Festive Cocktails
A festive cocktail is a drink that is specifically designed to celebrate and capture the spirit of a special occasion or holiday. These cocktails often incorporate seasonal flavors, vibrant colors, and creative garnishes to create a festive atmosphere. Festive cocktails can be enjoyed during various holidays like Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, Halloween, or any other special celebration.
Seasonal Cocktails
Christmas down under is generally a hot steamy affair, especially if you are stuck in the kitchen cooking a traditional roast pork or turkey dinner. This year we are taking our Christmas outside and going el fresco. Oysters, Abalone and BBQ prawns are on the menu. Time spent cooking will require liquid support. There are so many drinks to rehydrate or celebrate with but a seasonal cocktail really sets the mood. Strawberries raspberries blackberries are in season! At their peak for flavour, berries are just begging to be part of a delicious pavlova or a berry bramble.
Simple Festive Cocktails
Some examples of classic cocktails with a festive twist include:
- Cranberry Mule: A twist on the traditional Moscow Mule, made with cranberry juice, vodka, ginger beer, sweet sour lime syrup and lime juice. Garnished with dehydrated lime wheel, mint sprig and candy cane
- Champagne Cocktail: A sparkling cocktail made with pomegranate juice, hibiscus syrup and sparkling wine.
- Spiced Apple Cider: A festive twist combining apple cider, spiced syrup, and garnished with fresh fruits like apples and oranges and cinnamon stick
- Minty Margarita: A festive and minty cocktail made with tequila, lime syrup, lemon and lime juice and mint (leaves or liqueur). Garnished with fresh mint and red striped candy cane.
There are countless variations on these classic cocktails which you will see featured on Instagram for the festive season. The key is to incorporate seasonal flavors, colors, and decorations that reflect the joy and spirit of the occasion you are celebrating. Cheers to a festive and memorable cocktail experience!
Christmas Cheer
This year we are spreading the Christmas cheer with our favorite classic cocktails (Sour, Old Fashioned) made flavour festive by upping the garnishing glory. Try our sugar coated glass of vanilla pear cocktail or the simple theatre of a snow globe Christmas Tree made with a strategically placed rosemary sprig in ice.
Taste the splendor of a festive cocktail made with seasonal ingredients like strawberry and rhubarb and mixed with our premium syrups and shrubs. Christmas flavours featured are bitter orange, chocola spice and strawberry rhubarb and blueberry anise.
Festive Cocktail Recipes
Festive Cocktail #1 Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Sour
A sour cocktail can be customized by using different types of spirits and citrus juices. They are often served over ice in a rocks glass or strained into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnishes such as citrus twists or maraschino cherries are commonly used to add a finishing touch.
Our festive sour cocktail, is mixed with a strawberry gum and rhubarb shrub. Both the strawberries and rhubarbs are in season and bursting with flavors that will delight and the colour of the cocktail glass. Use a strand of rhubarb to garnish the glass for a festive touch.
Ingredients:
- 60ml of your preferred spirit (such as bourbon, rum, or vodka)
- 30ml cranberry juice
- 30ml strawberry rhubarb shrub
- 15ml fresh lemon juice
- Rhubarb stalk for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the spirit, cranberry juice, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, to the shaker.
- Shake well for about 15-20 seconds to thoroughly mix and chill the ingredients.
- Strain the cocktail into a cold martini glass.
- Slice a fresh rhubarb stalk thinly and dip one side in lemon juice
- Line inside of the glass with the rhubarb
- Serve and enjoy your festive sour cocktail!
Festive Cocktail #2 Festive Old Fashioned (Bitter Orange)
A holiday twist on the classic old fashioned with bitter orange cinnamon and a cherry
Ingredients:
- 60ml Bourbon Whiskey
- 30ml Bitter Orange Simple Syrup
- Dash Orange Bitters
- Dehydrated Orange Wheels
- Maraschino Cherry
- Cinnamon Stick
- 6 Large ice cube
Instructions:
- Add large ice cubes to a rocks glass
- Pour Bitter Orange Simple Syrup over the ice
- Add a dash of Orange Bitters (to taste)
- Top with Bourbon
- Stir the drink well to chill
- Add orange slices & cinnamon stick
- Place a cherry on top
Festive Cocktail #3 Vanilla Pear Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 45ml vodka
- 30ml pear juice
- 15ml lemon juice (fresh)
- 10ml chocola syrup
- 5ml vanilla extract
- sugar and spice mix
- ice
Instructions:
- Dip the rim of a rocks glass into syrup
- Roll the rim in sugar and spice mix and set aside
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add all liquid ingredients
- Shake until well mixed and chilled
- Add fresh ice to a glass
- Pour cocktail into the glass
- Add a slice of pear (fresh or dehydrated)
Festive Cocktail# 4 Pavlova Christmas Cocktail
Ingredients:
- pavlova base
- 45ml vodka
- 20ml passionfruit simple syrup
- 1 x passionfruit (pulp)
- ice
Instructions:
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker
- Use a cookie cutter the size of your glass to cut out the meringue top
- Measure 45ml vodka 25ml passionfruit simple syrup and pulp from one passionfruit into the shaker
- Shake well until chilled and cold
- Pour into a glass and add the meringue
Festive Cocktail#5 Apple Teaser
Ingredients:
- 60ml (2 oz) bourbon or whiskey
- 120ml (4 oz) apple cider
- 15ml (1/2 oz) lemon juice
- 15ml chocola simple syrup or maple syrup
- Dash of bitters (optional)
- Apple slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add bourbon or whiskey, apple cider, lemon juice, chocola simple syrup, and bitters (if using) to the shaker.
- Shake well to combine and chill the ingredients.
- Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
- Stir gently to incorporate the garnish.
- Serve and enjoy!
Feel free to adjust the quantities of the ingredients according to your taste preferences.
Cheers to Christmas!