Holiday party planning in the works? Need some cocktails for a crowd? I’m here to help with some great drink ideas, so you won’t have to be tied to the bar and have lots of time to be merry with your guests.
It’s all about “pre-batching” and planning. First, write up your cocktail/beverage menu. Pick 1-2 signature cocktail recipes and supplement with red wine and champagne. Be sure to have something festive for the designated drivers as well.
Who’s ready for my Festive Sparkling Rum Punch?
How about a Festive Sparkling Rum Punch – made with rum, brandy, fresh juices, and homemade spiced syrup. You can make this up to a week in advance and refrigerate. Then, whip out that punch bowl from the closet and serve over a fun ice ring and finish it with champagne. Yum!
For the non-imbiber, my Rosemary POM Holiday Sparkle is a cheery combination of fresh rosemary, tangerines, pomegranate juice and sparkling apple cider.
For a demo on how to make the Hot Buttered Egg Nog Mix,
check out www.LiquidKitchen.com
Finish off the evening with a batch of my Hot Buttered Eggnog Mix. The secret ingredient… is vanilla ice cream! Just add rum and hot water. Great to sip on while sharing stories around the fireplace.
So don’t fret this holiday season – just make sure to plan ahead! –Kathy
Festive Sparkling Rum Punch
This punch is great to make ahead and then just add bubbles right before serving. Make a festive ice-ring to chill the punch, or serve over large ice balls – there are lots of molds available on line.
Makes about 16 – 20 servings
Spiced Syrup
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
12 each whole cloves
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
2 cinnamon sticks, broken up
Punch
3 cups gold rum
1 cup brandy or cognac
1 cup guava or passion fruit nectar
1 cup pomegranate juice
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon Peychaud’s or Angostura bitters
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1 bottle brut sparkling wine or champagne, chilled
To make the syrup: combine syrup ingredients in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer slowly for about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let cool to room temperature before proceeding with recipe. Or you can prepare the syrup up to a week in advance and store refrigerated.
To make the punch: in a large punch bowl (or large container such as a stock pot or pitcher) combine the Spiced Syrup, rum, brandy, juices and bitters. Stir to combine. (At this point you can refrigerate the punch for up to 3 days in advance)
Present in a large punch bowl. Add sparkling wine/champagne right before serving. Serve punch in an old fashioned glass over ice or large ice balls.
Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen® – www.LiquidKitchen.com
Rosemary Pom Holiday Sparkle
Fresh rosemary’s herbal essence complements the tangy flavor of the clementine and the sweetness of the sparkling cider. When making this in the Middle East, I substituted sparkling date cider instead of the apple cider! It was fantastic!
Makes 1 drink
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1/4 or 1/2 of a clementine or mandarin, depending on size
1 1/2 oz pomegranate juice
3 oz sparkling apple cider
Garnish: fresh rosemary sprig
Bend 1 rosemary sprig and drop into a cocktail shaker. Squeeze in the clementine then drop in. Measure in the pomegranate juice. Fill the shaker with ice. Cap and shake vigorously. Pour into a tall glass. Top with the cider and stir. Garnish with a rosemary sprig. (Or, you can shake the drink in the cocktail shaker, then add the sparkling cider and strain the drink into a tall champagne flute for a more elegant look.)
Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen® – www.LiquidKitchen.com
Hot Buttered Egg Nog with Rum
Combining two holiday favorites! Add more or less to taste; rum and Spiced Eggnog Mix.
Makes 1 drink
3-4 Tbsp. Buttered Eggnog Mix (recipe follows)
1-1 1/2 oz spiced rum
4-5 oz boiling water
Garnish: fresh grated nutmeg, long piece of orange or Clementine
Place Eggnog Buttered Brandy Mix and rum in coffee glass or mug. Stir in boiling water until batter is dissolved. Grate fresh nutmeg over the top. Garnish with orange zest.
Buttered Eggnog Mix
Makes about 7 cups (about 30 – 36 servings)
1/2 pound salted butter (2 sticks), softened
1 Tbsp. finely minced orange zest
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 pint very high-quality vanilla ice cream
1 cup high-quality eggnog
1 Tbsp. real vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. rum extract
Be sure butter is softened. With an electric mixer; cream butter, orange zest and sugars together in a mixing bowl until totally smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. Store refrigerated for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 1 month.
Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen® – www.LiquidKitchen.com
