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The Perfect Holiday Cocktails

Entertaining this Christmas?  We’ve got some festive cocktails that will make your bartending skills the life of the party.  There are some amazing flavors that are wrapped up in this beautiful season and when combined perfectly with the right spirits and appetizers, you’ve got one fabulous party on hand.

Our friends at Wedding Chicks came up with some of their top ten favorites that we thought were swoon worthy (recipes at the aforementioned link):

white winter cosmo holiday cocktail Golden Cadillac Holiday Cocktail Gingerbread Martini
Want more?  We’ve got more!

Ruby Red Sparkling Wine Aspic (jello shooter)

Ruby Red Sparkling Wine

Recipe and directions from Pane e Acqua di Rose:

Ingredients (makes 18):

1,5 bottle of dry sparkling wine
120g of white sugar
38g of gelatine leaves
2 pomegranates
300g of frozen raspberry
1 orange

I put the gelatine leaves in cold water to soften them. In the mean time, I boiled 150ml of water, the sugar and the grated peel of the orange. When the liquid boiled, I filtered it with a strainer, eliminating the orange peel. I melted the squeezed gelatin in the microwave oven, then I added it to the liquid and stirred well. I added the sparkling wine and left it to cool.
I peeled and husked the pomegranates. In every small cup I put some husks of pomegranate and some raspberries, still frozen. I poured the jelly on them and left it to cool. I took the cups out of the fridge a few minutes before serving.

Pomosa

Pomosa

Ingredients

2 ounces of chilled pomegrante juice
Champagne

Directions

For each drink, pour about 2 ounces of chilled pomegranate juice into a champagne flute and fill rest of the way up with chilled champagne.

Rudolph Tipsy Spritzer

Rudolph Spritzer

Ingredients

5 cups orange juice
2 cups chilled lemon-lime soft drink
1 1/2 cups vodka
1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Garnishes: lemon slices, fresh rosemary sprigs

Preparation

1. Stir together all ingredients; serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.

Turtle Dove

Turtle Dove Martini Holiday Signature Drink

 Vanilla Vodka, Hazelnut liqueur, Amaretto and Cream

Mulled Wine Sangria

Mulled Wine Sangria
Ingredients

1 (750-milliliter) bottle merlot or other red wine, chilled and divided
1/3 cup sugar
1 sachet Mulling Spice Blend
1/2 cup fresh orange juice (about 1 large orange)
1 (16-ounce) bag frozen unsweetened strawberries
1/2 orange, thinly sliced and cut in half
1 (12-ounce) can club soda

Preparation

1. Combine 1 cup wine, sugar, and sachet in a small saucepan; bring to a simmer. Cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat; cool. Discard sachet. Pour mixture into a pitcher; add remaining 3 cups wine. Chill thoroughly. Add juice, strawberries, orange slices, and club soda.

Berry Christmas Cocktail

Berry Christmas Cocktail

Pomegranate Vodka, Triple Sec, Peach Schnapps, and Cranberry Juice

Spicy Rum Punch

Spicy Rum Punch

Ingredients

1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
2 tablespoons black peppercorns
6 star anise
4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
2 (64-ounce) bottles cranberry-pineapple juice drink (such as Ocean Spray)
2 cups dark rum
4 (12-ounce) bottles ginger beer (such as Stewart’s)

Preparation

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; let stand 30 minutes.
Strain cranberry mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Chill thoroughly. Stir in rum and ginger beer just before serving.

Do you have a favorite holiday cocktail? Be sure to share it with us, and happy holidays!

The Cocktails + Details Holiday Gift Giving Guide

The holidays are fast approaching– which means delicious martinis, delectable foods, festive parties and gift giving!  If you still need help selecting the perfect present for that special someone in your life, we are here to the rescue!

For Him

luxury skin care for men

One gift that I personally gave to Captain America (for new readers, that’s my amazing husband) was the Organic Male OM4 Collection.  In just 4 simple steps, your guy will be pampered and on his way to perfect skin.  Filled with rejuvenating vitamin and antioxidant rich extracts that actively defer the onset of premature aging is his best offense to maintaining his ultra good looks.  OM4 comes in 5 sets for specific skin types:  Sensitive, Oily, Normal, Dry and Anti-Aging. Each set retails for $170, but the products are sold separately at www.om4men.com.  My man adores it! Yours will, too!

buddy lee jump rope fitness holiday christmas gift

For the fitness enthusiast in your life, the Buddy Lee Jump Rope will be happy addition in the gym bag.  Unlike traditional jump ropes that can be too short or too stiff, these special calorie burners come with a swivel bearing for easy movement and are speed length adjustable. Get yours for $45 at www.buddyleejumpropes.com.

