The Spice Is Right: Festive Cocktails

The festive season is synonymous with warmth, joy, and celebrations, and what better way is there to enhance a holiday party than with flavourful and aromatic cocktails?

Spices, with their diverse palette of flavours and aromas, have a magical way of transforming drinks, and this is especially true when it comes to the Christmas cocktails.

Unleash Your Spice Tray

The first step in mastering festive cocktails is delving into your spice rack.

Traditional spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are the quintessential flavours of the holiday season. Incorporating them into your Christmas cocktails infuses warmth and a festive spirit into each sip. Clove-studded oranges or cinnamon sticks can also double up as charming garnishes adding to the overall aesthetic of your cocktail.

Experiment With Gin

Gin, with its varied flavour profiles, is a remarkable base for cocktails. It’s bursting with botanical flavours, many of which will be adorning the Christmas cocktail recipes you’ll be making.

Try creating a Spiced Gin and Tonic featuring gin, tonic water, a stick of cinnamon, a slice of orange, and a sprinkle of nutmeg for a festive twist on the classic.

You can even experiment with ginger beer and gin. The warm, spicy notes of the ginger sit nicely next to a juniper-filled gin, giving you botanical bursts of joy once consumed.

Warmth In A Mug

Mulled Wine is another classic holiday season favourite, essentially becoming a kind of warm Christmas punch, a nd this hot, spiced red wine cocktail will fill the room with its inviting aroma.

Start with a base of full-bodied red wine and add in a splash of brandy, assorted spices, and citrus slices for a comforting drink that embodies the Christmas spirit.

Get Creative

Don’t shy away from exploring and incorporating spices from around the globe. Star anise from China, cardamom from India, or allspice from the Caribbean can introduce an exciting and exotic twist to your festive cocktails.

And don’t forget the soft drinks!

Drinks like cranberry juice, ginger beer or ale and orange juice all embody festiveness as much as the aforementioned spices. No holiday party with a selection of Christmas cocktails can be complete without the presence of these drinks, so make sure you’re well-stocked before you open the door to your guests!

6 Spicy Festive Drinks

1. Cinnamon Old Fashioned

An enhanced version of the classic Old Fashioned, this cocktail involves a bourbon base, a splash of water, and a couple of dashes of bitters. The star of this concoction is the cinnamon-infused simple syrup which adds a warm, spicy sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• Splash of water
• 2 dashes of bitters
• Cinnamon-infused simple syrup

Instructions:

1. In a glass, combine bourbon, water, and bitters.
2. Add cinnamon-infused simple syrup and stir well.
3. Serve over ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

2. Spiced Pear Martini

This elegant cocktail relies on the rich, warming flavours of cardamom and pear. Made with pear vodka, a splash of lemon juice, and a touch of cardamom-infused simple syrup, this cocktail is a sophisticated and fruity twist on the classic Martini.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz pear vodka
• Splash of lemon juice
• Cardamom-infused simple syrup

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, combine pear vodka, lemon juice, and cardamom-infused simple syrup.
2. Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
3. Garnish with a slice of pear.

3. Mulled Wine

A holiday classic, Mulled Wine combines red wine with a selection of warming spices including cloves, cinnamon, and star anise. Sweetened with a bit of sugar and spiked with brandy, this warm cocktail is perfect for sipping on a cold winter’s night.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of red wine
• Cloves
• Cinnamon sticks
• Star anise
• Sugar to taste
• Brandy (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a pot, combine red wine, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and sugar.
2. Heat gently, but do not boil.
3. If desired, add a splash of brandy.
4. Serve warm and garnish with orange slices.

4. Ginger Spiced Negroni

This cocktail adds a festive twist to the classic Negroni with an infusion of fresh ginger. Combine gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in equal parts, add a slice of fresh ginger for that spicy punch, and garnish with an orange peel for a citrusy finish.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• Fresh ginger
• Orange peel for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a glass, combine gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
2. Add a slice of fresh ginger.
3. Stir well and strain into a rocks glass.
4. Garnish with an orange peel twist.

5. Vanilla Chai White Russian

This creamy cocktail gets a spicy makeover with the introduction of chai spices. Blend vanilla vodka with a spiced chai concentrate and finish off with a splash of cream to create this deliciously decadent holiday treat.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz vanilla vodka
• 1 oz spiced chai concentrate
• Splash of cream

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, combine vanilla vodka and spiced chai concentrate.
2. Shake well and strain into an old-fashioned glass.
3. Add a splash of cream on top.

6. Spiced Cranberry Margarita

This cocktail pairs the tartness of cranberries with the heat of jalapenos and the warmth of cinnamon. It’s a festive variation of the classic Margarita that’s both refreshing and spicy.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 0.5 oz lime juice
• Jalapeno slices
• Pinch of cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, muddle jalapeno slices.
2. Add tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, and a pinch of cinnamon.
3. Shake well and strain into a Margarita glass.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Remember to start with a light hand with the spices and adjust according to your taste. Happy mixing and merry drinking!