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3 holiday cocktails to help you deal with family, friends

Whether you’re having a quiet night in with family or a larger gathering with friends, holiday celebrations often call for a cocktail – sometimes simply to help you deal with those friends and family! So we’ve got you covered with a trio of easy but delicious cocktails that won’t tax your time or budget.

If there’s a chill in the air, consider starting with the roasted cider, a seasonal hot toddy that combines a classic mulled cider with the toasty flavor of hazelnuts. Or for a fresh take on tradition, try the ginger fashion, a zippy rendition of the reliable old fashioned. And if you’re feeling particularly festive, the ruby spice bubbles offers a fresh – and refreshing – way to enjoy sparkling wine.

Roasted Cider

Start to finish: 10 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

6 ounces cider

1½ ounces rye whiskey

1 ounce hazelnut liqueur (such as Frangelico)

Freshly grated nutmeg

Cinnamon stick, to garnish

Method:

In a small saucepan over medium heat or in a mug in the microwave, heat the cider until just steaming. Stir in the whiskey and hazelnut liqueur, then top with grated nutmeg. Serve with a cinnamon stick for stirring.

Ruby Spice Bubbles

Start to finish: 1 hour (10 minutes active)

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

¼ cup sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch ground cloves

¼ teaspoon ground dry ginger

3 tablespoons water

4 ounces unsweetened cranberry juice, chilled

750-milliliter bottle sparkling white wine, chilled

Brandied or candied cherries

Method:

In a microwave-safe bowl or glass, combine the sugar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and water. Stir well, then microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool completely.

In a cocktail shaker, combine the cooled spice syrup with the cranberry juice. Shake to combine, then divide between 4 cocktail flutes or coupe glasses. Top each with sparkling wine and add 1 cherry to each.

Ginger Fashioned

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

1-inch slice fresh ginger

1 sugar cube

2-inch strip orange peel

2 dashes maple bitters

2 ounces bourbon

Ice

Method:

In an old fashioned glass, muddle the ginger, sugar, orange peel and bitters until the sugar is dissolved. Add the bourbon and stir. Add an ice cube and serve.



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