To help you get the party started, we've collected cocktail recipes just right for holiday gatherings large and small.
Looking for other ideas? Several new bartending books offer hundreds of recipes, along with tips on stocking the bar and equipment.
For comprehensive listings, check out "Bartending for Dummies" by Ray Foley (Wiley, $16.99) or "Mr. Boston Platinum Edition" edited by Anthony Giglio (Wiley, $19.95), a spiral-bound version of the 70-year-old cocktail classic.
Greg Best, mixologist for Restaurant Eugene in Buckhead, keeps a copy of "The Ultimate A-to-Z Bar Guide" by Sharon Tyler Herbst and Ron Herbst (Broadway, $15) for reference. For the latest twist on cocktails, he recommends "Food & Wine Cocktails 2006" edited by Dana Cowin and Kate Krader (American Express, $14.95).
Sinful Cider
8-10 servings
Hands on: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Mixologist Greg Best of Restaurant Eugene likes to greet winter guests with warm drinks. This spiced cider is on the Buckhead restaurant's seasonal cocktail menu.
1 (750-ml) bottle Jefferson's or other bourbon
6 cinnamon sticks
2 tablespoons whole cloves
2 quarts mulled apple cider
5 ounces Leopold Bros. Georgia Peach Liqueur or other peach liqueur
Whipped cream (optional)
Ground cinnamon (optional)
In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine bourbon, cinnamon sticks and cloves. When the mixture simmers, reduce heat and keep at a slow simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and discard spices. Reserve the infused bourbon.
Warm the apple cider, if desired. In a large punch bowl, combine bourbon, peach liqueur and warm apple cider. Serve in punch glasses with a dollop of cinnamon-spiked whipped cream. If serving cold, omit the whipped cream.
Per serving (based on 8): 383 calories (percent of calories from fat, 4), trace protein, 30 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 1 gram fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 12 milligrams sodium.
Yuletide Cheer
8-10 servings
Hands on: 10 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Wine-based punch makes a good drink for larger groups. Mixologist Greg Best of Restaurant Eugene recommends this citrusy punch as a good ice-breaker.
5 ounces orange juice, divided, peels from 2 oranges reserved
30 whole cloves
1 (750 ml) bottle zinfandel or shiraz
4 cinnamon sticks
1 cup brandy
1/2 cup orange liqueur
2 tablespoons lime juice (about 2 limes)
Juice the oranges and save the peels from 2 oranges. Stick cloves into reserved orange peel and set aside. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the red wine with cinnamon sticks, 1/4 cup orange juice and the clove-studded orange peels. When the liquid has reduced by one-quarter, remove from heat. Strain, and reserve the orange peels for later use. Let spiced wine cool.
In a large punch bowl filled with ice, combine the spiced wine, brandy, orange liqueur, lime juice and 3 ounces orange juice. Serve in punch cups with orange peels for garnish.
Per serving (based on 8): 151 calories (percent of calories from fat, 23), trace protein, 5 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 1 gram fat (trace saturated), no cholesterol, 13 milligrams sodium.
The Pink Halo
1 serving
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Ecco, an Italian restaurant in Midtown, offers this drink on its winter menu. It's a good one to hand guests on their way into the party.
1 ounce Hangar One or other vodka
1/2 ounce Aqua Perfecta framboise liqueur or other raspberry liqueur
Grenadine (for rimming glass)
Superfine sugar (for rimming glass)
4 ounces sparkling wine or champagne
Pour vodka and raspberry liqueur into a shaker filled with ice. Shake until cold. Strain into flute rimmed with grenadine and superfine sugar. Pour sparkling wine on top.
Per serving: 207 calories (percent of calories from fat, 0), no protein, 8 grams carbohydrates, no fiber, no fat, no cholesterol, 1 milligram sodium.
Poinsettia
1 serving
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Mixologist Greg Best of Restaurant Eugene calls this cocktail a perfect choice for small gatherings.
1 1/2 ounces Cointreau or other orange liqueur
1/2 ounce cranberry juice
4 ounces brut champagne
Whole cranberries (optional, for garnish)
Superfine sugar (optional, for garnish)
Cocktail sword or toothpick (optional, for garnish)
In a champagne flute, combine orange liqueur, cranberry juice and champagne. If garnishing, roll cranberries in superfine sugar, place 2 or 3 on a cocktail sword or toothpick and place in drink.
Per serving: 237 calories (percent of calories from fat, 0), no protein, 17 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, no fat, no cholesterol, trace sodium.
Napa Valley Crush
2 servings
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Rainwater in Alpharetta serves this cocktail as part of its winter bar menu.
2 1/2 ounces Ketel One or other vodka
1 ounce Chambord or other raspberry liqueur
1/2 ounce cranberry juice
1/2 ounce sour mix (see recipe)
1/2 ounce 7-Up
6 red or green grapes (optional, for garnish)
Combine vodka, raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice, sour mix and 7-Up in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into martini glasses. Garnish with 3 grapes on a toothpick.
