Hangover Cocktails: Start the New Year Off Right!

Oh, the dreaded hangover. With New Year’s Eve just a day away, and the abundance of alcohol consumption that usually goes hand in hand with the celebration, it’s always best to plan ahead. And though drinking lots of water before heading into a drunken slumber guarantees to reduce the effectsof a hangover, if you’re completely tanked, remembering to do this just isn’t realistic.

Those of us who have a really good time on New Years will be paying for it in the morning – and lessening post-party pain is always the goal: the tastier the better. So, before heading out for New Year’s Eve, make sure you have the ingredients for one of these enjoyable hangover cures.

Hangover Cocktail Cure #1: The Redeye Mary The hair of the dog is always a sure-fire way to cure the symptoms of a hangover. The tomato juice will help to metabolize the alcohol you consumed, the egg is rich in amino cysteine which will help your body clear out the toxins from drinking
- 4 ounces Beer
- 1 ounces Vodka
- 8 ounces Tomato Juice
- 1 whole Egg
- Cayenne Pepper to taste

Pour the beer, vodka, Cayenne pepper, and tomato juice into a pint glass and mix well. Pour into a pint glass, add a fresh, raw egg, and drink up. You’ll feel the healing begin in no time.

Hangover Cocktail Cure #2: The Honana Shake The banana will help settle your stomach and the honey replenishes the blood sugar level and the milk rehydrates the system.
- 1 banana
- Cup of milk
- 1 Tbs. brown sugar
- 1 Tbs. of honey
- 1 shot of rum

Peal the banana, cut into large chunks and place the pieces in a small bowl. Place the bowl in the freezer and leave the banana until the banana chunks are firm. In a blender, combine the banana, milk, brown sugar, honey and rum. Blend until smooth. Pour your Honana into two glasses and serve.

Happy New Year!

The Ultimate Christmas Champagne Cocktail

Not too sweet, but crisp and perfect with a holiday dessert, this is the Ultimate Christmas Champagne Cocktail!

Ingredients for the Christmas Champagne Cocktail- 4 oz. Champagne or Sparkling Wine
- 1 oz. Grand Marnier
- 3 brandied cherries (the best pre-made can be found at Whole Foods, behind the cheese counter)

Preperation

Combine the Champagne or Sparkling Wine with the Grand Marnier in a chilled cocktail shaker or pint glass. Stir gently. Pour into champagne glasses and add 3-4 brandied cherries. Serve. Drink.

Enjoy!

The Dirty Snowball: a Minty Holiday Cocktail

The Dirty Snowball Cocktail

Feasting on Christmas cookies always calls for some milk, but when you’re an adult you have an excuse to add alcohol to that mix. I found a great match for dipping and sipping. The Dirty Snowball is what I like to call it!

This minty cocktail derives from “The Grasshopper” that contains equal parts Crème de Menthe, Crème de Cacao and fresh cream. I added a shot of whipped cream flavored vodka to take it up a notch. To add to this green beauty I rimmed the glass with Oreo cream and dipped it in the crushed cookies. The Dirty Snowball is a combination of milk and cookies all in one. Enjoy this holiday cocktail!

Ingredients for the Dirty Snowball:

• 1 Oreo, double stuff preferred
• Glass of your choice
• 1 shot Crème de Menthe
• 1 shot Crème de Cacao
• 1 shot Whipped Cream flavored vodka (Vanilla works too!)
• 3 shots fresh cream (or to taste)

Preparation

1. Twist your Oreo so that one side of cream is exposed. Scrape off the cream around the rim of your glass and pinch it on to secure the connection. Crush the cookie portion of the Oreo on a small plate and dip the cream covered rim in it with desired amount of Oreos.
2. Combine Crème de Menthe, Crème de Cacao, Whipped Cream Vodka, and fresh cream to your cup and add ice.
3. Serve with more cookies for dipping!

Holiday Berry Sangria

Holiday Berry Sangria is the perfect Holiday cocktail for a festive Holiday party (or any party for that matter). It’s bright and refreshing and very intoxicating. Your guests are guaranteed to love it! And the perk? You don't need a high-priced wine to make this fancy berry cocktail...

 

Ingredients for Holiday Berry Sangria:

• 4 cups of mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries – frozen berries work as well)
• 2 cups of dark rum
• ½ cup of granulated sugar
• 1 bottle of red wine (pinot noir or zinfandel - refrigerated)
• 1 bottle of cherry juice (refrigerated)
• 1 cup of sparkling apple cider (refrigerated)
• Fresh mint

 

Hardware

• Large bowl with lid
• Large punch bowl or pitcher
• Ladle

 

Step 1. 24 hours before serving, combine berries, rum and sugar in a large bowl and stir gently until the sugar is dissolved. Seal the bowl with the lid and refrigerate.

 

Step 2. This step should be done no more than 30 minutes before serving. In a large punch bowl, combine the rum-berry mix, wine, cherry juice & sparkling apple cider. Stir gently. Ladle your sangria into wine goblets or glasses. Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint.

 

Serve your Holiday sangria & Enjoy. Happy Holidays!

 

Warning: This beverage contains a lot of booze. Would suggest limiting to 2-3 glasses per person. =)