Holidays are a time of year for get-togethers and celebrations, a time for sharing meals and decorating but hosting a party can be stressful. Here’s a list of darling holiday beverages, including a cherry margarita, sure to keep party guests talking all season.
Fun and Festive Cherry Margarita
A margarita is one of the most popular and versatile alcoholic beverages available. It comes on the rocks or blended and can be enhanced with countless flavors, syrups, and fruits. The cherry margarita stands apart from the rest because the beverage is typically tropical or citrus flavored and a refreshing summer or spring beverage.
A Stunningly Colored Cherry Maragarita
However, The cherry margarita is a perfect and stunning holiday drink that will leave guests in awe. The elegance of the deep red combined with the fun of a frosty salted rim makes it a memorable holiday beverage option and it’s incredibly easy to make.
The Cherry Maragarita is Out of the Ordinary
The cherry margarita doesn’t differ much from a traditional margarita but it does have one obvious and significant difference. The cherries. The recipe calls for lime juice as an original margarita would but it also calls for cherry juice and the fruit.
Cherry Margarita Ingredients
- Lime wedges
- salt
- Cherry juice
- Tequila
- Lime juice
- Frozen pitted dark sweet cherries
- Honey, recommended to cut the tartness of the cherry
- Ice, optional
Steps to Make a Cherry Margarita
While some ingredients differ, the process of a cherry margarita is pretty much the same as a traditional margarita. Taste of Home shares the simple process:
First Step: Salt the rim
Second Step: Blend the ingredients
Thrid Step: Serve
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Non-Alcoholic Holiday Mocktails
Mulled “Wine” is a spin on the classic holiday beverage. However, this recipe calls for deep dark red juices like pomegranate, cherry, or cranberry. Next, add spices the same way you would an alcoholic mulled wine and serve warmed, to keep up with tradition, or chilled if you live in a more tropical climate or have warmer winters.
Jingle Juice Punch
Add 2 cups of cranberry juice to sparkling Apple cider in a large punch bowl. Add cranberries or sliced oranges and apples. This fun, festive, and fresh beverage will leave guests wanting more.
Another Red Holiday Beverage
Meanwhile, Country Living has a lively and fresh recipe for a Cranberry-ginger shrub. The drink is spicy, tart, and sweet, and features a gorgeous soft red color that will add a perfect touch to any holiday celebration.
Drinks with a Modern Twist
The Matcha Highball is a fun and newer drink recipe that’s gone mainstream and is noted for its bright green color, perfect for creating a grinch like atmosphere
- 2 ounces Whiskey (Japanese whiskey like Hibiki is recommended)
- 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce honey
- 1/4 teaspoon matcha powder
- 4 ounces chilled club soda
- 1 lemon wedge, for garnish
Blackberry Kir Royale
The drink, originally made in the 1940’s, is a fruity take on a French classic combining champagne and blackberry brandy.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750 ml) Champagne
- 1/4 cup blackberry brandy
- 8 fresh blackberries, for garnish
Frozen Grasshopper
Foodandwine has a recipe for a frozen grasshopper. A classic cocktail combining mint and chocolate, to capture the delicious flavors of Andes mints, Thin mints, York Patties, and so on. This version is a frozen treat sure to create comfort and amazement for your guests.
An Alternate to the Cherry Margarita
A great way to capture those deep reds found in the Cherry Margarita is to use dark juices like pomegranate or cranberry. You can use Cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, or cranberry juice with a rosemary or thyme garnish to give the decorative effect of a Christmas wreath with pine, holly, and berries.
Additionally, consider adding a dash of blueberry, açaí, or blackberry juices to deepen the red, making it more of a maroon or burgundy.
Holiday Classics
- Eggnog
- Apple Cider
- Hot Cocoa
- Hot Buttered Rum
- Sangria
Fortunately, many classic cocktails have nonalcoholic options and ample recipes combine festive and fun ingredients to create a drink that’s cozy, fresh, and flavorful to enhance your holiday celebration.
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