by Catherine Rickman

December 19, 2022

Any time I am tasked with preparing an elaborate holiday feast, there’s always a moment somewhere in between my third grocery run and trashing my final attempt at a pie crust when I remember I’ve forgotten to sort out the beverage situation. Sure, I’ve told everyone who asked what they can bring that wine is never unwelcome. But there’s just something about a festive cocktail (or mocktail) that makes me feel less like I’m playing house, and more like I’m a real adult who owns coupe glasses and won’t shut up about it. 

Rosemary Ginger Bubbly

Ginger is both a crucial ingredient in the holiday spice palate and a natural digestive aid, so using a fresh ginger shot in this recipe provides a kick of flavor and pairs well with a heavy holiday meal.

• 1 oz Ginger juice
• 1 oz Lemon juice
• 4 oz Champagne, crémant, or sparkling wine
• Rosemary

Peel a 2-inch piece of ginger and thinly slice. Add to a blender with half a cup of water and blend until smooth. Strain liquid into a container, and voilà—you have ginger juice. Add the ginger juice and lemon juice to a coupe or flute and top with a sparkling wine like Veuve du Vernay Brut. Take a sprig of rosemary and smack it against the palm of your hand a few times to release its aromas before adding it to the cocktail. (This is best done when your aunt is asking why you don’t have a boyfriend.) Replace the bubbly with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine to make this a mocktail.

Cranberry Mimosa

This beverage is really halfway between a Cosmopolitan and a Mimosa, so it is obviously best served alongside hot goss and a cheese plate. (Bonus points for a gooey, dippable baked brie.)

• 1 oz Cranberry juice
• 0.5 oz Orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
• 4 oz Champagne, crémant, or sparkling wine

Add cranberry juice and orange liqueur to a champagne flute or coupe, then top with chilled champagne or crémant. You can make a mocktail version of this drink using a non-alcoholic sparkling wine, like Veuve du Vernay Alcohol Free. Instead of orange liqueur, fill a container with sliced oranges (or clementines or mandarins) and soak overnight in cranberry juice. Add 1.5 oz of the orange-infused cranberry juice to 4 oz of NA sparkling wine. (You can even use the soaked oranges as a garnish.)

Read the full article by Catherine Richman HERE.