Lara Ferroni - Cocktails for the Holidays: Festive Drinks to Celebrate the Season

Text copyright 2014 by Imbibe magazine.
Photographs copyright 2014 by Lara Ferroni. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. ISBN 978-14521-3699-8 (epub, mobi) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available. ISBN 978-1-4521-2782-8 (hc) Designed by Agnes Lee
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What sights, sounds, smells, and flavors fill your mind? Glasses clinking, corks popping, spices baking, cider simmering. Its a season of bounty, of giving, celebrating, sharing, and savoring. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years Evetheres plenty to rejoice in all winter long, and what better way to do that than with a special cocktail in hand? Thats, of course, where we come in. We at Imbibe love the holidaysin fact, its our favorite time of year. Its a time when we can savor classics like a Tom and Jerry, while also celebrating creative bartenders who dream up new recipes to highlight the best of the season, like a Cranberry Smash. Whether contemporary or classic, holiday cocktails are all about comfort, celebration, and, perhaps most important, enjoyment.

Between shopping, cooking, and entertaining, theres a lot to manage during the holiday season, so were here to make the drinks portion of your planning easy and stress free. Weve compiled recipes for all types of occasions, with ingredients that are easy to find or make, many of which youll probably already have on hand during this time of the year. So whether youre hosting a party, organizing a dinner, or just looking for a drink to sip by a fire on a holiday eve, youll find plenty of inspiration on the pages that follow. Weve compiled fifty of our favorite new and classic recipes from some of the worlds brightest bartenders, so whichever recipes you choose, you cant go wrong. Dare we say that our job here is done? Now go forth, drink, and be merry. Happy holidays!
TEAM IMBIBE

Eggnog, Tom and Jerry, mulled winethese are the drinks that holiday traditions are made of. But in the cocktail world, theres always room for a twist. Thats why weve compiled a group of cocktails that celebrate the spirit of the classicsthose of yesteryear and those in the making (and a few modern twists on traditional recipes). Aejo Tequila and Amontillado Sherry Eggnog ? Its time to raise a glass to the classics.

From the intensity of the pomegranate to the zip of the lime, each ingredient stands out on its own yet also works to complement the others, says Tampa bartender Dean Hurst.

SERVESTOOLS cocktail shaker, strainer GLASS goblet or cocktail GARNISH lime wheel 11/2 ounces vodka 1/2 ounce real pomegranate grenadine 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup (recipe follows) Ice cubes Combine the vodka, grenadine, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a chilled goblet and garnish with the lime wheel. DEAN HURST
SIDEBERNS, TAMPA, FLORIDA This cocktail also works as a highballsimply shake the ingredients as described above and top with 2 ounces of club soda.

SIMPLE SYRUP

MAKES ABOUT 11/2 CUPS 1 cup water 1 cup granulated sugar Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring slowly, until the sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a clean glass bottle, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

TUXEDO COCKTAIL

This relative of the Martini is an adaptation of a recipe from Old Waldorf Bar Days by Albert Stevens Crockett. It swaps vermouths herbal character for the distinctive nuttiness of fino sherry, resulting in a distinctively dry cocktail thats perfect for serving alongside a holiday spread or as more of an aperitif before the feast begins. Since sherry is a staple ingredient of the holidays, this is a great recipe to keep on hand when you need to mix something thats easy, quick, and delicious.

SERVESTOOLS mixing glass, barspoon, strainer GLASS cocktail GARNISH lemon twist 2 ounces gin 1 ounce fino sherry Dash of orange bitters Ice cubes Combine the gin, sherry, and bitters in a mixing glass.

Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the lemon twist.

IRISH COFFEE

Irishman Joseph Sheridan first invented this classic on a dreary night back in the 1940s to rouse tired, chilly travelers. Irish Coffee has since become a staple of bar menus around the world and a traditional recipe for the holiday season. Its a comforting blend of whiskey, coffee, brown sugar, and fresh cream, which makes the nippy evenings of the holiday season all the more cheerful.