So the festive season is upon us! Ho Ho Ho. So much of what Christmas is all about is centred around the kids (visits to Santa’s grotto, Peppa Pig chocolate advent calenders…and ah yes baby Jesus) but I think it’s important to remember that it is also time for us parents to unwind and have a little fun too.

Bring on the season of Christmas parties and long-overdue Christmas drinks with the girls!

Now I am not saying you HAVE to have a drink in order to enjoy Christmas (I am having my cocktails Virgin Mary style with baby number two on the way), but if you decide that an alcoholic beverage or two will help ease you into the festivities, here are my top five Christmas cocktails to get you into the festive spirit (so to speak)…

Cocktail 1: Santa’s Little Helper

When to drink: 

On Christmas Eve, the Christmas shopping is finally complete and you are wrapping up the last of the Christmas presents…

Ingredients:

  • 5 oz apple juice
  • 1 1/2 oz apple schnapps
  • 1 1/2 oz Goldschlager® cinnamon schnapps
  • 1 1/2 oz butterscotch schnapps

Preparation (if making yourself):

  • Pour apple juice into a cocktail shaker.
  • Add Goldschlager, apple schnapps and butterscotch schnapps.
  • Shake and strain into glass.

Drinkware:

A Large Cocktail Glass

Served:

With an apple slice or cinnamon stick garnish and a sense of accomplishment.

Recipe from: http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink7942.html#ixzz3tO2dCRQC

Cocktail 2: Tequila Sunrise

When to drink:  

At the Christmas party, after surviving a week of toddler colds and 3/4/5am starts…

Ingredients:

  • 2 parts/measures of tequila
  • orange juice
  • 2 dashes grenadine syrup

Preparation:

  • Pour tequila in a glass with ice.
  • Top with orange juice. Stir.
  • Add grenadine by tilting glass and pouring grenadine down side by flipping the bottle vertically very quickly.
  • The grenadine should go straight to the bottom and then rise up slowly through the drink.

Drinkware:

A Highball Glass

Served:

With a stirrer, straw and a orange or lime garnish

Recipe from: http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink2340.html#ixzz3tO5CU5S1

Cocktail 3: The Last Word

When to drink:  

At the bar, following a ‘disagreement’ with the other half as you ran out of the house late for your Christmas drinks. It will make you feel better… even if you didn’t actually have the last word…

Ingredients:

  • One part/measure gin
  • One part/measure lime juice
  • One part/measure green Chartreuse
  • One part/measure maraschino liqueur

Preparation:

  • Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Shake vigorously.

Drinkware:

A Cocktail Glass

Served:

Strained…into a chilled cocktail glass.

Recipe from: http://cocktails.about.com/od/ginrecipes/r/last_word.htm

Cocktail 4: Dirty Mother

When to order:  

When you get to the bar and realise there is baby sick on your dress and you have not had time to wash your hair. It’s time to order a Dirty Mother cocktail. It has coffee based liquor Kahlua in it too for that extra kick.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 oz brandy
  • 1/2 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur

Preparation:

Pour ingredients into a glass filled with ice cubes.

Stir well and serve.

Drinkware:

Any old glass.

Served:

On the rocks.

Recipe from: http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink3198.html#ixzz3uJj01PYr

Cocktail 5: Tom and Jerry

When to make:

When you realise that you can’t get a babysitter because even the grandparents are out enjoying their Christmas Drinks. So you are stuck indoors with nothing good on Saturday night telly and you are seriously considering watching that Christmas Disney movie…

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 eggs or egg whites
  • 2.5 tsp icing sugar
  • 1 part/measure brandy or rum
  • 235ml milk

Preparation:

  • Separate Eggs, Beat Egg Whites with 1.5 tsp icing sugar until stiff.
  • Mix Egg Yolks with remaining icing sugar.
  • Put yolk mixture in cup, mix with rum/brandy.
  • Fold in some egg white, add hot milk and top with more egg white, stir gently.
  • Sprinkle with Nutmeg.

Drinkware:

In a Mug. You are at home anyway.

Served:

Warm and fuzzy. Just like the Disney Movie.

Recipe from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/9257/tom-and-jerry/

So Cin Cin, Cheers and Salute. Hope these get you into the festive spirit!