This year, I’m hosting the Cocktails of Christmas for my family on all the nights I am back home leading up through Christmas morning. I spent a lot of time trying to pick the perfect recipes online which means admittedly we try them for the first time the night I make them.

This year’s recipes include:

• Christmosa
• Winter Bourbon Smash
• Santa Clausmopolitan
• Mojito-ho-ho Punch
• White Christmas Mojito
• Jack Frost Cocktail

Christmosa

Ingredients:

• 2 Granny Smith apples, chopped
• 1 c. whole fresh cranberries
• 1 c. green grapes, halved
• 1 c. pomegranate seeds
• 1 c. sparkling grape juice (sub sparkling water?)
• 2 bottles Champagne/Prosecco

Instructions:

• In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine apples,
• cranberries, grapes, and pomegranate seeds.
• Pour over sparkling grape juice and Champagne and stir well to serve.

Winter Bourbon Smash

Ingredients:

• 1⁄2 cup ice (plus more for serving)
• 2 tbsp raspberry jam
• 2 tbsp bourbon
• 1 tbsp triple sec
• 2-3 tbsp orange juice
• Orange segments
• Club soda (to brighten)

Instructions:

• Add ice, preserves, bourbon, triple sec and orange juice to a shaker and shake vigorously for 15 seconds.
• Pour into serving glass with a few ice cubes and top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with orange
• slices and enjoy

Santa Clausmopolitan

Ingredients:

• Lime wedge for rim
• White sanding sugar
• 1 cup vodka
• 1.5 cup cranberry juice
• 1⁄4 cup triple sec
• 1⁄4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1⁄2 cup fresh cranberries

Instructions:

• Run a lime wedge around each glass then dip in sanding sugar, fill cocktail shaker with ice then add vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec, and lime juice. Shake.
• Divide and add cranberries for garnish.

Mojito-ho-ho Punch

Ingredients:

• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄2 cup lime juice
• 1.5 cup mint leaves
• 1.5 cup light rum
• 2 bottles sparkling wine

Instructions:

• In large measuring cup, mix sugar with fresh lime juice until sugar dissolves.
• Add mint leaves and muddle to mash and combine. Stir in light rum and let sit at least 1 hour or overnight. When ready to serve, strain into pitcher and add sparkling wine. Serve over ice with sliced lime and fresh mint leaves if desired.

White Christmas Mojito

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lime juice
• 1⁄4 cup packed fresh mint leaves plus more for serving
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄2 cup white rum
• 1⁄4 cup coconut rum
• 1 can coconut milk
• Sparkling water to top
• Pomegranate arils for topping

Instructions:

• In a glass, muddle the lime juice, sugar and mint leaves until the leaves have broken down. Fill the glass half way with ice. In a blender, combine the white rum, coconut rum, and coconut milk and pulse until smooth. Pour over the ice and stir to combine. Top with sparkling water, mint and pomegranate.

Jack Frost Cocktail

Ingredients:

• Honey for rimming glasses
• Flaked coconut for rimming glasses
• 8 cups ice (more or less depending on desired consistency)
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup blue curacao
• 1/2 cup vodka or light rum (I used vodka)
• 1/2 cup cream of coconut

Instructions:

• Rim the glasses: Pour a thin layer of honey onto a plate and dip the rims, then dip in coconut flakes. In a blender, blend ice, pineapple juice, blue curacao, vodka and cream of coconut until desired consistency is reached. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.