Santa-Approved Cocktails

Ho, ho, ho! Santa’s bringing you some naughty and nice cocktails to get you in the holiday spirit. From eggnog to chocolate to peppermint, we’ve got every Christmas flavor you could possibly want, and then some. Whip up some of these cocktails at home over the holidays and we guarantee you’ll have visions of sugarplums dancing in your heads. ​

Nutmeg Nick (Courtesy of Belvedere Vodka)
1.5 Belvedere Vodka
0.75 oz cream sherry
1 oz light cream
¼ tsp vanilla extract
1 oz simple syrup
Garnish: Hand-grated nutmeg

Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake HARD and strain into a coupe glass. Top with hand-grated nutmeg.

Tea-boggin (Courtesy of AriZona Tea)
3 parts Lemon Oak Brewed Tea
1/2-1 part SW4 Gin
1 part Cranberry Juice
Juice of one fresh orange slice

Combine ingredients and garnish with cinnamon stick.

Alexander (Courtesy of Drambuie)
4 parts DRAMBUIE Scotch Liqueur
2 part Tia Maria
2 part Half-and-Half
1 part Egg Beaters
2 tsp. Sugar

In a mixing tin half-filled with ice, add ingredients. Shake to froth, strain into a snifter; Garnish with fresh-grated nutmeg.

Skinny Snowman (Courtesy of Bounce Sporting Club)
2 oz. Fig Infused Bulleit Bourbon
1 oz. Vanilla Almond Milk
1/3 Ripened Banana
Whole Nutmeg
1 Brandied Cherry

Muddle 1/3 of a very ripe banana in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 ounces of Fig Infused Bulleit Bourbon and 1 ounce of vanilla almond milk. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg, and a brandied cherry.

​​Chocolate Peppermint Cookie (Courtesy of Partida Tequila)
3/4 oz. Partida Blanco Tequila
1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
3/4 oz. Godiva Liqueur
1-1/2 oz. Cream

​​Rim martini glass with chocolate syrup and crushed candy canes. Shake ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into martini glass.

Enchanted Berry Bubbly (Courtesy of Once Upon a Vine)
1 750Bottle Once Upon A Vine, Enchanted Woods Bubbly
1 12 oz Pack Whole Cranberries
1 24.5 oz Bottle Raspberry Flavor Syrup

Freeze cranberries overnight. Add a dash of raspberry syrup to each glass of sparkling wine and garnish with three frozen cranberries. Makes 5 servings.

Maple Syrup Martini (Courtesy of Skinnygirl)
2 parts Skinnygirl Bare Naked Vodka
2 parts club soda
Dollop of warm maple syrup

Shake vodka and maple syrup together with ice. Top with club soda and pour into martini glass.

Mexican Eggnog (Courtesy of Sauza Tequila)
1 part Sauza Blue Reposado 100% Agave Tequila
1 part Maker’s Mark Bourbon
3 parts egg nog
Dash of cinnamon

In a shaker filled with ice combine egg nog, tequila and bourbon. Shake to combine and serve chilled with a dash of cinnamon on top.

Cocoa Press (Courtesy of The Hard Rock Cafe)
1 oz. Amaretto
2 oz. Bacardi Oakheart
3 oz. Pumpkin real puree
14 oz. Hot Chocolate
5 Marshmallows

Place 5 marshmallows (regular size) into bottom of press. Add the first three ingredients then fill with hot chocolate. Insert depressor and lid. Slowly press the depressor to the bottom of French Press to smash marshmallows.

Candy Cane Cooler (Courtesy of NoMa Social)
1 tbs crushed soft peppermint candy
1½ fl oz vodka
splash of white creme de menthe
¼ fl oz brandy
½ fl oz half-and-half
Crushed ice
Peppermint stick for garnish
Mint sprig for garnish

Combine the vodka and crushed peppermint. Stir to dissolve. Add the remaining ingredients, stir and garnish.

Hot Apple (Courtesy of Xanté)
2 oz. Xante
Freshly Pressed Apple Juice
A Cinnamon Stick

Heat the apple juice together with the cinnamon stick. Add Xanté before serving.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup (Courtesy of Cheri Loughlin)
1-1/4 ounce Shellback Silver Rum
3 ounces Half & Half
1-1/2 ounce Heavy Whipping Cream
2 tablespoons smooth Peanut Butter
1/3 cup White Chocolate Chips
French Vanilla Whipped Cream
Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Candy – unwrapped

Place rum in a heat resistant coffee mug. Set aside. Place half & half, heavy whipping cream, peanut butter and white chocolate chips in a microwave safe glass container such as a two cup measuring cup. Microwave mixture on high for 30 second intervals, stirring until mixture is completely heated and smooth. The completed microwave time should take approximately 3 to 4 minutes depending on individual microwaves. Once mixture is heated thoroughly and smooth, pour into coffee mug over the rum. Stir briefly. Top with whipped cream. Garnish with peanut butter cup on top.

Twisted Talk: What’s your guilty pleasure over the holidays? Which of these cocktails do you think looks the best? Discuss below!