VERANDA Tastemakers Can't Get Enough of These Holiday Cocktails
VERANDA Tastemakers Can't Get Enough of These Holiday Cocktails
The holidays can be stressful, especially when you’re hosting friends and family. You’ve already mastered the art of napkin folding, dressed your table with eye-catching place settings, and polished up that stunningly obscure silverware, but have you thought about the signature drink you’ll serve up? Don't worry, we've got that part down for you.
Nothing spreads cheer during the colder winter months quite as well as a festive cocktail. Whether you're hosting a chic dinner party during Hanukkah or gathering with neighbors or relatives for a Christmas or New Year's toast, we have a full menu of options that are sure to satisfy any crowd.
From a warming Mexican-inspired Negroni to an oh-so-delightful gingerbread martini, these 19 cocktails hand-selected by VERANDA tastemakers are sure to make even Scrooge feel jolly. Cheers!
Demi Natoli: Deck the Halls
“The Christmas cocktail was inspired by holiday foods around my family table. My mom always made a cranberry sauce from scratch for Thanksgiving and Christmas that included oranges and pistachios. I thought it would be interesting to pair these fall flavors for a cocktail instead.” -Demi Natoli, Bar Manager at White Limozeen in Nashville
Demi's Deck the Halls Recipe
Ingredients:
2 oz vodka
1/4 ounce lime juice
1 ounce coconut cream
1o ounces pistachio orgeat
1/2 ounce Clear Creek Cranberry Liqueur
Crushed ice
Garnish: Fresh mint, gold-dusted cranberries
Directions:
Combine all ingredients and shake with crushed ice. Garnish and serve.
Rebekah Peppler: Miss Scarlet
"As a kid, I was obsessed with the movie Clue. Turns out, there are some things you don't outgrow. This lightly red, lightly sweet, lightly bubbly cocktail is ideal for the end of year holidays and goes out to the O.G. Lady in Red, Lesley Ann Warren, who I would drink with, in the study, any night of the week." -Rebekah Peppler, James Beard Foundation Award–nominated author, food writer, and stylist based in Paris
Rebekah's Miss Scarlet Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ounce red verjus
1 ounce dry, light sherry (such as fino or manzanilla)
? ounce rich simple syrup
5 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Dry Champagne
Directions:
In a shaker filled with ice, combine the verjus, sherry, simple syrup, and bitters. Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled coupe glass, and top with a splash of Champagne.
Anthony Bates: The Last Noel
"The Last Noel is my Christmasy variation of the classic Moscow Mule. I decided to swap out the vodka with Mount Gay rum for some spicy and oaky notes, while the Apple Brandy and Cranberry Liqueur round out the cocktail with voluptuous winterized fruit flavor. The ginger beer gives this quaff a kick that makes it perfect to sip during the holidays or by any fireplace!" -Anthony Bates, mixologist at The Polo Bar and private bartender in New York City
Anthony's The Last Noel Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ounce dark rum, preferably Mount Gay
1/2 oz Apple brandy, preferably Clear Creek
1/2 oz cranberry liqueur, preferably Clear Creek
1/2 oz lime Juice
Fever Tree ginger beer
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in your favorite copper mug. Add ice and stir. Garnish with mint bouquet and cinnamon.
Stephanie Nass: Amaretto Hot Cocoa
"I first tried hot chocolate and amaretto together with my dad on a cold afternoon in Alaska. Both the memory and the ingredient combination warm me up." -Stephanie Nass, NYC-based caterer and founder of Chefanie
Chefanie's Amaretto Hot Cocoa Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon Amaretto
Gold leaf flakes
Directions:
Whisk together milk, cocoa powder, and sugar in a saucepan over low heat until warm. Mix in Amaretto and garnish with gold leaf flakes.
