Posts Tagged ‘ Holiday Cocktails ’

New Year’s Eve French 75 Twelve Grape Cocktail

2020, wow this is a big one. Not only do we ring in a New Year but also a new decade! It deserves something extra special don’t you think! This isn’t the time for just an ordinary drink.

New Year’s Eve cocktails should be exceptional. They should inspire dancing and conversation and trips back to the bar. They should have bubbles and citrus, zippy flavors and bold flavor profiles.

Your drink should feel celebratory, because that’s what you’re doing!

While popping the cork on a bottle of champs is fine, why not start the New Year a little “extra” with a drink deserving of a new decade that is not only tasty AF but also delivers some luck and prosperity for the year to come.

I have combined two of my favorite things a French cocktail and a holiday tradition into a New Year’s Eve cocktail that is 2020 worthy: a New Year’s Eve French 75 Twelve Grape Cocktail.

I won’t completely take the bubbly away- you will still be sipping it but in the form of a French 75.

French 75’s are made with a standard pour of gin and topped with Champagne, so it’s a strong citrusy drink in a sparkling dress. what makes mine a little different is that I garnish it with 12 Grapes.

Why 12 Grapes?

This popular tradition is a century or so old, though its exact origins remain debatable. It originated in Spain and is celebrated all across Europe and Mexico on New Year’s eve.

As the tradition goes you’re supposed to eat las doce uvas de la suerte (“the 12 lucky grapes”) at midnight- but you don’t gobble them all down at once.

The goal is to eat them one at at a time to coincide with the twelve chimes on the clock at the stroke of midnight. It is said that if you eat all 12 by the time the chimes end then you will have good luck in el año nuevo (the new year).

It makes for a fun conversation filled way to ring in the New Year!

1.5 ounces Gin
1 teaspoon Simple Syrup
juice from 1.2 a lemon (fresh) Can add more to taste
4 ounces Champagne
Ice Cubes
Cocktail Shaker
Skewer
12 grapes

I like to make my own Simple Syrup- because I’m bougie like that. For a French 75 I craft a lemon simple syrup that is totally easy to make. Combine 1 1/2 lbs. organic lemons (chopped with peel on), 1 1/2 cups water, 2 cups sugar and a pinch of salt into a saucepan and simmer for 20-30 minutes (until sugar is totally dissolved). Remove from heat, strain and cool. Pour cooled, strained syrup into clean jar or bottle. This syrup will store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month!

…And since we are stacking up New Years traditions don’t forget to open the back door of your house just before midnight to “let the old year out” and open the front door to “let the New Year in”.

Slainte and Happy New Year!

White Christmas Margarita

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…for cocktails!

The holiday season and cocktails go hand in hand- Hot Buttered Rum, Eggnog, Irish Coffee and…. Margaritas.

Record needle skip…

I know, I know. Margaritas aren’t the first cocktail that comes to mind when you think of Christmas. I get that. But here on the West Coast, margaritas are a year-round beverage and I have a recipe that will have your Margarita looking like a Winter Wonderland, perfectly-suited for Santa.

I first tried a version of this White Christmas Margarita at a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles and marveled at how frothy it was. I asked them for the 411 on the secret ingredient and I was shocked when they told me it was Coconut Milk!

I played around with it a little at home, did some taste testing and came up with this recipe.

I can’t wait for you all to try it. Totally easy to make, it tastes delicious and it’s the color of snow!

The Coconut Milk lends a smooth silkiness and ultra frothy texture that lets the cocktail sit firmly in “Holiday Drink” territory but retain the flavor of a traditional margarita.

My White Christmas Margarita is made with only 4 simple ingredients (Agalima Organic Margarita Mix, Tequila, Coconut Milk and Ice) it’s super easy to make and comes together in just a few minutes.

Similar to my Black Friday Bloody Mary recipe, I began with a mix from Agalima.

Agalima’s Organic Margarita Mix is made from single-pressed limes and Jalisco blue agave nectar. Crafting your cocktail with this will save you so much time plus it’s extra delicious!

What You Will Need:

4 Oz Agalima Organic Margarita Mix
2 oz of your favorite Blanco Tequila
4 Oz Unsweetened Coconut Milk
Ice

Place ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Now for the fun part!

You can go wild with the garnishes. One of my favorite things about winter is the abundance of cranberries, so I used a cranberry with a sprig of Rosemary to give the garish that “Christmas-y feel” and classic red/green/white color combo (this purely there for the aesthetic not a flavor addition). I then rimmed the glass in salt and sprinkled some shaved coconut on top to create a frosted snow vibe. If you want to sweeten the drink a bit you could rim the glass in cocktail sugar instead of salt.

This festive libation feels like a fun winter wonderland and I can’t help but have a huge smile on my face when I’m holding one- but of course that could also be the tequila!

Happy Holidays!

This post was created in partnership with Agalima. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tags:Agalima Agalima Organic Margarita Mix Christmas Cocktails Coconut Milk Margarita Dairy Free Christmas Cocktails Holiday Cocktails Holiday Margarita Recipe Organic Cocktails White Christmas Margarita Winter cocktail recipes.

Winter Solstice Mulled Wine

This year the Winter Solstice takes place on December 21st. It’s the shortest day of the year and the longest night.

The Winter Solstice marks the start of astrological winter so this longest night is the perfect time to pour yourself a cup of warm cheer, light a yule log and relax.

I have to admit, I’m usually not a big fan of red wine or white wine for that matter- I’m more of a hard liquor kind of gal- but I LOVE mulled wine. Mulled wine is like a mix of a spicy mulled cider and a punch but with booze. It’s sweet and tangy and guaranteed to warm you up on a cold winter night.

Mulled Wine can be made with a variety of spices and fruits. It’s like the “winter version” of sangria. Who doesn’t like sangria?

The best part of Mulled Wine is that it’s a super cost effective drink. You don’t need some crazy expensive aged bouquet of wine- a cheap bottle of red does the job.

The secret to a good mulled wine, is to toast the spices in a pan for a bit first to intensify their flavors, and then add them to the rest of the mixture.

This recipe is stupid-easy to make, get’s oohs and awes from guests every time and leaves your house smelling just like Christmas!

After you toast your spices pour everything into a small saucepan or into a crock-pot and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Make sure to not let it boil you don’t want to loose any of that alcohol potency! You can leave this on the stove-top for up to 2 hours- the longer it simmers the more the flavors will evolve.

Be sure to strain the spices before serving OR after you toast the spices you can add them into a cheesecloth and place in the saucepan if you prefer to omit the straining at the end of the cook time. Serve hot garnished with a cinnamon stick and a thin slice of orange tucked into the glass.

It’s all in the Glass: These glasses are one of my favorite unique things to gift. Created by Boston based designer Brian Johnson they are etched with street maps from the city you choose. Mine of course is Las Vegas.

Click TO SHOP Brian Johnson Street Map Glasses:

Tags:Best Mulled Wine Recipe Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Holiday Cocktails Las Vegas Street map glasses Mulled Wine Mulled Wine Recipe Netflix Red Wine Mulled Wine Street Map Glasses Winter Cocktails Winter Mulled Wine Winter Solstice.