Christmas is just around the corner and with it the time to eat, drink and be merry! But away with the usual spirit-and-mixer nonsense we have all year round – special occasions demand special drinks and with bottles of Absolut, Chivas Regal and Jameson Irish Whiskey waiting for me under my tree, there’s so much more fun to be had with very little effort. So, on the first day of Christmas my true love made for me...
CHRISTMAS MADRAS
Absolut, orange juice, cranberry tea
Warm, citrusy and fruity, the Christmas Madras will take you from your noisy Cairo apartment to a chic Manhattan bar – after a few glasses, that is.
EGGNOG EXPRESS
Absolut, egg, nutmeg
Eggnog is of course the quintessential Christmas drink, but who’s got the time, right? Whip up one egg, add Absolut liberally and garnish with some nutmeg. Voila. Sounds icky, but it works.
CHRISTMAS HOT TODDY
Jameson Irish Whiskey, hot water, honey, cinnamon, cloves
God bless the Irish – they just get it. A Hot Toddy alone is a gift of a drink, but with the simple addition of a couple of cinnamon sticks and cloves, you’re set for a very toddy Christmas.
WINTER WONDERLAND
Absolut, sweet vanilla powder, chocolate liqueur, coconut flakes
Standing somewhere on the flex of drink and dessert, the Winter Wonderland is strictly for the very sweet-toothed among you. Ho, ho, ho – or something.
POMFRESCA
Absolut, pomegranate juice, lemonade
The Pomfresca is easy, breezy and light but packs a festive punch, thanks to the sweetness of the pomegranate and the fizzy-bubble feeling you get in your tummy from the lemonade.
CANDY CANE COCKTAIL
Absolut, strawberry syrup, candy cane
Another effortlessly delicious cocktail that’s every bit as pretty as it is yummy. Garnish with an actual candy cane and drink seductively in a corner.
JAMESON IRISH COFFEE
Jameson Irish Whiskey, coffee, sugar, whipped cream, cinnamon
A classic that combines the vigour and verve of Jameson with the playful naughtiness of whipped cream. Save some of the whipped cream for bedtime.
SOUR GREEN APPLE
Absolut, apple juice, fresh squeezed lime, sugar
I salivate when I think about this drink – it’s like electricity in a glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and salt around the rim for the same feeling your dog gets when he tries to chew on the Christmas lights.
WINTER SPICE
Chivas Regal, orange wedge, hot water, star anise, cinnamon stick, cherries
Best made in a punch bowl for all to enjoy this is what the phrase “sugar, spice and all things nice” was made for. You get a good dose of your daily fruit intake, too.
SUGAR COOKIE
Absolut, amaretto, coffee creamer
I know what you’re thinking – how dare anyone taint the liquid crystal that is Absolut with coffee creamer? It’s a strange one, but it’s darn good. Coat rim of glass with sugar for extra sweetness.
CHRISTMAS COSMO
Chivas Regal, Raspberry Syrup, fresh squeezed lime, cranberry juice
Cosmopolitans make me feel naughty at the best of times – they make me get ‘handsy’. Who knew Chivas would go so well with such fruity flavours?
DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
Chivas Regal, cinnamon syrup, apple juice
By the twelfth day/drink, you’re not going to want to exert much energy, if any at all, so keep it simple with a glass full of Christmas flavours.
See - easy peasy lemon squeezy. Enjoy responsibly.
