Holiday Cheer

Cinnamon Cider
1 1/2 cups Grant’s Family Reserve
3 cups apple cider
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups pomegranate juice

This spicy sipper smells just like Christmas. Add all ingredients into a pitcher and stir to mix. Pour into glasses with ice and garnish each with a cinnamon stick.

Serves 8

Gibson’s Nod to Nog
1 1/2 cups Gibson’s Finest Canadian Whisky
1 cup vanilla syrup*
3 cups cream
8 egg whites
nutmeg

The essence of eggnog in a snap. Blend all ingredients with a hand or full-sized blender, then pour in a pitcher. Pour into glasses and garnish each with a pinch of nutmeg.

Serves 8

*To make a simple vanilla syrup, add equal parts sugar and boiling water to a heatproof vessel. Stir to dissolve then cool. Add two to three drops of vanilla or 1/4 of a vanilla bean. Stir to mix.

The Pear Tree
1 1/2 cups Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
10 dashes orange bitters
3 cups pear juice
flamed orange zest*

Who needs five gold rings with this sweet cocktail? Add all ingredients to a pitcher and stir to mix. Pour into glasses with ice and garnish each with a flamed orange zest. If you can’t find orange bitters, just use regular bitters.

Serves 8

*To flame an orange zest, cut an oval tab of zest about 1”x 3”. With the skin pointing outwards, bend the oval towards the flame of a lighter, over the drink. The flame should ignite the oils, which will squirt from the zest.

Peppermint Punch
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups lime juice
1 cup water
1/8 tsp peppermint extract
2 litres club soda
mini candy canes

The kids (and your D.D.) will love a cup of this refreshing punch. Combine sugar, juice and water in a pitcher. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour in extract and soda. Serve in a glass garnished with a mini candy cane or pour all ingredients in a punch bowl and hang candy canes off the edge.

Serves 8 to 10