Stacy's Libations
Stacey Nagy

Stacey Nagy

Stace's Libations

Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits

Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits Edition !
 
It’s that time of year again! 
The holidays can be a time to shower your loved ones with gifts, catch up visiting with family and taking some much needed time away from work. It can also mean stressful shopping trips, overextending yourself on plans and having to see that one family member who grinds your gears. It’s the good and the bad, and whichever way it goes for you, you may want to have a few cocktails to get through it. That’s where I come in.
 
You may also be planning to host some holiday events of your own and need some ideas for holiday cocktails. The drinks I’m about to share with you are sure to be crowd pleasers. I know this because I’ve tested a couple of them out on my own family. 
 
Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits
I am quite blessed to have a loving and supportive family. I love spending time with both sides of my family but I get to see my in-laws quite frequently. We are close knit and always have a blast when we get together. Recently, we had my husband’s parents and sister over for dinner and a few cocktails. My husband was in charge of dinner (he’s a wonderful cook) and I, of course, was in charge of drinks.
 
First up was the Pomegranate Rosemary Gin Sparkler. This drink is Christmas in a glass. So simple but absolutely worthy of a fancy Christmas soiree. You’ll have to prep a little bit for this drink by making a Rosemary syrup and Pomegranate ice cubes (optional). 
Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits
Rosemary Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 sprigs rosemary
 
In a medium saucepan, add sugar and water and bring to a boil. Add two rosemary sprigs, lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until syrup thickens. Empty saucepan into a jar or bowl and let cool. 
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
I usually make the syrup a day ahead of time so that it’s nice and cool in the fridge when I’m ready to make my cocktails. An optional prep item is to make some fancy ice cubes for extra wow factor. I like to use a large square ice cube for these. Take your ice mold and spoon in about 2 tsp of pomegranate arils per cube. Fill mold with water and freeze. Once ready, you flip these out of the mold and there will be a nice Christmassy cube of pomegranate infused ice.
Pomegranate Ice and Rosemary Syrup. 
Now for the recipe itself, which is super simple!
 
 
Pomegranate Rosemary Gin Sparkler
1.5 oz gin
3 oz pomegranate juice 
0.5 oz rosemary syrup 
Soda water 
Pomegranate arils 
Rosemary sprigs
 
Add gin, pomegranate juice and rosemary syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well. Grab a nice rocks glass and drop in your fancy large ice cube, arils side up. Strain cocktail into glass. Top up with soda water. Garnish with an extra sprinkle of pomegranate arils over the ice and a sprig of rosemary. 
I’ve been using Red Crown Organic Pomegranate juice as it’s pure and not as sweet as juice from concentrate.
 
Pomegranate Rosemary Gin Sparkler
This cocktail was a huge hit. Not only does it taste absolutely wonderful, but it looks pretty great too. I love having the fresh rosemary sprig in the glass and taking a good whiff of it as I’m sipping away. Christmas perfection! 
Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits
Our Christmas with the family is full of little traditions, new and old. We play board games, build puzzles and do some snowshoeing to try to burn off some of the extra calories. Our newest tradition is having an at home casino night. We love Vegas and have done a few family trips there, so we decided to bring Vegas to us. Each of us puts a small wager into the pot and then we play blackjack, roulette, Mississippi stud and craps. Whoever has the highest score at the end of all the games takes home the pot. It’s an absolute riot. If you’re looking for a new way to spice up your family gathering, I highly recommend a casino night. It’s a good excuse to get out of our sweats and dress up in true Vegas fashion. We throw on some 70’s music to get in a swanky Vegas mood and snap some pics of our outfits. My mother in law serves up a neverending course of appetizers for dinner and my job, but of course, is to serve cocktails all night. 
 
Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits

Bartending for family gatherings has become a pretty regular occurrence for me over this last year. To make my life a little easier and my nights a bit more enjoyable, I’ve decided to batch some cocktails from time to time rather than be stuck “behind the stick” all evening. Casino night will be the perfect occasion to serve up my Cranberry Ginger Christmas Punch. It’s a lighter fare, with just the right hit of fizz and fruit to make it a delicious punchbowl drink. As always, you can make this one by the glass as well. 

Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits
Cranberry Ginger Christmas Punch
By the Glass
1 oz vodka
1⁄2 oz honey ginger syrup (see Penicillin article for recipe) 
2.5 oz sparkling rosé wine
2 oz cranberry ginger ale
Soda water to top
 
By the Pitcher
10 oz vodka
5 oz honey ginger syrup
1 bottle sparkling rosé
20 oz cranberry ginger ale 
10 oz soda water
 
Garnishes
pomegranate arils 
cranberries (fresh or frozen) 
orange slices
mint
 
Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits
No shaking required for this one as it’s bubbly and meant to be served over ice. To make the individual serving, you can build it right in your glass. Add vodka, syrup, rosé and give it a little stir to combine. Add ginger ale, ice and then top up your glass with soda water to cut some of the sweetness. Then you can add all the fun garnishes that make this drink so beautiful. A few pomegranate arils, cranberries (I like to use frozen), a half orange slice and a sprig of mint. It’s almost too pretty to drink! 
You can also add all these garnishes to your pitcher or punchbowl as well. Personally, I can’t wait to dust off my mom’s old punchbowl and serve this one up for casino night!
 
Cranberry Ginger Christmas Punch
 
 
Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits
As hectic as the holidays can be, I always try to find some time to unwind. My inlaws, god bless them, are a loud and boisterous group. With all the game playing, cooking, baking and visiting it can be a lot for an introvert. More often than not you can find me retreating to the puzzle room or curled up by the fireplace with a book. If you’re looking for a smooth drink that works as a nightcap or perhaps just to take the edge off while you enjoy a cigar and relax, have I got a treat for you. 
 
Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits

The Chocolate Orange Sazerac. It tastes exactly like, you guessed it, a chocolate orange. This one was quite the hit at the last family gathering. It’s a splendid boozy dessert drink for the holidays.

Stace’s Libations Holiday Spirits
Chocolate Orange Sazerac
1 oz bourbon
1 oz cognac
2 tsp cointreau
2 tsp chocolate cookie syrup 1 dash orange bitters
1 dash chocolate bitters
 
I used the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough syrup by Torani (available on Amazon). 
Add bourbon, cognac, cointreau, syrup and bitters to a cocktail mixing glass. Add ice and stir for 30 seconds. 
Strain into a small brandy balloon or tulip glass. Add a slice of chocolate orange to garnish. 
 
Chocolate Orange Sazerac
Sip it slow by the fire, pair it with your favorite cigar and enjoy the magic that is Christmas. I sincerely hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season.
See you in the new year! 
 
Cheers,
Stace
IG: @staceslibations
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