Whether you own a liquor store, bar or restaurant, cocktails should be central to your holiday business plan. Promoting original recipes or classic festive holiday drinks will help to bring in additional revenue. In a liquor store setting, providing samples of these drinks to customers will expose them to new tastes and even make them nostalgic over old favorites. Be sure to provide recipe cards and a list of products needed to create them. In a restaurant or bar, creating colorful menus that show off these seasonal items will catch your customer’s eye and encourage them to indulge. Here we’ve compiled some of our favorite holiday cocktail recipes.
Candy Cane Cooler
INGREDIENTS
For Infusion:
2 cups fresh mint leaves, de-stemmed
1 bottle quality vodka
For cocktail:
1 tbs. crushed candy cane or peppermint candy
1 1/2 oz. mint-infused vodka
1/2 oz. B&B (Benedictine and brandy)
1/2 oz. half-and-half
Ice
Peppermint stick
Mint sprig for garnish
DIRECTIONS
For Infusion:
Thoroughly wash mint leaves and place in a decanter or jar. Empty vodka into container and muddle slightly to release the essential oils. Store in a cool, dark place for at least 3 days - longer if you want a stronger taste.
For cocktail:
Place crushed candy cane bits into pint glass. Muddle the candy cane slightly, breaking up the bigger pieces. Do not over-muddle into a powder. Add vodka, brandy and half-and-half and stir. Pour into a shaker with ice. Shake lightly to chill and strain into old-fashioned glass full of ice. Add a peppermint stick and stir. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Apple Cordials
INGREDIENTS
¾ cup brandy
½ cup apple juice
⅓ cup Cointreau
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon angostura bitters
apple slices, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
In a large pitcher, combine the brandy, apple juice, Cointreau, lemon juice, and bitters. Serve over ice; garnish each glass with apple slices.
Peppermint Paddy
INGREDIENTS
1 ounce brandy
1 ounce white crème de menthe
1/2 ounce dark rum
4 ounces white hot chocolate
Chocolate-flavored whipped cream and crushed Peppermint Altoids, for garnish (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Combine the brandy, white crème de menthe, dark rum and hot chocolate in a heatproof mug and stir. Top with the chocolate whipped cream and crushed Altoids.
Happy Elf
INGREDIENTS
1 ounce melon liqueur
2 ounces citrus vodka
1 ounce white cranberry juice
Cherries
DIRECTIONS
Combine melon liqueur, citrus vodka, and white cranberry juice in an ice-filled shaker. Shake vigorously, and strain into a cocktail glass. Add cherries.
Pumpkin Pie Martini
INGREDIENTS
1/2 oz. Stoli Vanilla (optional to give it kick)
1 oz. pumpkin spice liqueur (such as Hiram Walker)
1/2 oz. Kahlua
1/2 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps
1/2 oz. half-and-half
crushed graham crackers
cinnamon stick (garnish)
DIRECTIONS
Add all liquids in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into large martini glass rimmed with crushed graham crackers. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
When you own a business that relies on alcohol sales for a large portion of your revenue, it’s important that you display the versatility and unique flavors of your products. It’s also key that you take advantage of seasonal trends and update your tasting and holiday menus accordingly.
Quikstone Capital Solutions provides cash for businesses. A merchant cash advance from Quikstone Capital Solutions is a business loan alternative that can help your business thrive and prosper. If you want to dress things up for the or make that much needed investment in equipment to handle the Holiday rush a we can provide fast funding for the Holidays. can help. Quikstone Capital Solutions wishes you a safe and happy holiday season.