Brew Shop Beer Making Kit

Have a beer enthusiast in your life?  Check out Brooklyn Brew Shop‘s many beer making kits with favorites like Rye and Smoked Wheat to gourmet favorites like Jalapeno Saison, Chocolate Maple Porter and Chestnut Ale, there is absolutely something for every one.  Can’t choose?  Gift cards are also available.  Kits start at $40.

For Her

Sephora Give Me Some Lip Gift Sampler

No one pampers your pucker like Sephora‘s Give Me Some Lip Sampler featuring some of the best brands such as Tarte, Laura Mercier, Sugar, and more. From stains to glosses, tints to treatments, it’s the perfect for the beauty queen in your life for only $25.

Herve Leger Lilac Infused Body Con Cocktail DressWhat about the fashionista on your Christmas list?  With bodycons still being huge in the fashion world (curvy girls of the world are genuine ecstatic about this!), you can find your perfect dress for that special occasion, like this Hervé Leger cocktail dress from Rent the Runway.  Here, you can rent some of the hottest designers dresses and gowns for a fraction of the price.  Have a shoe freak in your midst? Online boutiques like Kimora Lee Simmons’ JustFab and Kim Kardashian’s ShoeDazzle allow you to pick out your favorite pair of shoes, jewelry or handbags based on your personal style handpicked by today’s hottest stylists.

Horchow Python Travel AccessoriesHave a beautiful Jetsetter in your life?  These gorgeous Python Travel Accessories from Horchow will be right up her alley. Consisting of designer luggage tags and passport covers, they are the perfect way to personalize her travel experience.  They would also make a welcome addition to the Crown D Elite Luggage Collection that make traveling a breeze.


Have you scored the perfect gift for someone in your life?  Share the joy! Tell us all about it! 

My Holiday Favorites

favorites

 

HOLIDAY TIME!

With Christmas and New Years right around the corner—literally, I wanted to share my favorites for great, festive holiday happenings.  While you can enjoy many of these any time, they take special precedence during the holidays when everyone is feeling happy, generous and ready to party. 

Great Food:  Nothing brings family and friends together like good food.  Go beyond the usual dips and finger foods and play up some traditional favorite flavors.  Above is prosciutto wrapped fig, which is absolutely delicious.  These festive baked potato bites make for great presentation and pleasing mouthfuls, enjoy a whiskey cheese fondue or scallops with potato pancakes and caviar sauce.

Great Drinks: I love the Kahlua Café “hot chocolate” adult beverage (as my BFF Jason calls them).  Topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks and sprinkled with nutmeg.  Another delicious treat is Trinidad punch from 1869: Chocolate, coconut milk and rum make a special holiday drink. If you would like to get whimsical, try these gingerbread martini jelly shots in the forms of mini bundt cakes (tres adorable!). I do believe my ultimate holiday favorite is the spiced cranberry martini.

Great Décor:  Make your house festive with charming décor—change it up every year.  We have a white Christmas tree, so each year, we’ll alternate different color ornaments (this year, it’s sapphire blue and silver).  We also buy a single ornament reflective of everyone’s personality each year—it makes our tree so much more personal and intimate.  Buy a few crafts and have friends over to make their own to put on your tree or add décor to your home. 

Great Music:  Nothing starts any party like good music. I love Mariah Carey’s Christmas albums, both Merry Christmas and Merry Christmas II You, but also love Christmas tunes crooned by Frank Sinatra, Eartha Kitt, Etta James, and Nat “King” Cole.  Who doesn’t love singing around the Christmas Tree?

Great Fire:   The focal point of any holiday gathering besides the tree is the fire (enter the chestnuts roasting…).  A good fire offers warmth and entertainment, feeding into all of the senses.  If you don’t have a fireplace, opt for a fire pit for outdoor décor and warmth.  Fires also make for good cuddling 🙂

 

These are just a few of my staples for my upcoming holiday entertaining—what are yours?