Sip Something Good: Holiday Drinks

By J. A. Young

Winter is bristling around the corner along with holiday festivities. You can serve some extra holiday cheer at your special gatherings with the following seven drinks that are easy (and fun) to make and perfect accompaniments to winter celebrations.

It's simple, but it packs a warm punch. Serve Hot Toddies around the fireplace. To serve 12, you’ll need 12 ounces of brandy, scotch, bourbon or whiskey; ¼ cup sugar; 12 lemon twists. Boil 3 quarts of water in a large pot. Place 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1 ounce of liquor into each mug. Then fill each mug with boiling water. Add a twist of lemon peel to garnish.

Spiced cider is as tasty as it is traditional. To serve 10, you’ll need: 5 allspice berries; 12 cinnamon sticks; 4 whole cloves; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 whole orange peel; 1 lemon whole lemon peel; 2 quarts apple cider; 1/4 cup packed brown sugar; ground nutmeg; spiced rum (optional). Place your spices, salt and peels in a square of cheesecloth and tie up with butcher's twine so you have a packet or sachet. Use two of your cinnamon sticks for the packet as well. In a pot over medium heat, heat the apple cider until steam rises from your surface. Add brown sugar and stir well. Add your spice pack to the pot and let steep for ten minutes. Serve with mugs with a sprinkling of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick for garnish. If you’re spiking your cider, add 3/4 rum to each mug.

Hot Cider Punch is perfect for both children and adults. To make 1 1/2 gallons, you'll need: 1 gallon apple cider; 3-oz. package of raspberry gelatin; 3 12-oz cans of 7-Up room temperature. Stir apple cider and dry gelatin together in a 30 cup coffee pot. Percolate. Just before serving, stir in the 7-Up.

Wassail is another traditional favorite which one drinks to wish health to another. To make 1 1/2 quarts, you’ll need: 1 1/2 cups sugar; 4 cups boiling water; 3 allspice berries; 6 whole cloves; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; 1 cinnamon stick; 1 1/2 cups orange juice; 2/3 cup lemon juice. Combine sugar and 2 cups boiling water in a saucepan. Boil for 5 minutes. Stir in your spices. Cover and allow to stand for 1 hour. Then, add your remaining water, orange juice and lemon. Strain to separate the spices and heat to boiling point. Serve immediately in small cups.

Sparkling Cranberry Punch. This delightful punch makes 2 1/2 quarts. You'll need 1 quart cranberry juice cocktail; 6-oz. can frozen orange juice (thawed); 6-oz. can frozen lemonade (thawed); 2 cups water; 2 cups ginger ale; orange slices. Combine cranberry cocktail, orange juice, lemonade and water. Chill. Before serving, pour juice mixture over ice and stir in ginger ale. Garnish with orange slices.

Coquito is the tropical equivalent to classic eggnog. To serve 10, you'll need: 8 cups unsweetened coconut milk; 3/4 cup of sugar; 16 egg yolks; 4 tablespoons vanilla extract; 2 cups spiced rum; ground cinnamon for garnish. In a large saucepan, warm the coconut milk until it's steaming, then stir in sugar so it dissolves. In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the rum and slowly add to coconut milk. Do not allow the mixture to boil or it will curdle. Once mixed, remove from heat and allow to cool. Place in a sealed container in the refrigerator to chill. Once cold, serve with a sprinkling of cinnamon on top.

Glogg is an old-fashioned Scandinavian winter treat. To serve 12, you’ll need: 2 750 ml bottles dry red wine; 20 cloves; 20 cardamom seeds; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 8 ounces sugar cubes; 1 750 ml aquavit; 1/2 cup raisins; ½ cup sliced almonds. Combine cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg in a large pot and heat until steam rises. Strain and then transfer half the mixture to a large bowl. Place a fine mesh wire rack over the pot and place the sugar cubes on top. Pour the aquavit over the cubes. Standing back, take a long kitchen match to carefully ignite the sugar cubes, then slowly ladle the reserved wine over them until they are dissolved. Serve in mugs with raisins and almonds for garnish.

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