With Christmas looking a little different this year, here are some festive cocktails sure to get you in the holiday spirit, or should we say spirits?
Most folks think of eggnog when considering traditional holiday drinks. Eggnog is among the richest of these grand traditions. A recipe from Elizabeth on 37th, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, combines eggs, powdered sugar, spices, bourbon, white rum and dark rum with apricot brandy, peach brandy, whole milk and heavy cream for a deliciously decadent nog.
Savannah Bee Co. also offers an eggnog recipe, made with their Winter White and Sourwood honeys and honey-flavored whiskey.
If it’s a cold evening, step inside b.Matthews Eatery for a hot buttered rum. The bistro makes their version with Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum garnished with a cinnamon stick. Or warm up with a nice, hot Irish Coffee.
For a cold libation, order their North Pole Punch, made with Sloe Gin, sour mix, rhubarb bitters, cranberry juice and ginger ale, and garnished with cherries and a snow-frosted rosemary sprig. It’s sure to have you in the holiday spirit, as will an apple cider mimosa, spiced apple sangria and house-infused wild berry vodka. Basically, b.Matthews Eatery believes in the magic of Christmas cocktails.
Another drink to warm your spirits is the Hot Apple Cider at The Pirates’ House. They made it with either Kraken Black Rum or Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, cinnamon Schnapps, apple cider and add a cinnamon stick.
For non-alcoholic drinks, The Sentient Bean makes a delicious apple cider, along with an apple chai, eggnog latte and peppermint mocha.
If you prefer to craft your own Christmas cocktails in the comfort of your Historic Savannah rental, a variety of recipes take the same basic ingredients. For a Mistletoe Martini, just mix cranberry juice, vodka, simple syrup and elderflower liqueur, then top with cranberries and mint leaves.
A Cranberry Mimosa, or a Poinsettia, is made with cranberry juice and Champagne or prosecco and garnished with an orange slice.
You can even make a Cranberry Mule as a holiday twist to the Moscow Mule. Mix cranberry juice, vodka and ginger beer. Voila!
There’s nothing quite like a Savannah holiday to get you feeling merry!
