5 holiday drinks to make spirits merry & bright

Make your spirits brighter with a holiday-inspired cocktail. From ingredients like vodka and wine to coffee and chocolate, these tasty mixed drinks are sure to give you some extra cheer this holiday season. Bottoms up!

Candy Cane Cooler

Serves: 1

Ingredients:
1 tbs. crushed peppermint candy
1 ½  oz. mint-infused vodka
½  oz. B&B (Benedictine and brandy)
½  oz. half-and-half
Ice
Peppermint stick
Mint sprig for garnish

Directions: Place crushed candy cane bits into pint glass. Muddle the candy cane slightly, breaking up the bigger pieces. Add vodka, brandy and half-and-half and stir. Pour into a shaker with ice. Shake lightly to chill and strain into old-fashioned glass full of ice. Add a peppermint stick and stir. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Merry Berry Christmas

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

5 fresh raspberries

4 fresh blueberries

2 fresh blackberries

1½  tablespoons light agave nectar

1 ½  oz. vodka

5 fresh mint leaves

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 cup crushed ice

6 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons ginger ale

Directions: Muddle 5 fresh raspberries, blueberries, 2 fresh blackberries, light agave nectar, mint leaves and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Stir in crushed ice and water. Cover with lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled. Top with ginger ale and garnish with halved fresh raspberries and blackberries.

Christmas Coffee

Serves: 5

Ingredients:

¼  cup cold brewed coffee

2 pts. coffee ice cream

½  cup brandy

½ cup RumChata

½  cup chocolate syrup

Whip cream

Chocolate curls

Milk chocolate sticks

Directions: Process cold brewed coffee, ice cream, brandy, RumChata and chocolate syrup in a blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Pour mixture into glasses, and garnish with sweetened whipped cream, chocolate curls and milk chocolate sticks.

Winter Sangria

Serves: 5

Ingredients:

1 bottle of sweet red wine

1 bottle sparkling cran-apple cider

2 clementines, sliced thin, peel on

2 granny smith apples, cored and diced

½  cup pomegranate arils

1 cup cranberries sliced in half

Rosemary to garnish each glass

Directions: Mix wine, cider and fruit in a large pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish with rosemary.

Snow Day

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

4½ tablespoons whiskey

1½ tablespoons cranberry juice

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons simple syrup

Cinnamon and sugar

Cinnamon stick

Directions: Dip the rim of the glass into a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Shake all the ingredients extremely well with plenty of large ice cubes, and pour the mixture unstrained into the glass. Garnish with a couple of cranberries and cinnamon stick.