Christmas: 3 cocktails to survive family celebrations

Here comes the enchanted season of large tables, drunken uncles and divisive political debates around a thawed chestnut stump. Luckily, since December isn’t all about mulled wine or endless meals, here are three seasonal cocktails, with or without alcohol, to delight your taste buds and warm your hearts.

Spiced Christmas punch

Let’s start with a classic, which I called Spiced Christmas Punch. For this recipe, without too much difficulty, allow about ten minutes of preparation for five minutes of cooking.

Ingredients for six people

• 1 vanilla pod
• 2 cloves
• 2 star anise stars
• 1 orange or 1 apple
• 25 cl of cranberry juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 50 cl of orange juice
• 6 cl of white rum

The recipe for Christmas spice punch

Pour all the ingredients except the fruit into a saucepan. Heat gently without boiling. Turn off the heat and leave to infuse for ten minutes. During this time, cut the chosen fruit into pieces (orange or apple for example), then place it in a jug before pouring in your preparation once infused. Mix and leave to cool. Serve cold!

Cocktail The Three Wise Men

Another special Christmas creation, a little more robust: the Three Kings Cocktail. This one is a little fancier and requires some special ingredients. It remains very simple to prepare.

Ingredients of the Three Kings cocktail

• 30ml of Gin
• 30ml of Suze
• 15 ml of white Lillet
• 15 ml of Port
• 4 drops of Angostura
• A few edible gold flakes (optional, for decoration)
• 1 slice of dehydrated orange (for decoration)

The recipe for the Three Wise Men cocktail

Pour all the ingredients into a shaker, except those dedicated to decoration. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.

Pour the mixture into a scotch glass, add the ice cubes, sprinkle with gold flakes and top it all off with your dehydrated orange slice!

Christmas mocktail with pears, honey and spices

Without alcohol the party is crazier! Here is a delicate preparation for adults and children.

The ingredients of the Christmas mocktail

• 500 ml of pear juice
• 350 ml of sparkling water
• 1/2 lime
• 2 tablespoons liquid honey
• 2 tablespoons orange syrup
• 1 large pinch chai spice
• ice cubes

The Christmas mocktail recipe

Cut it in half then squeeze the lime. Pour the pear juice, sparkling water, lime juice, honey, orange syrup and chai spices into a shaker. Mix vigorously. Pour everything into glasses and add a few ice cubes. Enjoy fresh!

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