Tag Archives: Mulled Wine

Our Favorite Christmas Eve Cocktails

Cocktails / December 24, 2016 / No Comments.

giphySanta’s on his way. The tree is lit. Presents are wrapped. It’s time to drink. Here is a list of our favorite Christmas Eve cocktails (thanks to GourmetGiftBaskets.com)

Champagne Parfait Cocktail: This drink is a perfect toasting cocktail. Take your favorite champagne (or any sparkling wine, Prosecco, Brut, etc), add a little bit of gin, any fruit liqueurs and fresh berries to create a delicious and beautiful drink. The different berries will float at different levels, hence the the parfait look.

La Vie En Rouge: “Life in Red” mixes Grand Marnier, fresh cranberry juice, and fresh rosemary. Its bright flavor and fragrant aroma make a great after-dinner drink. Float a few cranberries in the glass for garnish.

Christmas Eve Hot Chocolate: The adult version of your favorite childhood drink. This recipe mixes coffee, chocolate and liquor. A perfect night cap.

Holiday Sparkler: If you’re hosting a large party, this a great punch bowl recipe. With Cava, fresh mint, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice, it’s a bright and festive drink you can make the day before your party to let the flavors really develop. It also makes a great substitution for mimosas on Christmas Day!

Mulled Wine: Also known as Glogg or gluwein, the spicy hot wine drink is perfect for a cold winter night. All you really need is dry red wine, port wine, Grand Marnier, and a bunch of oranges and some cinnamon sticks. Cook it up on the stove or even in a Crockpot to keep it warm throughout the evening.

Mistletoe Martini: A mix of chilled cranberry tea, orange and lemon juices, and vodka. A little bit of sugar cuts the tart flavors.

Eggnog: Is it even Christmas if there isn’t any eggnog? We don’t think so. Spike yours with bourbon or spiced rum for a smooth Christmas drink.

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Here’s a riddle, what’s even better than wine?

Wine / December 11, 2015 / No Comments.

stlifemulledwinene_2082183bIt feels like just yesterday we were soaking gummy worms in vodka for the Halloween party, but believe it not the Holidays are practically here and we’re in the mood for a drink! So before you undergo a huge #PinterestFail with some complicated holiday punch cocktail or guzzle down a thousand calories worth of spiked eggnog, why not consider giving a classic holiday beverage a try! Mulled Wine is a traditional holiday party staple and just so happens to be loaded with health benefits.

Folks started warming up with a hot chalice of mulled wine back in the 2nd century after the Romans went around conquering Europe and forcing their delicious drink recipes on everyone. Now we aren’t sure if our ancestors were aware of all the health benefits their delicious creation had back then, but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Traditionally made with a red wine, mulled wine has all the health perks that come along with sipping on a glass of antioxidant rich red wine including memory protection against Alzheimer’s, slower signs of aging, and lowering the risk of heart disease – just to name a few! And in addition to all the “good for you” benefits of red wine, mulled wine recipes often call or cinnamon stick and nutmeg which both have their own health perks. Cinnamon is actually considered a super food and has the ability to lower blood sugar levels and act as an anti inflammatory, helping to fight infections and repair tissue damage. Nutmeg on the other hand has the ability to soothe indigestion, detoxify the body and increase your immune system function – all things we could definitely use help with during the stressful holiday season.

So, what are you waiting for! We’ve given you more than enough reasons to whip up a batch of mulled wine for your next Holiday Party, and maybe even a pot for this evening. Here’s one of our favorite recipes that is sure to give you all those benefits along with a Friday night buzz!

Ingredients
• 1 bottle red wine
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 50g (2oz) Demerara sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• grating nutmeg
• 2 tbsp Grand Marnier or Cointreau

Directions: Place all the ingredients except the Grand Marnier or Cointreau in a saucepan with 300ml (1/2 pt) water. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Taste to see whether it is sweet enough and add more sugar if desired. Remove from the heat, add the Grand Marnier or Cointreau. Stir well, strain into heatproof glasses and serve immediately. Recipe courtesy of Woman and Home.

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