Holiday Cocktails ?

[Chef Mike]

Holidaze...

With the holidays officially(?) here, I like to count in Halloween. I am wondering if anybody has any favorite cocktail recipes to get the party started!

Here is one of mine that may be enjoyed at any lattitude

This makes ONE GALLON of Kahlua. I re-use one gallon glass apple juice jugs. Kahlua has to rest for about a month before you can drink it. The longer you wait the better it tastes.
7 cups sugar
7 cups water
1 cup strong coffee
1/5th (750ml) vodka
1 vanilla bean (split in half)
Heat water and sugar and boil until all sugar is melted. Add coffee and let cool before pouring into gallon jug. Add vanilla bean to jug. Put date on jug. Hide it somewhere out of sight for a month.
Enjoy with friends over ice, plain or with milk.

Cheers
Chef Mike

[anglooff]

Sounds good, but where did the Vodka go....... I assume just after the vanilla bean

regards

Alan

[beau]

I met some cruising guys who would mix up their sundowners to match the color of the water they were floating in.
They were in the Whitsunday islands at the time and the water was a beautiful aquamarine blue.
So they mixed Vodka with soda water, a dash of orange juice and just the slightest dash of Blue curacoa to match the water color.

A couple of them and we were "gone"

[Chef Mike]

Ahh yes good eye...

Pour the left over Vodka into the jug. I believe that we did this crucial step before placing the bean into the jug. Remember that 750 mL is a mere suggestion.

Chef Mike

[Don1500]

mint julep;
2oz soda water
3 mint leaves
2 tbsp sugar
ice
3 oz Makers Mark Bourbon

using a marble mortar and pistil carefully grind the mint and suger together, be sure to remove any stems. in a 12oz glass add the mint and sugar to the soda water, mix thoroughly.
Put the Makers Mark Bourbon in a separate glass with the ice (this is an option) and hold it in your right hand. With your left hand take the glass with the mint, soda, and surgar mixture and throw it overboard, drink the Bourbon. Best mint julep in the world.

[aegean adrift]

If you're in cold weather, nothing like hot mulled wine!

But there are so many ways to make it. Where to begin?

[seacap]

Here in the Caribbean a "Bush whacker" is a popular holiday drink, because most people on holiday drink it.

It's a blender drink:
Equal parts Baileys - Kahlua - Rum - Amaretto - Vodka, can also add a little Coco Lopez. ice and blend.
Tastes like a chocolate shake and goes down way to easy. It's a real party starter.

[JanetGroene]

Put out pitchers of rose wine and cranberry juice at a big party and everyone's glass looks the same. Gives teetotalers a choice. For those who want something stronger, have vodka on hand to add to the cranberry juice.

[gonesail]

whiskey: 2 ounces of Lagavulin 16 year old scotch in a small glass

[NW Craig]

Originally Posted by Chef Mike

Ahh yes good eye...

Pour the left over Vodka into the jug. I believe that we did this crucial step before placing the bean into the jug. Remember that 750 mL is a mere suggestion.

Chef Mike

The original recipe started out with 750 ml and now we're pouring in the "left over Vodka".... hmmmmm, sounds like we might need to start with a lot more in order to quench our thirst during this operation! I'll have mine stirred, not shaken, I hate to bruise the booze...

[Mimsy]

Originally Posted by gonesail

whiskey: 2 ounces of Lagavulin 16 year old scotch in a small glass

You have the right idea, but make mine 21 year old Balvenie Portwood Cask. Since you asked and it IS the Holidays.

[JanetGroene]

Don't overlook hot toddies, especially if you boat an area where nights are chilly at this time of year. I just posted a recipe for a Sugar Plum Toddy, which is affordable, chic and timely.