Christmas cocktails

[LifeInAHamsterWheel]

As we won't be going out much over the festive season, I'd like to make things a bit more fun at home. We usually drink wine, G&T, JD & coke or baileys with brandy (just to give an idea of our tastes) What cocktails might we like and what are easy to make? Do I need to buy a shaker? Any other tips/advice welcome

My DH is the cocktail maker so I can’t speak with any expertise but:
We have a shaker, I do think you need one (although you could improvise) and they’re reasonably cheap. DH also use a measure - a jigger.
My current favourite is a Lemon Drop (vodka, triple sec, sugar syrup, lemon juice). Beware, they’re addictive.
Waitrose magazine has a cocktail I want to try - a Perrytini (vodka, ginger shot and pear cider).
Yum.

Amaretto sour is nice, it's equal parts lemon juice, amaretto and sugar syrup (make your own it's just sugar dissolved in water over heat) shaken with loads of ice.

Mince pie martini www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mince-pie-martini

Gingerbread Manhattan www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/gingerbread-manhattan-cocktail/

Spiced berry Bellini realfood.tesco.com/recipes/spiced-berry-bellinis.html

I make a winterberry cocktail around Christmas time, it's damson or sloe gin (in a champagne flute glass) topped up with Prosecco, and I pop in two or three frozen blackberries for a garnish. Very pretty, seasonal, quick to make with no special equipment needed.

ooh these all sound fab! Keep them coming!

I'll invest in a shaker and "jigger" (you learn something new every day!)

clementine juice, drop of rosehip cordial, shot of vodka - champagne or cremant de bordeaux

lots of ice chips in the glass, shot of rosehip cordial over the ice, mix the vodka with the clementine juice in pour in carefully, and top up with the fizz- its not dissimilar to a 1970's tequila sunrise.
a few frosted cranberries to decorate the glass

pomegranate juice, vodka and fizz- ice in the glass, pomegranate juice, shot of vodka, top up with fizz and drop in a few pomegranate pearls to decorate

non alco options for both- replace the fizz with soda water (lemonade would be too sweet)and leave out the vodka

these probably have names but I cant remember them- but they are very festive

i am sooo going to try that perrytini- all my favourite flavours mmm

Espresso Martini.

Following! These all sound fab!

There is a company called Tapped in Chelmsford who sell a selection of ready bottled cocktails that come highly recommended. They deliver too. Thought I'd mention in case you are interested. They come in small bottles ready to drink. Just type Tapped, Chelmsford into Google

Every year on Christmas morning we drink Poinsettia cocktails as per Nigella's instruction - Cointreau/Triple Sec, Prosecco topped up with cranberry juice. Heavenly: Poinsettia cocktail

oh DH and i were just discussing this - we dont drink much but decided would like to try a couple of cocktails over the Christams/ NY period - i decided on - negroni sbagliato (nigellas suggestion on the christmas special i watched the other day) for christmas, proper margaritas poolside in the week between (we are in Aus so sunny xmas) and Vesper martinis for NYE.... this may change after the fab ideas on this thread...

im going to hit the charity shop to pick up a shaker (then i wont feel bad if we dont like drinking cocktails & it ends up going back )

Sloe gin with Prosecco.

Mulled apple juice with whisky is pretty festive.

A sucker punch. I measure each of chocolate mint vodka, I make ours but you can buy it, kahlua or Tia Maria it just depends on which one I find first, and a measure of Bailey's. Serve in either a martini or in a taller glass with ice. My DS1 named it ,he's way over 18 but rarely drinks, because it was so nice he had to have two and the he had difficulty getting his legs to work.

Either that or a cosmopolitan with which I got my Mother-in-law tipsy.

We do a variation of Champagne cockail for Christmas Day - its my Dads favourite:

sugar cube + 2 -3 drops on it of Angostura bitters
Cover cube with Brandy
Top with champagne & then we add a good measure of Grand Marnier

I love a negroni - earlier in year I had a chilli chocolate rum one - am buying the rum for Christams so I can make these

Instead of G&T I have Gin & Ginger Ale

Sidecars
Espresso martinis

Loving all these suggestions.

Not only do I not have any spirits other than gin in the house, but I've nowhere to put them when I do buy them so now I'm eyeing up drinks trollies as well as cocktail shakers!!

Cuervo cosmotinian - 1 shot tequila, 1 shot cointreau, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice and ice. Delicious and very refreshing!!

Tequila - interested as I've never used it in drinks at all - any recommended brands of go cheap as I'm mixing it ?

A snowball of course! Advocaat, lime and lemonade. Very festive.

I use Jose Cuervo especial - but I'm not an expert! That one works well in with the Cointreau and cranberry though :-)

Brandy, creme de menthe and cream is very nice. Like a minty baileys but with a different base flavour.

Definitely going to make snowballs! Had forgotten about them!

I made these one year delicious but very strong!

We made Waterloo Sunsets last year:
Shake gin and elderflower liqueur (or cordial) with ice
Sieve and pour in champagne flute
Top up with prosecco
Gently pour raspberry liqueur over the back of a small spoon on top (so it trickles down like a sunset).