‘Tis the season to impress! You’ve got your feast sorted, and now you have more time to focus on the little details, like what to drink. We’re each sharing one of our favourite holiday cocktails to help you get into the festive spirit. One is sure to impress with depth of flavour and festive spice in a Christmas tequila cocktail, while the other can be whipped up in seconds for the fleet of guests arriving at your door. Take your pick or try them both and enjoy.
SOPHIE’S SPICED PALOMA FOR TWO
Spiced Syrup
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup water
1 cinnamon stick, whole
1 star anise
1 vanilla bean split open
1 dried red chilli (optional)
1 rosemary sprig
Cocktail
60ml fresh grapefruit juice
30ml fresh lime juice
30ml spiced simple syrup
60 ml tequila
Sparkling water to top up
Ice
Garnish
Sprig of rosemary
Slice of grapefruit
Cinnamon stick
Method
Prepare the Spiced Simple Syrup
Combine the granulated sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, star anise, vanilla bean, chilli, and rosemary in a small saucepan. Bring the simple syrup to a boil and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the saucepan from the stove and allow the spices to cool in the syrup to infuse for 10 minutes. Strain into a jar, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Prepare the Spiced Cranberry Paloma Cocktail
Using a cocktail shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, tequila and shake. Fill two glasses with ice and pour in the grapefruit cocktail. Top the remainder of the glass with sparkling water and garnish with a sprig of rosemary, cinnamon stick and grapefruit slice.
KATHERINE’S LYCHINI
Ingredients
Half Lychee juice
Half Prosecco
Method
A refreshing and festive fizz. Mix half lychee juice and half prosecco in a Champagne flute for an easy crowd-pleaser these holidays. Simple is served.