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Happy Holiday Cocktails

Peppermint Froth Cocktail - Grey Goose Vodkas

The holidays are filled with opportunities to entertain and there are many cocktails perfect for the season. From festive martinis to some timeless holiday favorites, you're sure to find the perfect tipple for the occasion.

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Colleen's Cocktails Blog

Tuesday's Timeless Tipple: Hot Buttered Rum

Tuesday December 23, 2008
Warm, soothing and sweet, this week's Timeless Tipple is a true classic and always a favorite Hot Buttered Rum. The drink dates back to Colonial America when rum was the hot commodity and colonists started making their own rum. After all of these years the Hot Buttered Rum has not lost its steam and still is and always will be a fabulous hot cocktail.

Hot Buttered Rum differs from the Hot Toddy because of the butter and brown sugar, otherwise the two are almost the exact same drink. The result in this hot rum drink is that it is much sweeter and richer and because of that dark rum is preferred, although spiced rums add a twist of spice to the mix. If you'd like a semi-caramelized Hot Buttered Rum try out the hot poker tip I've included in the recipe, it's simply delicious.

Christmas Cocktail Round-up

Monday December 22, 2008
There is a drink for every reason this holiday week, here are a few favorites...

For the Family: Try mixing up a non-alcoholic punch like the Planter's Punch or the Cardinal Punch and setting it out on the table for everyone to enjoy. Or warm everyone up with a round of Hot Not Toddies.

Heat Things Up: Nothing is better than a hot drink on a cold day and they can come in either large or small servings. Hot punches like the Nice Warm Drink, English Christmas Punch and Mulled Wine are perfect for serving a crowd, while favorites like the Tom and Jerry, Hot Baked Apple Toddy and Midnight Snowstorm are nice for a more intimate moment.

Go Traditional: I've already mentioned a few classic holiday drinks, but there are many timeless and traditional drinks for Christmas. We cannot forget about Wassail, Hot Buttered Rum or the favorite Eggnog. Then, there is the Hot Toddy and all of the possibilities it opens up.

Before Dinner: More often than not Christmas dinners are nothing less than a feast and it's best to prepare your body to take on the task with a good aperitif. Short, neat drinks like the Coronation, Gin & Bitters and Speranza are ideal to prep your appetite for all that turkey, ham and whatever else is on the table.

For Dessert: One of the best parts about Christmas is the excuse to be able to indulge your sweet tooth and worry about the consequences later (that's why we have resolutions) and that doesn't have to stop with food. Mint and chocolate are two favorite flavors for the season and decadent dessert drinks like the Chocolatini, Grasshopper and Hot Peppermint Patty are the ultimate indulgence. On the slightly lighter side, try out a Porto Flip, Roasted Toasted Almond or Gingerbread Man-tini.

Saturday Sipping: Dos Lunas Silver Tequila and the Frostbite

Saturday December 20, 2008
The weather outside is certainly frightful in most of the northern hemisphere right now - something my dry skin and aching back can attest to from shoveling the foot of snow we received yesterday - and that's why I thought it fitting to pull out the Frostbite for this week's Saturday Sipper. This is one of those rare tequila cocktails that is very luscious and creamy and for it I really like Dos Lunas Silver Tequila.
Frostbite Tequila Cocktail
© Shannon Graham

Actually, the Frostbite is a very fitting name for this drink and it's always interesting what pairs well with the distinct character of tequila. In this case it is a mix of chocolate and orange flavors and even if you're saying to yourself right now, "What?", you really have to try it because it is simply delicious with a pronounced agave tequila like Dos Lunas. That extra cream just brings it all together for a winter drink sent from the heavens.

Brandy, Rum or Whiskey - Which Makes the Best Eggnog?

Friday December 19, 2008
Will it be brandy, rum or whiskey in your eggnog this year? All are relatively common spirit bases but which is the best? I put this question to the test, making a glass of eggnog using each liquor and tasting them side by side. My conclusion is that while each has their own profile and are nice in their own right, brandy is the best. That's my personal taste, but brandy is probably the most traditional eggnog base - rum is also right up there - and that many years of this drink's popularity are there to back me up.
Rum Holiday Egg Nog
© Mount Gay Eclipse Rum
  • The Brandy Eggnog (I used Korbel VS) was perfectly balanced with sweetness throughout. It has a catchy, lively flavor with more depth than the others and a nice, warm brandy note that isn't hidden by the nog nor overly pronounced. This eggnog is almost floral and a real delight - for any anti-eggnog person, this one will turn you around.
  • Rum Eggnog (tested with Mount Gay Eclipse) was my second choice, although compared to the brandy, the rum fell a little too much into the background, almost to the point of being unnoticeable. While the rum was very subtle it was a bit more pronounced on the backed and overall the eggnog was tasty and just sweet enough so I could tell there was something beyond creamy egg inside.
  • My Whiskey Eggnog was not what I was hoping for and I'm thinking that a rye or sweeter bourbon like Maker's Mark would be a better fit than the sour mash bourbon I had in stock and used. It was certainly an interesting eggnog and the sweet and sour flavor was captivating at first, then the novelty wore off. Whiskey, no matter which style, does make the most flavorful eggnog as the profile just pops out of the drink.

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