vodka

Cocktail Advent 25: Cranberry Winter Solstice

Sips

Merry Christmas!

If you’ve got leftover cranberry sauce from today’s dinner, here’s a saucy (oh, yes I did!) way to use it up (unless you’ve got cranberry puree on hand for some other reason).

Cranberry Winter Solstice
Source: Manny Hinojosa

  • • 1 1/2 oz. Grey Goose La Poire Vodka
  • • 1 1/2 oz. The Perfect Purée Cranberry Puree, thawed
  • • 1 oz. fresh lemon juice
  • • 1/2 oz. agave nectar
  • • Ginger beer (to top)
  • • 3 drops sesame chili oil
  • • Lemon wheel (for garnish)

Method:

In a cocktail shaker combine all ingredients with ice except ginger beer and sesame chili oil. Shake and serve over the rocks in a Collins glass. Top with ginger beer and 3 drops of sesame oil. Garnish with lemon wheel.

The sesame chili oil has me doing a head-tilt, but I’m all for the sweet and spicy combo in theory. If you try this, do let us know how it went?

***This recipe was submitted by a representative of The Perfect Puree. I am not affiliated with the company nor was I compensated for this post, not even with review samples. As always, we encourage responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunken monkeys, please!***

Cocktail Advent 21: Mistletoe Martini

Sips

I say you make this next one a double, serve the second to your significant other, and not worry about where the mistletoe is!

Image via Devotion Vodka

Image via Devotion Vodka

Mistletoe Martini

  • 1.5 oz. Devotion Vodka Black & Blue
  • 1 oz. Kahlua
  • 1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream
  • 1 oz. White Crème de Cocoa

Pour all ingredients into a martini shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain mixture into a martini glass, and garnish with chocolate shavings.

Devotion Black and Blue is a blackberry and blueberry flavored vodka. Interesting to pair it with the coffee and cream elements. I’d still be tempted to put this together in a blender with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream for a… (I’m trying to come up with a portmanteau of alcohol(ic) and smoothie and nothing’s sounding right–smoothahol(ic), alcosmooth, smocohoolie, it’s just not happening, is it?) something tasty! Maybe.

***This recipe was submitted by a representative of Devotion Vodka. I am not affiliated with the brand nor was I compensated for posting this recipe, not even with review samples. As always, we encourage responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunken monkeys, please!***

Cocktail Advent 12: Devoted Nutcracker

Sips

Here’s a concoction that just might have you dancing in your nightgown. It’s okay, we won’t tell.

Image via Devotion Vodka

Image via Devotion Vodka

Devoted Nut Cracker

  • 1.5 oz. Devotion Vodka
  • 1 oz. Amaretto
  • 1 oz. Frangelico
  • 1 oz. Crème de Cocoa

Pour all ingredients into a martini shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain mixture into a martini glass garnished with cocoa powder on the rim.

Anything that combines Amaretto and Frangelico already has me pretty well on its side–those are two of my favorite sweet liqueurs. In fact, this reminds me quite a bit of my Candy Bar shot. Although, since this is 100% alcohol, I’d suggest stirring it over shaking it.

***This recipe was submitted by a representative of Devotion vodka. I am not affiliated with this brand nor was I compensated for posting this recipe, not even with review samples. As always, we encourage responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunken monkeys, please!***

Cocktail Advent 6: Wild Cherry Peppermint Cosmo

Sips

There’s something about a Cosmo that makes it a great holiday drink. I think it might be the great color from the cranberry juice that makes you think festive.

Image via Devotion Vodka

Image via Devotion Vodka

Devotion Wild Cherry Peppermint Cosmo

  • 2.5 ounces of Devotion Wild Cherry Vodka
  • Dash of Peppermint Schnapps
  • 1.5 ounces of Diet Cranberry Juice

Combine over ice and shake until chilled. Strain into cocktail glass.

Now, I do have an issue with this particular recipe. It’s been shown in at least one study that the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks, when combined with alcohol, effectively get you drunk faster. Basically, the sugar in the regular mixers ‘gets in the way of’ the alcohol entering the bloodstream more than the artificial sweeteners. You still get the same amount of alcohol, you just feel the effects sooner.

There have been very few times I’ve wanted to be intoxicated faster versus enjoying a drink and keeping my faculties fully functioning, so this isn’t a plus, to me. Also, this recipe is being shopped around as a low-cal cocktail (read as: healthier) and, folks, alcohol is brimming with calories. If you want low-cal, drink water. Otherwise, pick a drink that’s worth the calories and enjoy the party.

Do with the information what you will.

***This recipe was provided by a representative of Devotion Vodka. I am not affiliate with the company nor was I compensated for this post, not even with review samples. As always, we encourage responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunken monkeys, please!***

Cocktail Advent 3: Candy Cane Cooler

Sips

I can generally take-or-leave candy canes, but the soft, pillowy, melt-in-your-mouth peppermints that this cocktail uses are one of the few “hard” candies that I truly love.

Image via NoMa Social

Image via NoMa Social

Candy Cane Cooler

Ingredients:

  • 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

 

Directions:

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

This recipe comes courtesy of NoMa Social, a restaurant in New Rochelle, NY, who is running a 4×4 promotion between 4 and 8 pm each evening throughout the “winter season.” While I understand the potential global reach of blogging, I generally don’t post promos from restaurants outside of my little corner of the continent since I cannot vouch for them, personally. So this Cocktail Advent series is really the only time a pitch like this would ever see the pixels of day here on ScrapsOfLife!

I’m fairly certain you could sub any non-dairy milk for the half-and-half in this recipe and that it would scale quite well into an entire pitcher of peppermint pink-ness. Maybe switch the garnish to a peppermint patty for whenever you plan to watch a Charlie Brown Christmas special?

***This recipe was submitted by a representative of NoMa Social. I am in no way affiliated with this restaurant nor have I been compensated in any way. As always, we promote responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunken monkeys, please!***