Per serving: 140 calories (percent of calories from fat, 0), trace protein, 7 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 4 milligrams sodium.
Holiday SoCo Limetini
1 serving
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Bourbon gets a shot of citrus in this red-and-green concoction from wine and spirits company Brown-Forman. Sweetened lime juice, such as Rose's, is available in liquor stores and some supermarkets. Colored rimming sugars are available in many gift and liquor stores as well as some supermarkets.
2 1/2 ounces Southern Comfort or other bourbon
1/2 ounce sweetened lime juice
Red rimming sugar
In a shaker filled with ice, combine bourbon and lime juice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with red sugar. Garnish with a lime twist.
Per serving: 183 calories (percent of calories from fat, 0), no protein, 1 gram carbohydrates, no fiber, no fat, no cholesterol, 1 milligram sodium.
Seasonal Spice Martini
1 serving
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Marlow's Tavern in Vinings and Alpharetta offers this cocktail of fall flavors, with cinnamon and nutmeg mingling with the flavor of chai tea.
1 ounce Absolut Vanilla or other vanilla vodka
1 ounce Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Dash ground cinnamon
Combine vodka, liqueur and pumpkin pie spice in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until cold and frothy. Strain into a martini glass. Sprinkle a dash of ground cinnamon on top of the froth.
Per serving: 165 calories (percent of calories from fat, 2), trace protein, 14 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 3 milligrams sodium.
Espresso Martini
1 serving
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Mosaic in Buckhead offers this dessert-first twist on the martini.
1 ounce (1 shot) espresso
1 ounce Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
3/4 ounce Godiva Original Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 ounce Absolut Vanilla or other vanilla vodka
Chocolate straw (optional)
Place shaker in ice to chill. Add espresso, Kahlua, chocolate liqueur and vodka. Add ice and shake hard. Strain into martini glass. Add chocolate straw.
Per serving: 204 calories (percent of calories from fat, 1), trace protein, 24 grams carbohydrates, no fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 5 milligrams sodium.
Fashion Fizz
1 serving
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Sweet Lowdown, a new restaurant in Midtown, serves this sweet girls'-night-out drink from managing director Stephen A. Gobourne.
2 ounces chilled raspberry-infused vodka
1/4 cup raspberry sorbet
Superfine sugar (for rimming glass)
1 ounce champagne or sparkling wine
In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka and sorbet. Shake until blended. Roll rim of champagne flute in superfine sugar. Pour raspberry mixture into the glass and add champagne.
Per serving: 155 calories (percent of calories from fat, 0), no protein, 1 gram carbohydrates, no fiber, no fat, no cholesterol, 1 milligram sodium.
SoHo Coffee
1 serving
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time:5 minutes
SoHo restaurant in Vinings offers a sweet, spirited take on coffee.
1/2 ounce amaretto
1/2 ounce Godiva Original Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 ounce Bailey's Irish Cream
6 1/2 ounces coffee
Whipped cream (optional)
Stir amaretto, chocolate liqueur and Bailey's into hot coffee. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
Per serving: 134 calories (percent of calories from fat, 24), 1 gram protein, 14 grams carbohydrates, no fiber, 2 grams fat (1 gram saturated), no cholesterol, 17 milligrams sodium.
Finlandia Cranberry Smash
1 serving
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Stash some fresh cranberries in the freezer while they're still available in stores if you plan on preparing this drink after early December.
12 spearmint leaves, plus extra for garnish
8-10 fresh cranberries
1/2 ounce simple syrup (see recipe)
1 ounce lemon juice
1 1/2 ounces Finlandia Cranberry Fusion or other cranberry-infused vodka
In a large glass, muddle mint, cranberries and simple syrup. Add lemon juice, cranberry vodka and ice. Stir and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Per serving: 102 calories (percent of calories from fat, 3), trace protein, 10 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 7 milligrams sodium.
Simple Syrup
Makes 1 1/2 cups
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Make this building block of many cocktails in advance. When stored in a clean, covered container, it keeps for a month in the refrigerator.
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, combine water and sugar. Simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, let cool, then store in refrigerator in a clean jar.
Per ounce: 68 calories (percent of calories from fat, 0), no protein, 17 grams carbohydrates, no fiber, no fat, no cholesterol, 1 milligram sodium.
Sour Mix
3 cups
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Commercially prepared sour mix is stocked in liquor stores, but why not make it from scratch and get the freshest flavors?
1 cup simple syrup (see recipe)
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup lime juice
In a large, clean container, combine simple syrup, lemon juice and lime juice. Cover and store in refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Per ounce: 22 calories (percent of calories from fat, 0), trace protein, 5 grams carbohydrates, no fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, trace sodium.
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