Pre Christmas Cocktail Ideas
This week, I am spoiling you with a wonderful selection box of pre Christmas cocktail Friday ideas. You can get started on the preparation stakes by stock piling a few goodies before the festivities all kick off. And with a month’s worth of Cocktail Friday’s in one day you can really get ahead of the game.
My spoiling you with all these drinkable recipes is by way of me being spoilt by those super generous benefactors at Aldi UK. They kindly sent me their delicious Tamova Vodka, Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin, Highland Black 8 Year Old Scotch Whisky and Napoleon Brandy to fashion some brilliant Christmas cocktail ideas. How well they know me with this tempting offer of a) delicious complimentary drinks and b) time spent designing and sampling Christmas cocktail ideas – best invitation ever.
We had a super fun evening with experienced cocktail drinking friends *thanks B&L* designing the Christmas cocktail selection box below, even though the headache the following morning felt less than festive. This brilliant array incorporates all the tasty Aldi spirits in a whole host of guises. There’s a cream based cocktail for Clyde, a hot toddy as a tasty winter warmer, a crisp Gin based drink for me and a spiced festive short to melt many a frosty morning.
So get your cocktail shaker out and start practicing in time for your impending Christmas parties, the countdown is on.
Lets make a start with a Snow Storm.
My mouth’s watering just looking at this line up, such a festive array of deliciousness. This is a highly sippable cream based cocktail with a chocolatey vanilla overtone. Make a start by adding your vodka to a small jug, or cocktail shaker.
Next add in the Creme de Cacao, vanilla extract and single cream. Shake or stir well then pour, over ice into a pretty glass.
Garnish in a flurry of grated white chocolate snow and gold flakes and decorate with choccie coins. Sip elegantly, then pour yourself another.
Snow Storm Cocktail
Makes 1
You will need a cocktail shaker or small jug and elegant glass
50ml Tamova Vodka
25ml Creme de Cacao
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons single cream
Ice, Grated white chocolate and gold sprinkles to garnish
Take a cocktail shaker or jug and add the vodka, creme de cacao, vanilla and single cream. Shake or stir and pour over ice into a lovely glass. Garnish with a large flurry of grated white chocolate snow and gold sprinkles or glitter.
Next into your selection box is the Frosty Christmas Eve.
This is, of course, my favourite of the four festive cocktails. And I have to say, this Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin is really rather delicious. This tart, chilled citrus cocktail is so drinkable, one will never be enough.
Make a start by adding a handful of ice to your cocktail shaker, then pour in the fragrant gin.
Next in is the Cointreau and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Shake until the cocktail shaker feels frosty to the touch then pour into an elegantly glitter and orange twist garnished martini glass.
Try not to gulp this tart, iced dream.
Frosty Christmas Eve Cocktail
Makes 1
You will need a cocktail shaker and another festive looking glass
50ml Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin
20ml Cointreau
20ml fresh lemon juice
Ice, glitter and orange zest to garnish
Take your cocktail shaker and add a good handful of ice. Pour in the gin, Cointreau and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Shake until the shaker is chilled then pour into a glitter edged glass. Garnish with a twist of orange zest.
To warm you up after the frost, next up is my Holly Green Tea Toddy.
This warming Holly Green Tea Toddy almost has healing qualities in my mind. When the excesses of Christmas start to take their toll, indulge in this antioxidant laden, warming treat.
Make a start by brewing a cup of flavoursome green tea. Leave for around 5 minutes to infuse.
Next pour in the large shot of whisky then stir in the honey and lemon juice.
Stir this almost health-giving toddy with a cinnamon stick and enjoy, whilst warming your hands and your soul.
Holly Green Tea Toddy
Makes 1
You will need a large heatproof glass
1 green tea bag
250ml boiling water
50ml Highland Black 8 Year Old Scotch Whisky
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
Cinnamon stick to garnish
Start off by brewing a large cup of green tea by pouring around 250ml boiling water onto the bag and leaving to steep for 5 minutes. Remove the bag and pour in the large shot of whisky. Follow in with the fresh lemon juice and honey, then give this a good stir with a long cinnamon stick. Sip, while still hot and feel better.
And finally, I give you the Mince Pie Old Fashioned.
This is a spiced treat, full of festive spirit. It’s a warming drink, with all the flavours of your favourite mince pies.
Start by making the mince pie syrup, not nearly as kerfuffle laden as it sounds. Simply measure out your apple juice and add a tablespoon of black treacle.
Drop in 5 cloves and half a cinnamon stick. Either warm this in a tiny saucepan or in the microwave then leave to steep for 15 minutes.
When you are ready to make your Mince Pie Old Fashioned, add a good handful of ice to your cocktail shaker. Pour in a generous measure of brandy.
Next, pour in your spiced syrup and give it all a really good shake.
Pour this elegant cocktail into an old fashioned glass over ice. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and a tiny mince pie *Lucy Loves Recipe to follow before Christmas*.
Sip this full flavoured, winter spiced cocktail and enjoy every drop. And of course, eat the mince pie.
Mince Pie Old Fashioned
You will need a cocktail shaker and an Old Fashioned glass or tumbler
Mince Pie Syrup – makes enough for about ten cocktails
125ml apple juice
1 tablespoon black treacle
5 cloves
1 small cinnamon stick
For the Cocktail
20ml mince pie syrup
50ml brandy
Freshly grated nutmeg and ice to serve and a tiny mince pie garnish
For the syrup place the apple juice, treacle, cinnamon and cloves in a heat proof jug. Microwave for 1 minute or heat in a small saucepan then leave for 15 minutes to infuse. This can be stored, covered, in the fridge for a week or two.
When you are ready to make your cocktail, fill your shaker with ice then pour in the mince pie syrup and brandy. Shake to chill then pour over ice into an Old Fashioned tumbler. Garnish with some freshly grated nutmeg and a tiny mince pie.
I loved making these cocktails this week for this special festive Cocktail Friday selection box, so a huge pre Christmas thank you to Aldi for their generous spirit based gifts. I hope you’ll love drinking these and starting the celebrations nice and early. Please drink responsibly *or at least try*.
Lucy x
*Aldi kindly furnished me with these spirits, but all opinions are, as always, my own.
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