Jeffry Weisman: Old Fashioned
“My favorite holiday cocktail, hands down, is a classic old fashioned for two reasons. The first is the taste—warm, not too sweet—and the second is the convenience. I make a pitcher or two of the tasty cocktail the morning of a holiday party and keep it in the refrigerator. That way I can keep the guests happy without spending half the night at the bar.” -Jeffry Weisman of Fisher Weisman Brugioni
Jeffry’s Old Fashioned Recipe
Ingredients:
1 (750-ml.) bottle rye
2 cups simple syrup
10 good dashes orange bitters
4 good dashes Angostura bitters
1 1/4 oranges
Luxardo or Jack Rudy cherries, for garnish
Directions:
Combine rye, simple syrup, orange bitters, Angostura bitters, and one-fourth of an orange in a pitcher. Stir well. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours. Pour over ice into old-fashioned glasses. Thread 1 thinly sliced orange and 2 cocktail cherries onto a skewer, and add to each drink.
Gray Malin's Cinnamon-Rosemary-Bourbon Old Fashioned
Fine art photographer Gray Malin is known for his signature slogan "Make Everyday a Getaway," and his favorite spin on an old fashioned tastes like après-ski at at a beloved mountain resort.
"This cinnamon-rosemary-bourbon old fashioned with homemade simple syrup is a delicate balance of sweet and tangy and makes the perfect libation for those crisp winter happy hours," says Malin. "Honey, rosemary, cinnamon, and orange are just a few of the warm flavors you’ll find in this cocktail, creating a killer combination with a definite punch of bourbon.”
Get the recipe, here.
Enrica Stabile: Kir Royale
Italian interior designer Enrica Stabile says a kir royale is her go-to holiday pick-me-up to get in the festive spirit. Try out this spin from Delish with black currant.
Keith Williams: Pomegranate Martini
“My favorite holiday drink is a pomegranate martini! The color is perfect for the holidays, a red-hued cocktail topped off with a lime. It's light, refreshing, with a little sweetness. And there’s nothing more sophisticated than drinking out of a martini glass.” — Keith Williams of Landscape Architecture firm Nievera Williams.
Keith’s Martini Recipe
Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup vodka
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 Cointreau
Lime slices, for garnish
Directions:
Combine sugar, vodka, pomegranate juice, lime juice, and Cointreau. Stir well. Garnish with lime slices.
Sara Hillery: Milk Punch
“We often spend the holidays in New Orleans, and my husband’s family always throws a big Christmas party. One of his cousins is in charge of making milk punch each year, and once I tried it, I was sold. Almost everyone who has a taste of this creamy Southern classic ends up loving it. The milk punch bowl ends up being the place where everyone congregates at the party! We decided to continue the tradition at our own home when we entertain during the holiday season as well. We use a family recipe, but there are plenty of tasty versions: Ben Franklin even crafted his own milk punch recipe! The sprinkle of nutmeg on top makes it feel extra festive.” — Sara Hillery of Sara Hillery Interiors.
Make your own festive milk punch with this Delish recipe.
Marie Flanigan: Autumn Fizz
“I often entertain on the fly, but when I have a bit more time to prepare, I love presenting my guests with a craft cocktail. The Autumn Fizz is a grown-up apple cider, perfect for cool evenings laughing around the fire.” – Marie Flanigan of Marie Flanigan Interiors.
Marie's Autumn Fizz Recipe
Ingredients:
2 ounces gin
25 ounces lemon juice
Agave nectar
Sparkling apple cider
Thyme and apple for garnish
Directions:
Combine gin, lemon juice, agave, and ice in a shaker. Pour into glass, and top with cider. Adorn with thyme and an apple slice.
David Meister: Chocolate-Peppermint Martini
“I am obsessed with chocolate-peppermint martinis. First, martinis are my favorite drink; they’re my medicine of choice. Second, I am a huge chocoholic. Third, I love peppermint. Put them all together, and I am in heaven. Another perfect way to make the holidays special!” – David Meister, fashion designer.
David's Martini Recipe
Ingredients:
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce white crème de menthe
1 1/2 ounces white chocolate liqueur
1 ounce peppermint liqueur
2 small peppermint patty candies, for garnish
Directions:
Combine vodka, crème de menthe, chocolate liqueur, and peppermint liqueur. Shake well. Pour into a martini glass. Garnish with peppermint patty candies.
Margie Grace: Winter Sea Breeze
“This is an awesome cocktail – pretty, clean on the palate, and light enough to sip on all night.” – Margie Grace, Principal and Design Director of Grace Design Associates.
