for rimming
- Red sanding sugar, for rimming
Directions
Mix juice, vodka, and ginger ale in a large pitcher. Add Ice to cool.
Use a lime wedge to rim glasses and dip in sanding sugar to coat. Pour punch into glasses to serve.
Courtesy of delish.com
5. Hot Buttered Rum Batter 
INGREDIENTS
- 1-1/2 ounces of butter
- 1-1/2 ounces brown sugar
- 1-1/2 ounces confectioners’ sugar
- 1/3 cup and 1 tablespoon vanilla ice cream, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Make it Local: Add in soft serve ice cream from a local shop like Jerry’s or Sugar Ghost!
Directions
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Blend in brown sugar and confectioners’ sugar. Remove from heat, and whisk in the ice cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour mixture into a plastic container, seal, and freeze.
In a coffee mug, measure 1 tablespoon Hot Buttered Rum Batter and 1 fluid ounce of rum, then fill the cup with boiling water. Stir, and sprinkle the top of the drink with nutmeg.
Courtesy of allrecipes.com
6. Holiday Punch 
INGREDIENTS
- 8 oz pomegranate seeds
- 2 oranges
- 1 cup orange juice fresh squeezed if possible
- 16 oz pomegranate juice
- 16 oz 100% cranberry juice
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 20 oz 7Up or similar soda
Alcohol that can be added (optional):
- 20 oz Prosecco sparkling wine INSTEAD of 7UP
- 6 oz rum or vodka
Directions
Slice oranges into thin slices and cut the slices in half.
Combine orange slices, pomegranate seeds, pomegranate juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, and vanilla together in a punch bowl or pitcher. Mix and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
Before serving, add soda and gently stir just enough to mix.
Christmas Punch with Alcohol:
Add rum (or vodka) at the same time as fruit and juices.
Add Prosecco right before servings.
Courtesy of willcookforsmiles.com
7. Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur
INGREDIENTS
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup Irish whiskey, such as Jamison
- 1 tbsp Chocolate syrup
- 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tsp Instant coffee granules
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 1 tbsp Coconut cream
Directions
In a blender combine sweetened condensed milk, whiskey, chocolate syrup, vanilla, and coffee for one minute.
After the mixture is smooth, add cream and cream of coconut and pulse until combined. Shake before serving. Will keep up to 6 weeks if refrigerated.
Notes: 1 batch of this Irish cream yields 32 oz Irish Cream
Courtesy of themodernproper.com
8. Grapefruit Cardamom Gin Fizz
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Rosemary syrup (recipe below)
- 3 oz Cardamom infused gin (recipe below)
- 1/2 cup
- Grapefruit juice
- Splash of prosecco, chilled
- Rosemary sprigs
- Grapefruit peel, for garnish
- Make it Local: Add in Old Dominick’s Gin!
Cardamom Infused Gin and Rosemary Syrup
- 1 cup Gin
- 6 Cardamom pods
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Water
- 2 Rosemary sprigs
Directions
In a small jar with an airtight lid add gin and cardamom pods. Seal and store for 24 hours.
To make the rosemary simple syrup, bring sugar, water, and 2 rosemary sprigs to a simmer in a small saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Remove the rosemary and use it right away, or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To make the cocktail pour rosemary syrup, infused gin, and grapefruit juice over ice in a cocktail mixer and shake to combine.
Using a strainer, divide the mixture into two glasses filled with fresh ice.
Top with prosecco and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a grapefruit peel. Cheers!
Courtesy of themodernproper.com
9. Adult Hot Chocolate
INGREDIENTS
- 4 cups Whole milk
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- ½ Vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla
- 6 oz Dark chocolate (60%)
- 1 tsp Sea salt
- 4 oz Bourbon
- 2 oz Frangelico
- 2 oz Irish cream
- Marshmallows
Directions
In a small saucepan heat milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla over medium-low heat until sugar and salt are completely dissolved. Make sure the milk does not come to a boil. Add the chocolate in pieces, whisking until completely incorporated. Remove from heat.
Once removed from heat, stir in bourbon, Frangelico, and Irish cream. Serve immediately with marshmallows.
Courtesy of themodernproper.com
10. Homemade EggNog
INGREDIENTS
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1-pint whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/4 fluid ounces bourbon
- 1 1/4 fluid ounces dark rum
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Directions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the egg yolks and 1/3 cup sugar until the yolks lighten in color and the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the milk, cream, bourbon, rum, and nutmeg and stir to combine. Move mixture to a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
Place the egg whites in the bowl of the stand mixer and beat to soft peaks. With the mixer still running, gradually add the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the mixture. Chill and serve.
Courtesy of altonbrown.com
You may also be interested: Staying Fit for the New Year – 10 Ways to Start the year off Healthy
“BBQ lovers unite: Memphis is the ultimate destination for your cravings”
