Bottoms Up

Yesterday on Facebook we asked what’s the best winter/holiday drink?  People commented some great ideas: hot apple cider, hot chocolate, eggnog (and some variations with a little extra spirit).  Inspired by the creativity of all the Facebook comments, here are some other ideas for holiday beverages courtesy of marthastewart.com.

Cranberry Sparkler
Ingredients
• 1 1/2 ounces Blackberry Puree
• 2 ounces white cranberry juice
• 2 to 3 ounces sparkling water
• 1 sprig mint, for garnish
Directions
1. Place blackberry puree and cranberry juice in a champagne flute. Add sparkling water to fill. Garnish with mint.

Apple-Ginger Sparklers
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup Ginger Syrup 
• 4 1/2 cups sparkling apple cider
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 6 pieces crystallized ginger
Directions
1. Place 2 tablespoons ginger syrup in each of six glasses. Fill glasses with ice cubes, pour in cider, and stir to combine. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and fresh ginger, and serve.

Sparkling Cider and Cara Cara Orange Punch
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup crystallized ginger
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 lemon wedge
• 6 cups freshly squeezed Cara Cara orange juice (from about 14 oranges), or substitute regular oranges
• 2 bottles nonalcoholic sparkling cider, chilled
• 1 cup Calvados (optional)
• Candied Citrus Peels, omitting final sugaring for garnish
Directions
1. Grind ginger to a fine powder in a spice grinder, then mix with sugar in a shallow dish. Rub lemon wedge on rims of 12 glasses, then dip rims in ginger-sugar mixture.
2. Mix orange juice and cider, and Calvados if using, in a large punch bowl. Serve with ice, and garnish with candied citrus.

2 Responses

  1. Hi, this is a good article. You get my vote for Bottoms Up Lakeside Collection Blog and I am going to bookmark this website now.

    • jodis4care says:

      Hi Jocuri- I’m so delighted you enjoyed the article on the Lakeside Blog. Thank you for being a wonderful customer!

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