From The Straits Times    |

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Sometimes we need a little something to make our Christmas parties that much more merrier, and these Christmas cocktails are the best way to do that. Aside from being totally cute and memorable in presentation, these are also great for people who don’t usually like drinking hard liquor.

 

Super alcoholic eggnog

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Eggnog is actually already an alcoholic drink, but to make your Christmas party super #lit you can add a little bit more (a “little bit” being a relative term).

4 cups milk

5 whole cloves

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 egg yolks

1½ cups sugar

2½ cups light rum

2 cups brandy

4 cups light cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

 

Mix the milk, cloves, vanilla and cinnamon in a heated saucepan and slowly bring the milk mixture to a boil. In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for three minutes, or until it thickens. Do not allow mixture to boil over completely. Strain to remove cloves and let cool for about an hour. Stir in rum, brandy, cream, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight.

 

Candy cane shots

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While you could pass this off as a drink from the children’s menu of a restaurant, it’s probably not a good idea to let any underaged kid take a sip of this from your glass!

½ oz (15ml) peppermint schnapps

½ oz (15ml) peppermint liqueur

½ oz (15ml) cream

A dash of grenadine (to taste)

Rainbow sprinkles

 

Grab a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Add in the peppermint schnapps, liqueur, cream and grenadine. Shake the mixture well and pour into glass. Sprinkle some rainbow sprinkles on the top as a garnish and there you have it!

 

Wasted reindeer

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Get ready to glow like Rudolph because this is a drink that you won’t be able to stop drinking.

1 oz (15ml) marshmallow vodka (or vanilla vodka if you can’t find marshmallow)

1 oz (15ml) peppermint schnapps

4 oz (15ml) hot chocolate

Maraschino cherry

 

Combine all ingredients and stir to get an even consistency. Garnish the drink with a maraschino cherry, which will stand in for the red nose of Rudolph the reindeer!

 

Santa Claus Margarita

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If Santa Claus came to town and needed a drink, this is what he would get wasted on.

1 cup of ice

1 ½ oz of tequila

1 ½ oz of cranberry juice

1 ½ oz of grenadine

Whipped cream

 

Combine the ice, tequila, cranberry juice and grenadine into a blender and blend well. Pour the mixture into a glass and squeeze some whipped cream on top to get “Santa’s beard” going. Shhh, don’t tell Mrs Claus!

 

Warm spiced apple cider

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There’s no feel-good, warm and fuzzy drink that can compare to warm apple cider, but if the acohol in this drink doesn’t get you to party, it might just put you to sleep! This is definitely a drink that’s more suited for chill parties with good company.

1½ oz of rum

3 oz apple cider

1 teaspoon maple syrup

Cinnamon sugar

Cinnamon stick

 

Combine ingredients in a heated pan and stir well. Before it boils, transfer it to a mug, sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top and stick in a cinnamon stick for garnishing.

 

Pumpkin Spice Knockout

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You definitely won’t find this at Starbucks! This is a great twist on the autumnal favourite and will be a definite favourite at the party.

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 – 3 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

½ cup hot strong coffee

2 tablespoons dark rum

2 tablespoons rum and coffee liqueur

Vanilla ice cream

Mix the pumpkin, milk and sugar over a heated saucepan. Stir the mixture to achieve an even consistency, but do not let the mixture come to a boil. Take it off the heat and mix in everything else. Pour it all into a mug and top it off with some vanilla ice cream just before serving

 

If you like this, check out Christmas-themed facial scrubs that you can make at home and This is what your choice of alcohol says about you.