Drink Up!

Tis the season for a cocktail or four!  Welcome to December....mother nature has officially told us it is WINTER...uggggggg.  I froze all day yesterday and I will pretty much be freezing until March.  There are a few things that warm me up: my fireplace, my uggs, my super old Mizzou sweatshirt (bought it my freshmen year in college, so it's old now...but, oh so soft and comfy), and a glass of red wine or a holiday cocktail! 

I can totally deal with the frigid winter temps in December because Christmas time isn't supposed to be warm.  This time of year calls for fireplaces, hot chocolate, coats and hats, and snow.....I mean, Santa brings presents on a sleigh, not a surfboard (trivial side note: those santa on surfboard ornaments annoy me).  Anyway....I'll stop rambling, I'm more or less trying to "excite" myself that winter is here to stay by focusing on the great things that happen in December.  Come January...I'll be miserable :) 

So, back to my original thought with this post....Holiday Cocktails!  I thought I'd share a few of my fav recipes (sorry....no Egg Nog...yuck!)

{Candy Cane Cocktail}

• 1 1/2 oz.  Absolut Vodka
• 1 tsp.  Peppermint Schnapps 

Mixing instructions:
Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Option: Garnish with a small candy cane or create a candy cane "rimmer" with crushed candy canes.

{The Grinch}

• 2 oz. Midori
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice  (fresh)
• 1 tsp.  Sugar Syrup 

Mixing instructions:
Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Option: Garnish this green drink with a red cherry.

{Caribbean Christmas}

1 oz. Absolut

1 oz. Malibu
1 oz. Grenadine
Equal Parts of Cranberry Juice & Lemonade

Mixing instructions:

Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Option: Garnish this with a slice of lemon for the edge of the glass.

{Silent Night}

1 oz Tequila
1 oz Blue Curacao
1 oz Triple Sec
Pineapple Juice
Squirt of Lime

Mixing instructions:

Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass.  Garnish with a lime wedge.

{Drunken Elf}

1oz Bacardi Golden Rum
Pink Lemonade

Mixing instructions:

Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a tall chilled glass.  Garnish with a candy cane.

{Mistletoe Bellini}

1 oz Bacardi White Rum
1 oz Malibu
Fresh Strawberries
Ice

Mixing instructions:
Blend together ice and strawberries in blender until slush.