My Christmas Cocktails-Blogmas Day 23

     Before we start talking holiday cocktails, I need my morning coffee. Here's the coffee blend DD1 gave me for my birthday, along with the mug I got last year from my niece. This is a perfect wake up moment. My daughter is a great enabler for my coffee habit-it's her thing to bring me when she travels and we love our coffee outings.  For those not familiar with Caribou, it is a Minnesota  original company, though I believe they were sold several years ago to an international company, which makes me sad. Their coffee though is some of my favorites, and I like their coffee houses sprinkled throughout  Minnesota and at least the nearby border towns. Maybe they are rebranded as something else. Some of you may not know that caribou and reindeer are the same animal, from the deer family. According to one site, reindeer is the term for domesticated and caribou when they are in the wild. I'm not sure I ever heard that before, but did know they were the same. Now on to cocktails.

     If I was a video maker, I could do a whole night of filming on cocktails. Instead, you're getting some staged photos as tonight will be cocktail night, along with some over the next few nights. My favorite festive drink is a Vodka Collins. I make a  simple version with lemonade, vodka of course, a splash of  cherry juice, and topped with a couple splashes of seltzer. I like to throw a slice of orange and cherry on top as well. Ideally, I should be making a simple syrup and lemon juice instead of a lemonade cheat. I may do that for Christmas day. It's just one part water to one part sugar, warmed through to completely dissolve all sugar granules. If I do this, I'll still cheat with bottled lemon juice.

     I may serve in the Gather Tumblers I bought last year on fall clearance, but maybe I'll use my party martini glasses. I got these for Christmas one year from my sister-in-law when I was in a phase where I thought having the girls or couples around for cocktails on a semi regular basis would be a good way to pump our social life. Well, we're all more a beer or glass of wine kind  of people, so these really have not been used much. I have two sets of four, as well as two sets of four margarita glasses. I used for a couple bridal showers over the years and were fun. If either of the girls ever decides they would like this type of bar ware, they might be better suited to go to their homes and I can down size. I do use one or two semi regularly for deck cocktails, even if it is just opening a can of the Bud'  arita's and pouring. 

     Last year DH received a gift bag of assorted mini bottles of spirits from a coworker. Had DS been here, we would have had a good tasting night. DH's brother  gave him a jar of some sort of moonshine and I think we still have both cinnamon and coffee in the liquor cupboard. It's vodka we run out of because that is what I mostly drink-but don't get me wrong, a bottle lasts a long time. We have the Trader Joe's Winter Punch to try, using the recipe on the side to make a sort of mulled wine. I can't wait to try that Christmas Eve when we come back from the outside service. I see there is both a tiny bottle of Fireball and Cinnamon Schnapps, so perhaps for DH and the girls who like apple cider. Most of it will probably just wait until next year, but if you have a last minute gift and you know the person does enjoy a drink on occasion, responsibly of course, it's sort of a fun idea. 

For Christmas morning I'm looking forward to mimosas-either traditional OJ or perhaps with cranberry juice. I also picked up some festive Cranberry Ginger Ale, a nice alternative, or a mixer too I guess. Last, I can't forget to share DH's Moose Mug, ready and waiting for a cold glass of eggnog. I'll pick as small a container as I can find today as he will be the only one to drink it, and not much,  along with fruit needed for Christmas morning with our cinnamon rolls, and the peppers I forgot for our roasted vegetable skewers. DH will drink it unspiked, but I will get a picture of him drinking from his mug. I've heard from a few of you in comments about special drinks you are serving. If anyone would like to share  or share again, I welcome your comments.