For me, there’s nothing like entertaining during the holidays. The house is decorated, twinkle nights are completely acceptable and everyone is feeling so darn festive. You can’t beat it!
This year, we are staying home for Christmas, so we are thinking that a Christmas Eve cocktail party is in order! We had one a few years ago and it was a huge hit! We served appetizers and desserts around 8 – after people were done with dinner and church services. We thought people would leave around nine… Nope! Even those with toddlers running around stayed until almost midnight, chatting and enjoying all then food and drinks. It was such a great night for a party!
I want to show off this chic Andy Warhol inspired bottle that just begs to be displayed! So I’m thinking this year, instead of just our usual beer and wine, I want to go all retro and have some actual cocktails at my cocktail party!
Now, I love classics for a holiday cocktail party… but I want to update them a little. I love pomegranates – and this is their peak season. They’re juicy and delicious. And – not to brag – but I make a pomegranate martini that will knock your socks off:
Martinis are so easy to make – when you are serving a crowd, mix them all up in a pitcher in advance, then just shake them with ice when people are ready to have them.
Pomegranate Martini
(serves 2)
6 oz. pomegranate juice
3 oz. Alsolute Vodka
fresh lime juice (about 1/4 lime)
Rim martini glass with sugar (Run a wedge of a lime over the top of the glass, then dip in sugar)
Shake in cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake.
Pour in sugar rimmed glasses and garnish with a slice of lime.
And we’ll have to go super traditional with some Eggnog! Its a holiday classic!! We will set up a special eggnog station (or hot chocolate station for the kids) in the living room to enjoy in front of the cozy fire during our party.
Mocha Eggnog
serves two
4 oz. Kahlua
2 oz. Alsolut Vodka
eggnog (We get ours from our local dairy – its to DIE FOR)
ground nutmeg
Pour Kahlua and Vodka over ice in a glass. Full with eggnog, sprinkle with a little nutmeg and enjoy.
Then, for something different and a bit more elegant, I went with my current favorite drink: a pear martini. I had my first one over the summer and I still can’t get enough! The pear tastes so fresh and it has such a nice, mild sweetness.
Pear Martini
serves two
8 oz. pear nectar
4 oz. Absolut Vodka
splash of lemon juice
splash of sparkling water
Rim martini glass with sugar (Run a wedge of a lemon over the top of the glass, then dip in sugar).
Add pear nectar, vodka and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake.
Pour into glasses and add a splash of sparkling water. Garnish with a pear slice or a bit of pear zest.
Be sure to pick up our cocktail inspiration: the gorgeous Limited Edition Andy Warhol bottle, which is modelled after Warhol’s iconic Absolut artwork that he created in 1986. Its too pretty to hide in the bar cabinet – and I’ll be bringing this to all the holiday parties we attend this year instead of my usual bottle of wine. I’m adding a little pop to my holiday – how about you?
Happy cocktails!!
disclosure: this is a sponsored post and i received product to facilitate this post for my readers. it was hard work making cocktails for you all, but i was willing to make the sacrifice. as always, all opinions are my own.
What time shall I arrive?
ANYTIME!!!! I know how you love those cosmos and martinis 🙂
I love a tasty cocktail anytime but especially during the holidays!
I can’t resist a festive cocktail. The holidays is the perfect time to indulge 🙂
That is awfully fabulous looking cocktail!