Entertaining friends and family during the month of December is just one of the many ways we celebrate Christmas. Most of our celebrations begin with a signature cocktail to set the tone for the evening. Our belief is that a welcome drink should taste good, look great and make our guests smile. Why settle for ordinary when you can do this…
Malcolm got the idea for this presentation on Pinterest while he was searching for Christmas cocktails. The heavy plastic ornaments were purchased for about $1 each from a craft store and can be reused.
We placed the drinks on a large tray and invited our guest to open the ornament and pour the liquid over the sugared cranberries at the bottom of the glass. The sprig of rosemary is just to add a bit of seasonal color.
On another occasion, we served white chocolate martinis in these festive glasses. Any simple cocktail is elevated by this presentation. To rim the glasses with sugar, just dip them in water, honey, melted chocolate, lemon juice, etc. to help the sugar adhere.
Christmas Ornamentini (serves 4)
1 cup vodka
1/2 cup orange liqueur
1/2 cup cherry juice
1/4 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup orange juice
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake.
Remove the ornament topper and use a funnel to pour the drink into four clear glass ornaments that have been rinsed. Return the topper to the ornament.
Add sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig to four martini glasses. Set the ornament in the glass to serve. Open the ornament and slowly pour the contents over the cranberries. Tip: measure the amount you will need in each ornament to avoid spills.
Sugared cranberries
Dissolve 1/2 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat. Set aside and add one cup of fresh cranberries. Coat the cranberries with the liquid sugar, remove with a slotted spoon and place onto a rack for about one hour. Roll cranberries in 1/2 cup sugar until all are coated well. Fresh cranberries are tart, but the sugar makes them fun to eat as a snack, or to use as we have, at the bottom of a cocktail.
We wish you merriment and good tidings this holiday season.
