4 Holiday Batch Cocktails To Prep For Your Parties With A Festive Touch
The festive season will arrive soon, bells ringing and trees lit up with the sparkle of glowing lights. Hosting a party during this time means curating a menu complete with cocktails and food that reflects the merriment of this season. What works while playing a good host to a big party is pre-batching cocktails that retain their structure without dilution or separation. A couple of signature cocktails planned for the evening can be prepped in advance with the proper ratios, storage methods and festive touches. From spiced negronis to cranberry margaritas – readied ahead of time, so you can mingle with guests and share a laugh or two instead of playing bartender all evening.
Mulled Wine Sangria
(Serves 10)
With a deep red hue and a mix of sweet, tart and tangy flavours, this batch cocktail is colour-coded to blend into the festive theme. Prepping the drink is made easy because mulled wine can be crafted way ahead of the party – full of spiced, aromatic infusions, and stored in tall, airtight bottles. The drink can be mixed in a large bowl or vessel just as guests start to arrive.
– For every 750ml of red wine, add ½ cup orange juice and ¼ cup brandy.
– Bringing a festive, deeply fruity touch into the drink is ¼ cup cranberry juice whose tang and tart is undercut by just a hint of syrupy honey added to the cocktail.
– Use cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves as spice infusions for the mulled wine.
– Garnish the drink with rosemary sprigs and sugared cranberries for the festive touch.
– To serve the drink warm, keep the cocktail vessel in a slow cooker for up to four hours.
Rum And Pomegranate Holiday Punch Bowl
(Serves 12)
A vibrant, fruity cocktail option that spells all things festive, the rum and pomegranate punch can in fact be prepared way in advance, with just the ginger ale added at the last minute to retain its fizz. Lending a festive touch to this cocktail are orange wheels studded with cloves that accentuate the punch bowl.
– For every 180 ml of rum, add 100 ml of pomegranate juice and 150 ml of orange juice.
– Deep red and maroon hues of the cocktail are festive enough, yet a flavourful tang as ¼ cup lime juice builds into its rich flair.
– Store this mixture in a covered punch bowl in the fridge and bring it out only when it is time to top it off with ginger ale.
– Add pomegranate arils to the cocktail to bring tartness and tanginess into the concoction.
Also Read: Festive Party? 5 Effortless Batch Cocktails To Serve Without Hassle
Spiced Negroni
(Serves 8)
A bittersweet classic brightened with the flavours of different spices, the negroni unexpectedly becomes a festive drink when it is accentuated with certain robust, aromatic flavours. Drizzling maple syrup over an orange peel garnish manages to bring more of a festive, bright touch into the recipe.
– Prep the vermouth by infusing it with cinnamon, cloves and star anise ahead of the party.
– For every 500 ml of gin and 50 ml bitter Italian aperitif, add 50 ml of infused vermouth.
– Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl, express an orange over them and store until serving time.
– Fill a glass with ice at the time of serving and add the spiced Negroni cocktail over the top..
Cranberry Margarita
(Serves 12)
A jewel-toned cranberry margarita has a festive touch written all over it. What’s more, this drink is very simple to prepare as a batch cocktail and can be blended way ahead of the party so all you have to do is pour it in glasses already adorned with salt rims.
– For every 750 ml of tequila blanco, add 300 ml cranberry juice and 150 ml of orange liqueur.
– Lacing the drink with just a hint of cranberry syrup brings a festive nuance into the cocktail.
– What would make this drink brighter and slightly more festive is a rim crusted with sugar, instead of salt.
– Use fresh cranberries to garnish the cocktail along with a lime wheel or two, for the tang.
– Prepare the cranberry margarita and store it in the fridge; at serving time, strain the maroonish, reddish drink into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Key Takeaways:
– The festive season is around the corner, so if you are hosting a party, it is time to plan a cocktail menu that resonates with the season’s spirit.
– Batch cocktails that can be prepared ahead of time are the perfect alternatives for a festive party, because they can be served hassle-free, without the host spending much time at the bar.
– The most essential hack for preparing themed batch cocktails is to get the ingredient ratios right. With this, the festive touch can be imbued better into the curated drinks.
FAQs:
– Which are some of the batch cocktails that can be prepared ahead of a festive party?
The cranberry margarita, the spiced negroni and the mulled wine sangria are among some of the batch cocktails that can be prepared ahead of a festive party.
– What is the best way to infuse a festive touch into the spiced negroni?
Infusing vermouth with cinnamon, star anise and cloves is one of the most straightforward ways to introduce a robust, wintry touch into the spiced Negroni cocktail.
– What about the cranberry margarita? What makes it festive?
Along with its deep-red, jewel-toned hues, what makes the drink festive is a rocks glass crusted with a sugar rim, for serving the cocktail. The sweetness of the garnish will bring a luxe, rich, festive quality into the cranberry margarita.
*All cocktails listed use 30 ml liquor measurements for single serves. Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
