COCKTAILS AND CUISINE WITH ADITI

5 H O L I D A Y D R I N K S T O T R Y T H I S S E A S O N !

By Aditi Malhotra Stock Images

Christmas and New Year holidays are a time to let your hair down. While many head out to party, some plan gatherings at home with their close ones. Whatever way you may choose, this time of the year is to enjoy, rejoice and have some merry time.

But what’ s a merry time without some amazing drinks that you can easily shake up at home and entertain your guests? Here are my top picks for the season, do try them and let me know how was your experience… Every Christmas celebration is incomplete without a Classic Mulled Wine. Its one of the best things about the holiday season, while we may not get snow in Goa, a warm mulled wine can still be enjoyed by one and all. Its one of the most traditional Christmas beverages and has been enjoyed by people since Middle Ages. It was also looked upon as a great way to extend the lifespan of stale wine. This recipe doesn ’t need you to be a mixology expert and can be created easily at home. All you need to do is heat red wine with spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. Add some honey to sweeten and gulp it down. The Grinch Cocktail is my other favourite. A word of caution here, it’ s so delicious that you might lose track of how many you have had ☺ Refreshing and light, it has a perfect blend of melon, citrus, and cherry flavours. All you need is some melon liqueur, and white rum, topped with lemon soda and bingo!

Candy Cane Cocktail makes for another delicious thematic drink. It takes a little patience and time, but the end result will have you bowled over. Take your vodka and infuse it with some candy canes allowing them enough time to leave their minty and syrupy taste to elevate the vodka. It usually takes up to 3 days and voila you will have the most amazing vodka ever. Enjoy it as it is or use this as a base for your other cocktails. You can never go wrong with a Christmas Punch. Its one of the best drinks you can have this season, refreshing, fruity and delicious. Use sparkling wine, add some dark rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice and ginger ale. Add loads of ice and also use some fresh slices of orange, pineapple and cranberries to give it a kick. And last but not the least, how about a Drunken Snowman? Well, it’ s a cocktail, it’ s a dessert and everything is amazing. Take some vanilla ice cream in a blender, add some chocolate syrup and then add a generous amount of Bailey ’ s Irish Cream and there you go. Warning, this one is addictive and one tends to keep enjoying it even after the holiday season is over. I hope you have an amazing holiday season, but yes, do drink responsibly and do not drink and drive.