Christmas is a time of giving. It’s a time to be thankful. And a time to share with those around us.
But most importantly…. it’s a time to indulge in copious amounts of food and booze, guilt-free!
Find Home Together
Find Home Together
Christmas is a time of giving. It’s a time to be thankful. And a time to share with those around us.
But most importantly…. it’s a time to indulge in copious amounts of food and booze, guilt-free!
Thing is, when you’ve been drinking the same old prosecco and mulled wine all month, it can get boring – sickly, even?! Fear not, for we’re here to spice up your drink game with seven Christmas cocktails which are sure to take your “flatmas” parties to new levels. Get ready for a whole lotta garnishing…
You may be crammed into a hundred layers in chilly ole’ England, rather than in beach wear on the Costa del Sol, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a bit of Sangria! Put a festive spin on the classic Spanish beverage by swapping red wine for white and using winter berries and fruits. If you don’t have one already, you’re going to need to invest in a fancy pitcher or jug to get the full effect...
1 pitcher serves 6-8:
You wouldn’t think it’s possible for this alcoholic custard to get any more Christmassy, but it just did... thanks to a gingerbread twist. True eggnog fans will appreciate you jazzing up their winter staple, while haters will be left wondering why they’ve resisted the creamy goodness for so long. If the drink isn’t rich enough for your liking already, top it off with some whipped cream. Who cares about the calories? That’s what January is for…
Simply whisk all these ingredients together:
Give the classic (but colourless) G&T a seasonal revamp this Christmas by adding orange and cranberry juice to get a popping red effect. Garnish with thyme or mint, cranberries and slices of orange for a fancy (and festive) finishing touch. The Cranberry Gin Fizz may seem simple, but boy is it effective – guests will be coming back for this fizzy concoction all night long...
Serve in a punch bowl (if you’re feeling fruity) or in short tumblers for a touch of sophistication.
If you’re not a fan of mince pies, this may be one to sit out because SPOILER: it contains actual minced meat! Even those of you who go mad for a mince pie may be thinking “stick to eating, not drinking them”... but trust us, this Christmas martini with its fruity and spicy flavours is a real crowd pleaser.
Make a mincemeat syrup by boiling the water, the golden caster sugar and 4 tsp mincemeat in a pan and then straining.
Then shake the 50g mincemeat, the gin, sweet red vermouth, dark rum, 80ml mincemeat syrup and ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into your martini glasses (or any glasses really), and enjoy!
Usually you’re advised against eating snow (especially when it’s yellow!) but you’re more than welcome to tuck into this Snowball. A real 70s throwback, the Snowball Cocktail continues to be a christmas classic thanks to its creamy texture and citrusy taste. So leave the snow scoffing taboo behind and surprise your guests with this retro refreshment.
All you need is:
If you have a cocktail shaker, great! Use it for mixing the Advocaat and lime juice first. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Still fine – stirring in a glass works well too. Don’t forget to add the lemonade though...
Given that it’s Christmas, it would be a bit rude to not serve your guests some bubbly. But remember, your flatmas party is a party like no other. So rather than the standard flutes of champagne that guests normally get on arrival, offer up some Blackberry Thyme Sparklers. Not only do these blackberry-infused bubbles taste great, they look amaaaazing when the blackberry syrup and champers separate to create a pink ombré effect.
To make the syrup: bring the blackberries, water, and sugar to a boil. Then simmer until the blackberries are soft and the syrup has turned to a bright pink. Drain blackberries, and allow to cool.
Add the gin, 2 blackberries and 2oz of blackberry syrup to the flutes, followed by the champagne and a few sprigs of thyme. Fini!
Okay, so this cocktail isn’t one for the Christmas party. Rather, on the odd occasion that you get a night off December duties, the Baileys & Amaretto Hot-Tail is a bevvie that you and your flatmates can enjoy in front of the fire or a festive film. However, we must issue a stern warning that a lack of downtime (thanks to the busy festive schedule) combined with warm alcohol might just send you over the edge... to sleep!
Will you be trying any of our festive tipples out? Tag us in your creations on Instagram.
Image credits: Pinterest