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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Christmas drinks

25 replies

Buttercupsandaisies · 22/09/2015 13:04

Hi

I'm planning ahead this year as I've been roped into doing Boxing Day!

They'll be 11 adults and 9 kids

Think I'm ok with the food as I'll do a mixture of cooked cold meats, some sort of hot pan dish, salad and m&s party food. I'm just after new ideas for drinks. I'm currently stocking up on the following by adding an extra item or two to my weekly shop:

Red, white and rose wine
Prosecco
Beer
Cider
Baileys
Soft drinks etc

We all like a drink really at parties so all likely to drink a lot over the long day but we normally drink the above at family parties and wandered if anyone has any suggestions for festive cocktails or spirit based drinks? Something I can do in a big jug for everyone?

Also anyone recommend something to entertain that many if we get bit through the evening? Any other recommendations as I've never done Boxing Day before??
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Buttercupsandaisies · 22/09/2015 13:05

Bit bored that should say

OP posts:
MadrigalElectromotive · 22/09/2015 13:07

Snowballs! Retro but delicious.

Mulled wine always goes down a treat at that time of year too.

curriegirl · 22/09/2015 13:12

I'd get a couple of fun games. Even the parents watching the kids play twister would be good fun or a family version of that game (name completely gone at the moment) - general knowledge with the bits that make up the pie? There is a family version of that.

The only thing I'd add to your drinks list is a bottle of port.

Snausage · 22/09/2015 14:26

Ooh! Exciting! I like this thread Smile I'm making all sorts of lists for Christmas at the moment, and booze is something I've been thinking about!

For me, the Christmas season is incomplete without mulled wine and/or mulled cider.

I also have some bramble vodka steeping now (will strain it mid-December) which is delicious on its own or topped up with champagne/prosecco. I have cherries and plums steeping in brandy with sugar, cinnamon sticks and vanilla pods (the fruit is yummy with ice cream or cake and the brandy is delicious).

I've also got Christmas Pudding vodka on my To-Do List this weekend. Link here

My ultimate celebratory cocktail is a Twinkle: elderflower cordial and vodka topped up with champagne or prosecco (a strip of lemon zest in the glass is imperative).

rosieliveson1 · 22/09/2015 14:41

There are some great recipes on bbc good food. The winter pimms went down well. We also had 'twinkles' (recipe on ocado page) and mulled wine/cider.
I LOVE all things Christmas and your thread is getting me even more excited!!!

Original poster
Buttercupsandaisies · 22/09/2015 14:49

Thanks for all the replies! Some great ideas here. Those twinkles looks nice. I've never had elderflower cordial before...daft question but...do you have to dilute it or drink it neat?!

Does anyone recommend a particular make or recipe for mulled wine? I love red wine but haven't tried a mulled wine yet that I've liked!

OP posts:
Snausage · 22/09/2015 14:57

You use the elderflower neat. A good guide would be a couple of tbsps cordial, a shot of vodka, a strip of lemon zest (I use a veg peeler to zest lemons for this) topped up with fizz.

This is a good base to use for mulled wine - I use two oranges rather than clementines, zest rather than peel (which can be bitter) and I always add brandy.

MadrigalElectromotive · 22/09/2015 14:59

I use the Jamie recipe for mulled wine too - it is my favourite by far.

MTWTFSS · 22/09/2015 15:46

I love Snowballs (Advocaat + lemonade) at Christmas time :)

MaxPepsi · 22/09/2015 17:22

Port to go with your cheeseboard?

Cointreau
Spiced Rum - sailor jerrys or morgan spiced
Gin
Vodka
Amaretto for your baileys
Hot Chocolate and mini marshamallows - add the baileys to it!!
Lager or is that included in the beer??
Any fruity liquer so you can top it up with prosecco, chambord,sloe gin etc

I've currently got some turkish delight voka, blackberry gin and sloe vodka fermenting in the cupboard.

FrancesHaHa · 22/09/2015 17:38

Prosecco mixed with gingerbread syrup? Nigella calls it Christmas in a Glass.

Nightfall1983 · 22/09/2015 17:40

Mulled Cider is a nice change from mulled wine and we do mulled apple juice for drivers/pregnant/kids too - tis yum!

Mindysgotswag · 22/09/2015 17:41

Another fan of snowball here. And Babycham.

TPel · 22/09/2015 18:16

I've just discovered the wonder that is spiced rum, with lime and ginger beer. It makes me need to wee though - copiously.

Original poster
Buttercupsandaisies · 22/09/2015 18:45

Wow so many choices! Thanks very much!

Yes lager is inc in the beer.

I'm not sure about port as I don't know anyone who realLy likes it. I tend to buy it for my nan!

what is sloe gin, do you make it? I'm a novice with spirits as I tend to only drink wine!

OP posts:
midgeymum2 · 22/09/2015 19:54

Oh oh oh I saw this in the local farm shop the other day - will definitely get some for Christmas. Also st Clements and Bailey's. Just need to find some sloes for my gin...

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/09/2015 20:20

Last year I bought a bottle of spiced cordial (I don't drink alcohol, neither do my Mum or dad. DBro and DSil drink beer but DBro could only have a limited amount on Christmas Day itself, he was driving on the 26th)
DH likes beer,whisky,brandy.

The cordial (like a non alcohol Mulled Wine) served warmed with sliced fruit (and yes, I have a punch bowl and ladle , and a large glass jug)

A couple of years ago, I bought some Christmas edition Stella .(nice glass green bottles)

I really like the look of Hestons Bakewell Tart vodka.

What about some Creme de Cassis to add to sparkling wine?

I need to think of a fruit punch to sit gracefully on the table .....

OohMrDarcy · 22/09/2015 20:29

Oh I'm in on this! Am hosting the bank holiday Monday and hoping to make it go with a swing... am going to be all over that twinkle cocktail! Grin I love elderflower cordial anyway so it sounds like it can't go wrong!

yum yum

FurryDogMother · 22/09/2015 20:47

Get a bottle or two of Big Tom and some vodka, and celery sticks/lemon slices - sometimes everything at Christmas just seems too sweet and a Bloody Mary really hits the spot. For extra yumminess, get some amontillado sherry and add a shot of that to the mix :)

LoadsaBlusher · 23/09/2015 08:21

We got the Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Cream Liquer last year - it usually sells at £14 but they had it in special at £8 a bottle , it was delicious and went down a treat after dinner . Keeping an eye out for it going into special again in the coming month or two .

Mindysgotswag · 23/09/2015 08:45

That sounds lovely blusher! Shall be keeping an eye out for that one!

BiddyPop · 23/09/2015 11:03

I must find my mulled wine recipe (from the Irish Times about 3-4 years ago) - you just heat some spices (cinnamon, star anise, orange zest, cloves and I think peppercorns) and sugar with a bottle of red wine in a pot and serve when warm. I use the same red I am serving cold. And I get the spices in the local Asian supermarket, so not expensive.

Or, if it's after dinner, why not Irish or French coffees? Basically a spoon of sugar (brown is nice but not obligatory) and a shot of whiskey/brandy (or lots of other choices) stirred together, hot coffee poured in and whipped cream over the top. Even the squirty cream from a can works well (and is handy for hot chocs for DCs too! Blush).

Isitchristmasyet4 · 23/09/2015 11:07

Bucks fizz for the morning time and maybe a sneaky glass for the teenagers Hmm Tescos do a nice one for £2

LazySusan11 · 23/09/2015 14:09

Can you make the Christmas pudding vodka with something other than vodka?

Snausage · 23/09/2015 14:32

I've made it with brandy and with calvados and it was lovely!

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