There is no occasion to gather friends and family together for some cocktails than Christmas. But the drinks that we are normally served during the festive season leave a lot to be desired in the creative department. Why not put a little more effort into the occasion than simple bringing out the Baileys by serving some seasonal themed cocktails. Not only will these ensure a merry and festive time, but they will also add a special touch to your party.

You are looking to create a total seasonal effect and the best way of achieving this with your cocktails is to use specific glassware and garnishes. There are plenty of festive glasses out there for you to use, you just have to get out to the shops when the Christmas stocks come out and you will be hard to miss them, the hideous and the classy.

On top of this, little touches such as tiny candy cane stirrers add a wonderful touch to a drink at Christmas. Crushed candy canes can also serve as a fantastic and unique rimmer for a sweet martini. Furthermore a garnish such as cranberries adds the final touch to a drink creating the full festive effect.

Even if it refuses to be a white Christmas outside you can bring some festiveness inside your home by serving a White Christmas Dream cocktail. This cocktail combines equal measures (1 oz) of Amaretto, heavy cream, and vodka, which can be excellently garnished with nutmeg for the total seasonal effect.

If a Cosmopolitan is your drink of choice then why not try one with a festive twist to it, such as the Christmas Cosmopolitan. To make you will need 1 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Cointreau, 1/2 oz cranberry juice, and 1 tsp of lime juice.

Shortly before the Christmas dinner has been served is the perfect time for an aperitif to prepare those appetites for the massive mass of festive food that is about to be placed on the table. Again there is a Christmas cocktail to suit this occasion, the Mistletoe Aperitif. This cocktail’s ingredients include 1/2 oz Chambord, 1/2 oz Melon Liqueur and 1/2 oz Orange Liqueur. To prepare, layer the ingredients on top of each other carefully using the back of a teaspoon.

A relaxing after dinner coffee is always needed at Christmas after a long feast has been enjoyed. A great choice for this time of the day would be a Disaoronno Darkness, combining a shot of Disaronno Amaretto, 3 shots of piping hot black coffee topped off with cream.

There are a number of warm cocktails that combine both traditional festive ingredients and exiting flavors. The age-old Hot Toddy is always a cocktail that will go down with relish at the end of a long and cold day. This cocktail can be as extravagant or as simple as you please. Its ingredients include 1-1 1/2 oz whiskey, brandy, rum, gin, or vodka depending on your preference; 1 oz sugar syrup, boiling water, a generous pinch of powdered cinnamon, and finally garnished with cinnamon stick, grated nutmeg, and a lemon slice.

But if this is a bit too traditional for your tastes you can try an Apple Barrel Apres-Ski Toddy. For this cocktail you will need 1-1 1/2 oz apple schnapps, 1 cup of apple cider, 1 oz brandy, 1 tsp honey, and a cinnamon stick for garnish. Either of these hot cocktails will be sure to cap of a long Christmas day perfectly.

With all of these ideas for festive cocktails you will surely be able to give your next Christmas a creative edge, and with a few of these cocktail on the cards the day will undoubtedly be a merry one.

Author Bio: Cocktail Zen provides christmas cocktails and vodka drinks to any one with a web connection.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: christmas, cocktails, hot cocktails, drink recipes