We’re firm believers that the holiday season is another reason to celebrate our love of food and drinks. We’ve rounded up a few cocktails that can be enjoyed in the early morning hours as well as in the late evening after a busy day of gifts, giving and family. If you’re asking yourself, “Are they suggesting that I start and end my day with a holiday cocktail”? You bet we are! It’s the holidays—time to bend the rules a bit.
Kickstart Christmas Morning
Baileys Irish Coffee
It’s hard enough to wake up in the morning, let alone at 5 a.m. to kids amped up on Christmas spirit ready to tear into those gifts. Baileys makes easing into the morning a little less difficult with the classic Irish coffee.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Baileys Irish Cream
- 6 oz hot coffee
- 1 oz Irish whiskey
- Garnish: whipped cream
Method
Combine Baileys, coffee and whiskey in your favorite Christmas mug. Top with whipped cream.
Amaretto Hot Chocolate
You can’t give this to the kids to calm them down, but it does add a pinch of nostalgia to that favorite snowy day drink; the hint of almond doesn’t hurt either.
Ingredients
- 1 oz dark rum
- 1 Tbsp Amaretto
- 6 oz hot chocolate–You can use your favorite hot chocolate recipe, or mix ½ cup milk with a ¼ cup of heavy cream and whisk into 5 oz of good-quality melted chocolate.
Method
Mix it together, and pour it in a mug.
After-Dinner Delights
The Chocolate Martini
The legend of the chocolate martini is that it originated in 1955 when two famous chocolate lovers, with a flair for martinis, decided to combine the two into the now iconic drink. Although most any combination of chocolate liqueurs can be used, among the finest is Godiva. With options in dark, milk and white chocolate, Godiva has a martini for every kind of chocolate lover.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Godiva liqueur of your choice
- .75 oz vodka
Method
In a cocktail shaker, shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.
White Christmas Dream
This martini is creamy, sweet and just right for a fretful grandmother.
Ingredients
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz Amaretto
- 1 oz heavy cream
- 1 pinch nutmeg
Method
Pour all ingredients into a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into martini glass. Garnish with nutmeg on top.
- Bailey's Irish Coffee photo: She Knows
- Chocolate Martini photo: Garnish With Lemon
- White Christmas Dream photo: Fragrant Vanilla Cake
