Five Delicious Holiday Cocktail Recipes

flickr: melissaclark

"What shall I order at the bar?"

​The holidays are a good time to dress in your finery and enjoy a smart cocktail instead of your usual beer and tequila buzz. These festive drinks are sure to get you in the holiday mood - just remember to sip, not gulp.

The Grinch
This green cocktail is as sweet as the Grinch himself.

1oz Midori
1oz Vodka
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Mix ingredients and ice into shaker. Strain into a chilled Martini Glass. Garnish with red cherry.

Cinnamon Apple
The taste of a warm spiced cider, chilled for South Florida winters.
2oz Dark Rum Apple Juice or cider
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Sugar

Pour rum and apple juice into a highball glass filled with ice. Add cinnamon and sugar and stir. Garnish with a green apple slice.

Snowball
This snowball is welcome even in South Florida. The shaved ice makes you feel like you're eating snow. Use more shaved ice for a "snowier" consistency, or less for a more traditional martini-like drink.
2 oz Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Kahlua
2 oz Heavy Cream
Mix ingredients and ice into shaker. Strain into a martini glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Christmas Champagne "Mimosas"
This take on a mimosa is great for Christmas brunch or to sip on while opening presents. The green and red colors make for a festive drink.

Bottle of Champagne or Prosecco
Midori Liquor
Fresh Strawberries (tops cut off and sliced)

Place two slices of strawberry into each champagne flute. Add 1/2 oz Midori. Top with champagne. Garnish with whole strawberry.

Christmas Bloody Christmas
If you partied too hard on Christmas Eve and now have to assemble toys with a hangover, this drink is the perfect "hair-of-the-reindeer" to help you through a long Christmas morning.
2 oz Pepper Vodka
Bloody Mary Mix
Tabasco Sauce
Olives,
Grape Tomatoes

Pour Vodka and Bloody Mary mix into a highball glass filled with ice. Add Tabasco sauce to taste. Garnish with olives and grape tomatoes.