Thirsty Thursday: Holiday Cocktails

Can you believe that Christmas is three weeks away?!  If you aren’t already in the festive spirit, today’s post is two cocktails to put you in the holiday spirit.

The first of today’s festive cocktail comes from NoMa Social which is located in the Radisson Hotel in New Rochelle, NY.

1 tbs crushed soft peppermint candy

1½ fl oz vodka

splash of white creme de menthe

¼ fl oz brandy

½ fl oz half-and-half

Crushed ice

Peppermint stick for garnish

Mint sprig for garnish

Combine the vodka and crushed peppermint

Stir to dissolve

Add the remaining ingredients, stir and garnish

Candy Cane Cooler

More info:

Located in the Radisson Hotel of New Rochelle, NoMa Social is a vibrant dining destination that combines a Mediterranean menu created by Executive Chef Bill Rosenberg and a chic, sophisticated setting designed to enhance the social experience of dining. Open for lunch, dinner or just for drinks, NoMa social offers everything for your ideal dining experience. The restaurant offers all genres of food such as American, French, Italian, Latin American, and Spanish/Basque.

Also, make sure to come in from 4-8pm and take advantage of NoMa Social’s 4×4 deal during the winter season.  Choose any 4 different wines, cocktails, beers and tapas for only 4 dollars each.

Reservations:  914-576-4141

The second cocktail comes from Bare Organic Mixers.  This is a spiced cranberry pomegranate margarita cocktail recipe. Bare Organic Mixers are a naturally low-calorie, flavorful, organic and light tasting cocktail mixers that are made with fresh organic fruit juices and agave nectar created by Natalie Susi. Bare comes in a variety of mixers such as margarita, lemon drop and pomegranate cranberry cosmo that blend well with nearly any liquor or spirit or can also be enjoyed straight up on the rocks. All of their mixers make great tasting clean cocktails with less than half the calories without any fillers unlike other brands on the market.

For Margaritas:

¼ c Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup

¾ c Bare Mixer’s Pomegranate Cranberry Cosmo

¼ c Bare Mixer’s Margarita

¾ c Silver Tequila

½ c Patron Citronage or Grand Marnier

Cinnamon Sticks

Sugared Cranberries

Green sugar for rimming glasses

For Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup:

3/4 c water

2/3 c agave nectar

2 Tbsp whole allspice

2 Tbsp whole cloves

4 cinnamon sticks

One 2″ fresh nob of ginger, peeled and sliced

2 c fresh cranberries, rinsed

Instructions for Simple Syrup:

Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and stir over low heat until combined

Raise heat and simmer the mixture for about 5-6 minutes or until the cranberries start to split

Once most have split remove the pan from the heat and cover with a lid

Let sit for 2 hours for the flavors to infuse

After the two hours strain the mixture into a jar using a mesh strainer, pressing the mixture against the strainer to extract all of the flavor

Keep in a resealable container and chill completely until ready to use.

Instructions for Margaritas:

Dip the rim of the glasses in a shallow bowl of the simple syrup and then immediately into a shallow bowl of green dyed sugar

Let dry completely

Once dry fill the glasses with ice

In a cocktail shaker with ice add 4 Tbsp of the spiced cranberry simple syrup, the tequila, orange liqueur, Bare Mixer’s Pomegranate Cranberry Cosmo and Bare Mixer’s Margarita

Cover and shake well then strain into the 4 glasses

Taste and add more simple syrup if desired

Garnish with cinnamon sticks and sugared cranberry skewers

Bare Spiced Cranberry Margaritas

Stay thirsty…