We would never wish anyone a blue Christmas—unless we were referring to the yummy blueberry and pomegranate gin punch from Jessica Strand’s book Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season (Chronicle Books, 2020).
Brimming with jolly cocktails, celebratory champagne sippers, warm toddies, party punches, and “zero proof” libations for all, this prettily packaged volume inspires us to put the holiday spirit in our bottled spirits (or is it the other way around?).
Here we share a trio of recipes for you to try at home, including an alcohol-free mulled cider with just a touch of real maple syrup to take it over the top. For a gift, pair this book with items for stocking or equipping the bar.
With a splash of fizzy ginger ale and a homemade shrub (that’s a syrup made from fruit, vinegar, and sugar), this recipe puts a holiday-worthy spin on the classic cranberry-and-vodka. Sugar the rim for a frosty look, and garnish with fresh cranberries.
Evergreen Sparkler
Instead of a gin-and-tonic, try this twist with fresh lemon and a rosemary-infused simple syrup. This pleasingly herbal drink “will be a satisfying way to spread cheer after a day of decorating or a walk in a wintery forest,” writes Strand.
Mulled Cider
Nothing warms body and soul like a hot pot of cider on the stove filling the house with the heavenly aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Book review by Terri Robertson | Recipes republished from Very Merry Cocktails by Jessica Strand with permission by Chronicle Books, 2020 | Photography by Ren Fuller