May the night and season never end with these breathtaking beverages.
— By Katie Farthing
Keep that holiday cheer and light buzz going with delicious and dazzling drinks thanks to Brian and Jennifer Jones, owners of GoodTimes Coal-Fired Pizza & Pub in Big Stone Gap.
Gingerbread Martini
Fill your senses with the nostalgic, comforting smell of gingerbread. This spicy, sweet drink will have you sipping and sighing in delight all night long!
1 ½ ounces vodka
½ ounce RumChata
1 ounce gingerbread simple syrup/coffee syrup (see recipe below)
1 ounce half and half
Add the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a martini or coupe glass and garnish to your heart’s content with whipped cream, cinnamon, and a gingersnap.
Gingerbread Syrup
3 cups water
3 cups brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
½ cup chopped ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ tablespoon whole clove
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon star anise seen
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix water, sugar, and molasses over medium low heat until dissolved. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes until ginger has softened and syrup is slightly reduced. Strain and let cool before storing in an airtight container that can last one month in a refrigerator.
Yule Mule
Fans of cranberry and mules might just have found holiday heaven with this merry mouthful!
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce lime juice
1 ½ ounces cranberry sauce syrup (see recipe below)
ginger beer
Fill a copper mug or pint glass with ice, vodka, lime, and syrup. Stir until combined and add ginger beer before stirring again. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary.
Cranberry Sauce Syrup
3 cups cranberry juice
¼ cup orange juice
3 ¼ cups sugar
1 cup of cranberries
1 thinly sliced orange
2 cinnamon sticks
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon whole clove
½ teaspoon star anise seed
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add juice and sugar to a pot at medium low heat until the sugar dissolves. Add cranberries, oranges, and spices. Stir and let simmer for 20 minutes or until cranberries are soft. Let cool before storing in an airtight container that can last one month in a refrigerator.
This is web-exclusive content from the December 2024 issue.
