Christmas Drinks

maeday2

I know y'all can help me out here. Pinterest is all looking the same and I want real suggestions with drinks you've made/tried.

We usually do mimosas Christmas morning while opening presents and will probably stick with that, but I want something for later on. 

We're nixing the usual sit down family dinner for heavy apps, so I need recommendations for tasty holiday sangria or mixed drink recipes. (None of us partaking are particular about our booze) 

What are your favorites?

kat1114

Rachel Ray's white sangria: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/white-sangria-recipe.html

I made it for Christmas morning two years ago. I used almost 12 bottles of wine thinking that would be enough for our family...we ran out. They loved it! I then got requested to make it again for our NYE morning get together.

theartistformerlyknownas

Eggnog is my favorite. 2 parts eggnog, 1 part Vernors ginger ale (has to be Vernors!), 1 part Amaretto. The fizz in the Vernors lightens it up so the texture doesn't feel like you're drinking paint.

You could also do spritzers with cranberry juice and champagne. Mulled wine is fantastic if you want something warm and can spare a crock pot to let it simmer all day. If you want something lighter to offset heavy/cheesy apps, a white wine sangria with part sparkling apple cranberry juice would be super yum.

teddygirl9

I usually just drink vodka crans, since we always have SO much cranberry juice.

 

This year I am going to try making homemade eggnog

southernbelle0915

DH makes a hot drink with apple cider, whiskey and red hots (the candy). Cook on the stove until the red hots are melted and serve hot. SO GOOD. Ratios are up to the mixer for how apple-y, booze-y or cinnamon-y you like.

climbingsingle

My family is boring. I'll be serving beer for my brother, wine for mom, aunt, grandma, me and H. And I'll also have some eggnog with rum for them too. 

maeday2

Mulled wine sounds fantastic. A drink that can double as a fragrance while cooking is a bonus. 

I need to double check the menu to see what complements best. At this point I want all of the suggestions. 

theartistformerlyknownas

maeday2 said:

Mulled wine sounds fantastic. A drink that can double as a fragrance while cooking is a bonus. 

I need to double check the menu to see what complements best. At this point I want all of the suggestions. 

Look in the spice aisle at the grocery store - they often have little pre-made mixes in muslin pouches so you can just toss one in. Easy peasy. The one I've used has a cork attached like a bobber so it floats around.

levioosa

I like making mulled wine.  Mulled cider is another favorite of mine.  Add a little rum and it's alcoholic too, which is great because people can spike their own drinks if they want, but non-drinkers can still drink the cider if you hold the rum while making it. 

wrigleyville

I'm a fan of these:

http://mixthatdrink.com/christmas-cookie/

maeday2

wrigleyville said:

I'm a fan of these:

http://mixthatdrink.com/christmas-cookie/

Holy cow. This sounds amazing. This may give me the motivation to wrap gifts. 

thisismynickname2

Is mulled wine the same as gluwein? I just had that at a German Christmas market.  Awesome. 

They make a non-alcoholic version too, with the wine part substituted with apple cider.

Smells delish, tastes delish, especially for those in colder climates. I wouldn't drink it if I was in Florida or some other warm state at Christmas.   

maeday2

I think so, @thisismynickname

I'm with you on the cooler temps. I tend to get hot when I drink anyway, so warm drinks pretty much have to be on a cold day. 

amelisha

If you want to do something not-hot but still kinda festive, you might want to go with something like spiced whiskey (there are tons of them out there - I like the vanilla-y ones, there are some with a cinnamon tinge too), apple juice (the cloudy unfiltered stuff is the best for this), and ginger ale. When I do this, I also make a quick simple syrup with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, black peppercorns, and nutmeg (just throw a cup of sugar, a cup of water, and a bunch of the whole spices in a saucepan and simmer for fifteen or twenty minutes) and squeeze about half an ounce per glass of that in, too.

Inkdancer

This + warm apple cider = INCREDIBLE.

princessofgenovia

Conquitos are a staple in my family. My dad makes them every year. Its like a putero rican eggnog.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/puerto-rican-coconut-milk-rum-christmas-drink-coquito-recipe.html

arrippa

thisismynickname said:

Is mulled wine the same as gluwein? I just had that at a German Christmas market.  Awesome. 

They make a non-alcoholic version too, with the wine part substituted with apple cider.

Smells delish, tastes delish, especially for those in colder climates. I wouldn't drink it if I was in Florida or some other warm state at Christmas.   

I had mulled wine last night and it tasted similar to the gluhwein that I had in Vienna.

wrigleyville

maeday2 said:

wrigleyville said:

I'm a fan of these:

http://mixthatdrink.com/christmas-cookie/

Holy cow. This sounds amazing. This may give me the motivation to wrap gifts. 

That drink is the only thing that gets me through wrapping gifts. 

I put all of the adult family members' gifts in gift bags because I'm lazy, but I still wrap everything for our nieces because I know how much kids love ripping things open.

The second those kids turn 13, I'm switching them to gift bags.

mrscomposer

Equal parts Southern Comfort and Amaretto, and then equal parts orange juice and 7-up.

It's a Gladiator, but not a drop shot - we used to call them Glory Boys, because after a few (pitchers) of these, you don't know who you are or where you're going, but glory boy are you having a good time!

[Deleted User]

artbyallie

Generic sangria recipe (adjust portions for your crowd and flavors for your/their taste)

Dissolve 3 tbsp sugar or brown sugar in 1-2oz. brandy (or flavored brandy like applejack). Put in pitcher with sliced fruits (apples, oranges, limes, etc.) Pour in a bottle of wine, red or white. I generally go for Cabernet Sauvignon for a red sangria but you can use almost anything. Stick with at least semi-dry due to the sugar and brandy sweetening things up. Let sit in the fridge overnight. If desired, top each glass with seltzer/ginger ale/7up/etc, but I like it full-strength.

maeday2

pinkrevenge said:

I've got a soft spot for Tom and Jerrys. The batter is a tiny bit of a pain to make, but once you have it the cocktails go smoothly and they're just so damn cozy.

I'm also considering making boozey marshmallows for irish coffees / spiked hot cocoa.

I had to google that once I saw batter. How did I not know about this festive drink? 

I always bitch that I hate cocktails that ARE dessert-like, but I could totally get down with this. 

Inkdancer

pinkrevenge said:

I've got a soft spot for Tom and Jerrys. The batter is a tiny bit of a pain to make, but once you have it the cocktails go smoothly and they're just so damn cozy.

I'm also considering making boozey marshmallows for irish coffees / spiked hot cocoa.

I don't know what's happening in this post but I am all about it. How do you make booze marshmallows????

Maggie0829

I can't remember the exact recipe but I make something with pomegranate juice, orange juice concentrate, cranberry juice, and lots of vodka.

maeday2

@maggie0829 That sounds super similar to a punch I make around Thanksgiving. Except instead of vodka, it's champagne and patron orange liquer. SO GOOD. 

[Deleted User]

 

[Deleted User]

southernbelle0915

Fireball + Rumchata.... you're welcome.

maeday2

@southernbelle0915 I had a bad experience with Rumchata, but mixing it with another form of booze may be the right call. 

levioosa

southernbelle0915 said:

Fireball + Rumchata.... you're welcome.

So, I've never actually had rumchata. It's a mixer type liqueur, right?  What else is it good in? 

theartistformerlyknownas

levioosa said:

southernbelle0915 said:

Fireball + Rumchata.... you're welcome.

So, I've never actually had rumchata. It's a mixer type liqueur, right?  What else is it good in? 

Pumpkin liqueur and vanilla vodka in a martini.