Rip these out at your next holiday party, with festive garnishes and carols to match.
You can’t beat a big old bowl of something refreshing and zesty at a party – especially when you can pour all the ingredients in, give it a mix and let your guests help themselves. This twist on traditional sangria is all about good quality ingredients that just work. A rich chardy, like Big Buffalo Chardonnay, offers a ripe tropical-fruit base – and instead of brandy, opt for Luxardo Limoncello for a light yet acidic zing. Bring the bubbles with straight soda water or even passionfruit soda if you fancy. The herbs and fruits in this recipe do some heavy wine-complementing lifting – think dried apple pieces, mandarin segments (halved lengthways for extra flavour), sage, lemon thyme and half a vanilla pod. It’s fresh, it’s zesty, it’s herbaceous and it’s outrageously tasty. And the one unwritten rule of sangria? Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Garnish it with: Candy canes! If you’re serving this in a big bowl and hanging some glasses around it (much like the picture on the recipe page) then hang a couple of candy canes around the outside of the bowl too for a Christmassy touch.
Chrissy carol suggestion: ‘I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas’. More like I’m dreaming of a White Sangria, amirite?
For your Chrissy do that’s probably going to fall on a hot summer’s night (hey, El Niño) you’ll need a refreshing summery drink to match: enter a Caipiroska. It’s also stupidly simple to make, which is a plus – just one spirit and a few kitchen ingredients. It makes it a great cocktail to highlight a favourite premium vodka. We suggest Absolut Vodka. Then it’s a matter of adding loads of limes to give it a crisp, zesty taste, while the small amount of sugar syrup adds a touch of sweetness. Don’t just stop at limes, though. If you want to add more fruit, go right ahead – most fruit pairs well with lime. We particularly love adding strawberries, passionfruit, or both! The addition of herbs and edible flowers in your Caipiroska is another great option and fits the garden-party brief, if that’s where you’re hosting.
Garnish it with: A glacé cherry and lime wheel for that quintessential Christmas colourway.
Chrissy carol suggestion: ‘Jingle Bells’ because you’ll be dashing through the Dan’s aisles to pick up your favourite vodka to make this one.
This cocktail certainly looks the Christmassy part: vibrant red with a slice of lemon and a celery stick for your health. A Michelada is kind of like a Bloody Mary, only beerier – Mexican lager to be exact. It’s got spice, plenty of flavour and will keep your party guests on their toes. The secret is using a beer that’s ideally light, clean and ever-so-softly sweet: Balter Cerveza is a solid choice. Then there’s the clamato juice, a potent concoction at the heart of the drink made from tomato concentrate, MSG and dried clam broth. On paper, those ingredients may not wet everyone’s whistle, but trust us – clamato juice is the umami bomb behind the Michelada’s success. Then it gets a touch of Worcestershire sauce, some Maggi Seasoning (of bánh mì fame), Tabasco, and the tangy lime and chilli powder Tajin, which tops off this party bev that’ll be a hit and then some.
Garnish it with: Celery and a slice of lemon. For a Christmas kick, mix some gold salt with the Tajin seasoning on the rim. Fancy and festive.
Chrissy carol suggestion: ‘Feliz Navidad’ feels like a good fit.
This summer-ready spin on the classic Marg is made perfect with Luxardo Triple Sec, Tromba Tequila Blanco and a whole lotta watermelon. In all of the chaos of silly season entertaining, you’d be forgiven for forgetting a few steps in the cocktail-making process. But heed this advice: chop your watermelon cubes BEFORE you freeze them. Otherwise, you'll end up with a huge frozen watermelon. It’s a mistake you’ll only make once, trust us. You'll also want to start blending the frozen fruit (with your other ingredients) on a low setting and work your way to high to get the perfect consistency. If the mixture is still a little watery, you can thicken it up by adding more frozen watermelon or even regular crushed ice. We love the Frozen Watermelon Marg for a party season sip because who doesn’t love a frozen cocktail and watermelon? Harry Styles certainly put it back on the map.
Garnish it with: A slice of watermelon flipped upside down so it looks like a little Chrissy tree – cute!
Chrissy carol suggestion: ‘Last Christmas’, because who doesn’t love a little Wham with their watermelon?
Bacon-washed bourbon? In an Old Fashioned? Hey, it’s the holiday season – live large! Fat washing can be done with any kind of fat – avocado oil, butter, coconut oil and more – to flavour any spirit. For bacon and bourbon, it just works – and when you add it to an Old Fashioned in place of regular bourbon you’re in for a fun, festive and, frankly, unexpected twist. The bacon-washed bourbon makes the Old Fashioned more fragrant, salty and smoky. There are also sweeter notes of cherry and vanilla and a distinct zesty pop from the orange twist. Ooft, ‘tis the season to salivate. Our pick for the perfect bourbon for this creative cocktail is Basil Hayden Bourbon – and there’s no time like the present to learn how to fat-wash bourbon so get stuck in with all the tips in our Bacon-Washed Old Fashioned recipe.
Garnish it with: An orange twist, a piece of crispy bacon or a sprig of rosemary for a little Christmas greenery.
Chrissy carol suggestion: ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ – while you’re thinking “do they know it’s bacon-washed bourbon”?
For our next (festive season) party trick, we present to you the Rob Roy: a cocktail that looks fancy but is dead easy. Dust off your grandma’s crystal coupes for this sultry number. The Rob Roy is Scotch’s answer to the Manhattan – where a Manhattan is made with American whiskey, like rye or bourbon, the Rob Roy features a Scotch whisky. A simple recipe with just three ingredients – whiskey, vermouth and bitters – it’s a classic that’ll save you time but still impress your guests when you whip it out later in the night. Whether you choose a blended or single-malt Scotch is a matter of taste, though a blended whisky is often the more conventional choice. Whatever your preference, the drink's simplicity allows the whisky to shine through, so be sure to select a style you enjoy. We can’t go past Dewars 8 Year Old Scotch Whisky.
Garnish it with: An orange twist or a fresh cherry.
Chrissy carol suggestion: ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ – a vintage tune to pair with your vintage glassware.
Looking for the Christmas spirit? It’s in the Cherry Christmas Spritz, of course. If you’re looking for something fun to do with that kilo of cherries your aunt Jenny gifted you, you’re in luck. There’s a little bit of preparation with this, but get on the tools before your guests arrive and it’ll be well worth it. The cherries can be transformed into a scrumptious syrup by combining them with sugar and water, and cooking over a high heat before blending, straining and cooling. Then it’s a matter of combining Tanqueray London Dry Gin, Luxardo Amaretto, d'Arenberg Peppermint Paddock Sparkling Red and some lime juice with your cherry syrup, and you’ve got yourself a damn delicious cocktail.
Garnish it with: A couple of whole cherries (because there’ll be plenty to go around).
Chrissy carol suggestion: ‘How To Make Gravy’ – because sweet and savoury always work well.
