Season's Greetings & Sips to all! 

December is a festive time of year to celebrate the love between family, friends, and neighbours. With the year coming to a close and the weather growing colder giving gifts, sharing a meal, and watching the twinkling lights that line the neighbourhood gives us a chance to relax and enjoy the season. Or you’re busy running errands, navigating busy mall parking lots, and wrapping gifts as if you’re one of Santa’s elves. Either way, you’re going to want a cocktail to unwind and feel the festive spirit. Whether you like something warm and comforting, or spritzy and bright, here are a couple of cocktails featuring slight twist on the classics.

Chin chin! L’chaim! Santé! Cheers!!

Like the darkness of the winter months, beer during this time takes on a darker hue. Stouts have a rich malty flavour profile resulting in a near-black appearance. If day light savings time has you down, try matching the mood with this deeply delectable stout cocktail.

Beer cocktail:
360 ml (about ¾ of a tall can) Guinness
1 oz spiced rum
1 oz Grand Marnier
¾ oz lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
Garnish with cinnamon stick

Guiness 8 pack: SALE PRICE: $23.99 + tax and deposit   SAVE: $2.50 
Grand Marnier: SALE PRICE: $41.99 + tax and deposit   SAVE $8

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop many Canadians, like our national bird, flock to warmer weather and sun-drenched beaches. If you’re in need of some heat but are not able to make the journey down south try warming up with some Mexican hot chocolate. Adding tequila, along with a few pinches of cinnamon and cayenne pepper to your favourite hot chocolate will certainly spice things up. If you’re a stickler for authenticity use the Abuelita instant hot chocolate otherwise any hot chocolate recipe will do the trick.

Mexican Hot Chocolate:
2 oz reposado or anejo tequila
Pinch of cayenne
Pinch of cinnamon

Tres Generaciones Reposado Tequila SALE PRICE: $64.99 + tax and deposit    SAVE: $14 (December 15-23)
Tres Generaciones Anejo Tequila SALE PRICE: $79.99 + tax and deposit   SAVE: $10 (Select Stores)

A nostalgic holiday drink is punch. Juicy, boozy, and made in large batches it makes hosting parties or family gatherings a breeze. Especially if you can dig grandma’s old punch bowl, ladle, and matching cups out of the cupboards. The twist here is that the base of the punch is Lambrusco, a spritzy red wine from Italy. Yes, there is such thing as sparkling red wine, and yes it is as tasty as it is unusual. Mix with some juice and rum this tart but sweet punch will have you returning to the punch bowl for refills.

Holiday Punch:
1 bottle of Lambrusco
1 large bottle cranberry or Pomegranate juice
1 can San Pellegrino orange
2 cups dark rum
Garnish with orange slices

Medici Lambrusco - PRICE: $23.49 + tax and deposit

Written by Laura from Mid Island Liquor Hammond Bay