Christmas Cocktails (but it's May!) (Cocktails)

Member Name: sweetpea01

Product:	Cocktails
Date:	20/05/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very scrumy!

Disadvantages: Getting the products can be expensive

I think I must be going mad! Writing a review about Christmas cocktails in the middle of May. What has made me do this?! Well the fact that I love Christmas and everything to do it probably has given me the push to write the review! Christmas to me does involve a lot of drinking (responsible of course!) and it always has. My mother makes mulled wine, eggnog and a baileys eggnog as well! Around Christmas the house takes on a "spicy fruity" aroma that only one can associate with Christmas!

Christmas is a time for family and friends and everyone always loves a good drink and Christmas! Home made drinks are by far the best you can get, despite supermarkets now branching out these just aren't as good. I have listed four recipes of Christmas Cocktails which I think are worth their weight in gold. They never fail and have been used for years and years!

Eggnog

Eggnog is a sweetened dairy-based beverage made with milk, cream, sugar, beaten eggs (which gives it a frothy texture), and flavoured with ground cinnamon and nutmeg; alcoholic versions also exist with the addition of various liquors, such as brandy, rum, and whiskey known as Advocaat.

Eggnog is a popular drink throughout the United States and Canada, and is usually associated with winter celebrations such as Christmas and New Year.

(Serves 20)

Ingredients:-

12 large egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar
12 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
7 cups whole milk
2 cups light rum
1 cup whiskey (scotch)
1 dash nutmeg

Method:-
1. You will need 3 medium to large bowls.
2. In the first bowl beat egg whites until they start to thicken.
3. Add 1 cup sugar, beat until thick.
4. In the second bowl: Beat egg yolks and salt until thick.
5. Combine beaten egg whites with yolks and beat until mixed and thick.
6. In a third large bowl beat cream until it starts to thicken.
7. Add 2 tbsp sugar & vanilla to the beaten cream.
8. Add milk, rum & whiskey beating continually (for non alcoholic eggnog omit the alcohol and add artificial rum flavoring doing it a tsp at a time until you achieve the desired taste).

Combine all the ingredients, and chill.

Serve with a garnish of a sprinkle of nutmeg on top of each glass.

Xmas Cheer

Ingredients:-

Per drink
1 1/2 fluid ounces green apple vodka
1/2 fluid ounce triple sec
1 teaspoon grenadine
3 fluid ounces cranberry juice

Per pitcher
12 fluid ounces green apple vodka
4 fluid ounces triple sec
2 tablespoons grenadine, plus
2 teaspoons grenadine
24 fluid ounces cranberry juice

Directions

1. Drink makes one and the pitcher makes 8 (unless the drinks are large, then maybe 5-6).
2. Mix and serve over ice.

Let it Snow Cosmo (a festive version of the usual cosmo you find in bars)

Ingredients:-

3 ounces Smirnoff twist citrus-infused vodka
2 ounces Cointreau liqueur
3 ounces white cranberry juice
1 slice lime, to taste
cranberries, garnish

Method:-

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake.
2. Strain into a long stemmed glass and garnish with skewered cranberries.

Buttered Rum

Ingredients:-

450g butter
450g powdered sugar
450g brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 quart vanilla ice cream (at room temperature)
1 1/2 ounces rum
boiling water
nutmeg

Method:-

1. Cream together everything then put in the freezer until needed.
2. To serve add rum, 2 tablespoons batter (or more) and fill with boiling water to fill cup.
3. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

These cocktails are great way to get in the festive spirit and are very simple to make. All products can be easily found in your local supermarket. Only thing is, is the buying of them all. They can be slightly expensive but once you have them then their shelf life is long and you can create other cocktails with them all year round.

Summary: A great way of getting in the festive spirit!