Cheery Cranberry Caipirinhas
Caipirinhas are the unofficial/official drink of Brazil. And whether your holiday party is one to enjoy or one to survive, these cranberry caipirinhas are sure to get you through in style. We highly recommend making this one in front of an in-law or client you’re trying to win over. Muddling is a very suave skill.
Start by muddling 10 fresh cranberries chopped roughly with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon of water, and a few small wedges of lime in a cocktail shaker. Add crushed ice and 2.5 oz of cachaca and shake vigorously. Pour into a rocks glass and serve.
Festive Fig Mojito
It’s summer in Australia. At Christmas and Hannukah and Kwanza. Which means holiday classics like hot toddies and irish coffees are out down under. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still party on with our seasonal seasonings!
Again, we’ll start with muddling on this one. Drop 5 lime wedges, 1/2 of a roughly chopped fresh fig, 10 mint leaves, and about a tablespoon of sugar into a cocktail shaker. Muddle slightly less vigorously on this one as we want to crush the mint, not kill it. Add just over a shot of white rum (about 2 oz) and shake. Pour into a pint glass over ice and top with soda.
Bourbon Thyme
This one takes a little prep, but with the lemon, the thyme, and the time, it’ll be a great finisher to flavors usually found on a holiday table. We strongly suggest sipping these on a hearth with old music and old friends.
Simple syrup is just a good thing to have on hand. It makes your bar look fancy as all get out. And it’s pretty easy. Add one cup honey, one cup water, 8-10 sprigs of thyme, and a diced lemon with the peel to a pot and heat. Don’t let the syrup bubble; reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes before cooling.
This recipe calls for Elk Rider Bourbon, but honestly, Jim Beam or Wild Turkey suit just fine.