By Andrew Meader & Lake George Wine Outlet
Seasonal drinks around the Holidays are steeped in tradition. We all stock up on eggnog and mulled wine and it is the time to break out the peppermint martini. This year, we want you to try something new.
Here are five cocktails that you may not have heard of that will make you a hit at any holiday party. Post pictures of these cocktails and you will become Instagram famous with friends.
White Christmas Margarita
Who says you can only have margaritas in the summer? This twist on tequila’s favorite partner in a glass will be sure to get you into the holiday spirit. The coconut flavors will have you dreaming of what the holidays are like on a tropical island or in Mexico.
Recipe:
1½ ounce silver tequila
½ ounce triple sec
½ ounce coconut rum
½ ounce lime juice
1 ounce light coconut milk
Garnish with cranberries and fresh sprigs of rosemary.
Christmas Kentucky Buck
Bourbon continues to grow in popularity and this spin on the brown gold is nothing shy of cheery. This drink might be named after the bluegrass state, but for this whiskey to be a bourbon, it does not have to come from Kentucky.
Recipe:
2 ounces of bourbon (we suggest New Riff Bourbon)
1 ounce of lemon juice
1 ounce of simple syrup
2 ounces of cranberry juice
2 ounces of club soda
Serve over ice, garnish with cranberries.
The Blitzen Cocktail
While arguably the second most popular of Santa’s reindeer, it is a little known fact that Blitzen loves his tequila. A simple drink that balances the strength of tequila with the sweet orange that grand marnier brings.
Recipe:
1 ounce of cranberry
1 ounce of tequila
½ ounce of Grand Marnier
Serve over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange slice.
The Grinch
Everybody has a Grinch and their family, but this drink will make any Scrooge “all toasty inside.” This cocktail is sure to impress your guests by the color alone!
Recipe:
1 ½ ounces sour apple liqueur
1 ounce vodka
3 ounces of lemon lime soda
Red sugar and lime wedge for rim. Garnish with a candy cane.
Jack Frost
While he may be nipping at your nose, few know that Jack Frost is a delicious cocktail for the Holidays. This drink looks like it came straight out of the “Frozen” movie.
Recipe:
1 ounce vodka or light rum
1 ounce blue curacao
1 ounce cream of coconut
2 ounces pineapple juice
Serve over ice in a stemless wine glass. Shaved coconut for the rim. If you are going for looks, be sure to make this in a blender with ice to make it really sparkle.
For these and other suggestions to make your holidays bright, stop into the Lake George Wine Outlet located in the Log Jam Outlets off Northway Exit 20.