Margie's Winter Sea Breeze Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce tonic syrup
2 ounce soda water
12 pomegranate seeds, for garnish
3 mint leaves, for garnish
Directions:
Fill a low-ball glass about three-fourths full with ice. Add vodka, grapefruit juice, and tonic syrup. Stir well. Top with soda water, and garnish with pomegranate seeds and mint.
Joe Berkowitz: Creamy Gingerbread-Cookie Martini
“Anyone who knows me has seen my collection of vintage barware and heard me say 'having a cocktail is one of the simple pleasures in life.' I recommend a Creamy Gingerbread-Cookie Martini, preferably in a vintage St. Louis Tommy Champagne saucer.” – Joe Berkowitz, Founder and Designer of JAB Design Group.
Joe's Martini Recipe
Ingredients:
2 1/2 ounces vodka
2 ounces butterscotch schnapps
2 1/2 ounces vanilla-cinnamon liqueur
2 tablespoons ginger syrup
2 ounces half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, for garnish
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, for garnish
4 gingersnap cookies, for garnish
Directions:
Combine ice, vodka, butterscotch schnapps, vanilla liqueur, ginger syrup, and half-and-half in a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Pour into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with ginger, cinnamon, and gingersnaps.
Olga Hanono: Mexican Negroni
"In Mexico, mezcal makes you magical! It's the ancient gods' elixir and my personal favorite during the holidays with family, friends, and — with this Negroni, lots of laughter." – Olga Hanono.
Olga's Negroni Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ounce mezcal Montelobos Espadin
1 ounce Ancho Reyes
1 ounce Campari
Orange slice, for garnish
Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Directions:
Stir together mezcal, Ancho Reyes, and Campari. Serve over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon stick.
Tammy Connor: Hot Spiced Cider with Rum
For interior designer Tammy Connor, a spiked hot apple cider is a holiday must-have. This caramel mulled apple cider recipe will certainly satisfy your seasonal cravings.
Marie Flanigan: Eggnog
“Few things say ‘holiday’ more to me than eggnog. Our family gathers each year to build gingerbread houses, and I always have a classic punch bowl filled for the adults to enjoy.” – Marie Flanigan of Marie Flanigan Interiors.
Marie's Eggnog Recipe
Ingredients:
6 egg yolks
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup bourbon
Cinnamon sticks
Directions:
Beat yolks at medium speed with an electric mixer until frothy. Gradually beat in milk, sugar, vanilla, and nutmeg.
Stir in whipping cream, brandy, and bourbon. Chill until you're ready to serve. Garnish each serving with nutmeg sprinkled on top and a cinnamon stick
Fernanda Kellogg: French 75
Longtime Tiffany & Co. executive Fernanda Kellogg favors French 75, a charmingly bright drink that combines holiday Champagne or sparkling wine with gin and lemon juice. Take a peek at this bubbly recipe to add a splash of sunny flavor to your own winter soirée.
Sebastien Agnes: Maravilla Palomita
"My favorite cocktail for the holidays is the Maravilla Palomita, a twist on this traditional grapefruit/tequila libation. Using local mezcal, agave syrup, and a serrano pepper, this cocktail adds some spice to your holiday season.” – Chef Sebastien Agnes, Executive Chef at Maravilla Los Cabos
Chef Sebastien’s Palomita Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ? oz Mezcal
2/3 grapefruit
6 epazote
? oz lemon juice
? oz agave syrup
Homemade grapefruit soda
Tajin, for the rim
1 sliced serrano pepper, for garnish
Directions:
Stir together mezcal, grapefruit, epazote, lemon, juice, agave syrup. Pour over ice in a Tajin-rimmed glass. Top with grapefruit soda. Garnish with serrano peper..
Nina Nash: Holiday Mimosas
“Mimosas are a brunch must have! For a holiday twist, I like to do a mimosa bar where guests can build their own with seasonal flavors such as white cranberry, pomegranate and pear juices along with garnishes such as rosemary, cinnamon sticks, oranges and whole cranberries. Not your basic brunch here!” – Nina Nash, Mathews Design Group.
For a festive twist on this brunch classic, try this Delish pear mimosas recipe.
You'll want to make this list of cocktails, and try them twice.