4 Boozy Drinks for the Holidays

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The holidays are a great time for getting together with friends and family, especially when everyone's in a good mood. When it comes to setting that mood, the poet Ogden Nash may have said it best, “Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.” With that in mind, take a look at four fun cocktails for your holiday gatherings.

Candy Cane Martinis

Start your festivities off with this fun recipe that's just as welcome at the beginning of the new year as it is when the first Christmas lights appear.

• 1 large bottle of vodka
• 2 packages of full-size candy canes

Crush the candy canes in your blender or food processor until they're ground to a fine powder. Funnel the powder into a bottle and fill it with the vodka. Shake lightly to mix the powder into the alcohol and leave overnight.

• 3 tablespoons clear white Cream de Cacao
• 2 tablespoons peppermint schnapps
• Marshmallow cream
• 2 cups of your homemade peppermint vodka

Garnish your martini glasses with crushed candy canes. Start by dipping the glass rim in marshmallow cream and then in a plate of crushed candy. Next, mix the drink ingredients in a cocktail shaker of ice. Hang a small candy cane off the side of the glass or in the drink for an extra bit of mint.

Citrus Holiday Punch

With all of these recipes, be sure to gather your ingredients first. In this case, you'll need:

• 12 ounces frozen lemonade concentrate
• 6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate
• 2 liters lemon-lime soda
• 1-liter bourbon
• ice

Put the frozen concentrate into your punch bowl. Add the lemon-lime soda, bourbon, and a couple of handfuls of ice. Freeze thin slices of lemons and oranges, and maybe some maraschino cherries, to float on top for an attractive presentation.

Christmas Punch

There are few drinks for the holidays as beautiful as Christmas punch. You don't need any bartender training to create a festive and delicious cocktail with this recipe. For added interest, try out a new holiday garnish.

• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 cup vodka
• 2 cups lemon-lime soda
• ice

You can mix the first four ingredients ahead of time, but don't add the soda and ice until you're ready to serve. This drink is perfect when garnished with oranges, cranberries, and pomegranate seeds. If you'd like a warm version with a cozy cinnamon taste, check out this recipe. It doesn't call for alcohol, but you can add it after serving the kids.

Italian Eggnog Martini

No list of Christmas cocktails would be complete with an eggnog recipe. This luscious version is perfected with decorative garnishes.

• 1-ounce liquor, such as Dumante Verdenoce or Disaronno
• 1-ounce vanilla vodka
• 2-ounces eggnog

Pool a bit of caramel syrup on a plate and mix brown sugar and cinnamon on a second plate. Dip the rim of your cocktail glasses in the syrup and then the sugar mixture until coated. Put the glasses in the freezer until you're ready to serve the drinks. Shake the eggnog, vodka, and liquor in a shaker with ice. Serve the drink in your chilled glasses with one maraschino cherry at the bottom. Feel free to add a stick of cinnamon in to complete the look.

Before the pressures of the holiday hit, plan a quiet evening for yourself or your immediate family. A drink and a treat or some cozy time in front of the fireplace may be exactly what you need.

What's your favorite holiday cocktail?

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