This holiday season, drinks are just as important as food for every celebration. And like the special food prepared for the season, the drinks should convey either the rustic comfort of home or carefree indulgence.
Hot Buttered Rum
This rum-based hot cocktail ensures that you get that warm, fuzzy feeling inside. Be sure to read the instructions on the batter.
In a preheated coffee mug, combine 2 heaping tbsp of the batter with 1½ oz Old Captain 8-Year-Old Rum (or Old Captain 5-Year-Old Rum). Top with boiling water and stir well to mix. Serve with a spoon.
Batter:
1 lb light brown sugar
1/2 lb unsalted butter (softened)
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground allspice
2 tsp vanilla extract
In a mixing bowl, beat together softened butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and spices until well-combined. Refrigerate in an airtight reusable container for up to a month, or place in your freezer until ready to use.
Hint: It is best to make the batter in advance so the spices have an opportunity to mingle. Be sure to remove batter from refrigerator at least six hours prior to serving to allow it to soften.
Cappuccino Up
What better way to get through all those Christmas parties than with some liquid vodka confidence and a kick from real espresso?
½ oz Toska Vodka
1½ oz Amadeo Coffee Liqueur
½ oz evaporated milk
½ oz vanilla syrup
Shake ingredients together with a small amount of ice. Pour and spoon foam on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon and raw sugar and garnish with a Graham cracker piece.
Tropical Eggnog
This eggnog-like alcoholic beverage is a traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink. But this time, we make it 100-percent Filipino.
28 oz coconut milk
2 c Old Captain 5-Year-Old Rum
14 oz condensed milk
4 egg yolks
Place ingredients in blender; blend until well-mixed. Pour into a bottle and refrigerate until cold. Serve in small glasses and sprinkle top lightly with nutmeg.
Eggnog
This Christmas staple not the easiest to make, and is ideally prepared in large quantities, but it’s a great way to have the best Christmas party in town.
8 large eggs
4 egg yolks
1 c granulated sugar
5 c whole milk
1½ c Old Captain 8-Year-Old Rum
1 c Napoleon VSOP Brandy
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2 c whipping cream
2 tbsp superfine sugar
In a mixing bowl, whisk eggs, yolks, and granulated sugar until smooth. Pour into a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in milk, gradually blending well with each addition. Heat slowly over very low heat, stirring steadily until the mixture reaches 160-170° F on an instant-read thermometer.
The custard should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon: if you draw your finger across the back of the spoon, the line will remain distinct and the custard sauce is done.
Pour the custard through a fine-meshed sieve into a large bowl. Stir in vanilla the Old Captain 8-Year-Old Rum, Napoleon VSOP Brandy and nutmeg. Let mixture cool, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least three hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, whip cream into very soft peaks, beating in superfine sugar as you go. Gently fold into custard mixture until incorporated. Serve from a chilled punch bowl or ladle into individual martini glasses, garnishing with grated nutmeg if desired.
Makes 16 cups; serves 18-20.
Cranberry Sparkle
Nothing says celebration like champagne. Make sure to incorporate it in some of your cocktails to give it that dry bubbly finish.
1 oz Toska vodka
2 oz cranberry juice with ice
1 oz champagne
Shake vodka and cranberry juice with ice. Strain into chilled martini glass and top with champagne. Garnish with raspberries.
Chocolate Beer
While the classic Tequila bomb doesn’t make a traditional Christmas cocktail, adding the flavor of coffee from El Hombre XO works well in creating a dark chocolate beer taste.
1oz El Hombre XO
1 glass Cerveza Negra or any dark lager beer
Pour the El Hombre XO into the glass of beer, stir a bit and serve.
Try not to limit yourselves this Christmas, because every party deserves drinks that make everyone feel special.
To order these liquor products, visit https://cmcestore.convoymktg.com; call Clifford Aw at 0917-5837626.