What Drinks Pair Best With Traditional Christmas Delicacies
A Christmas feast is incomplete without an elaborate spread of traditional dishes and drinks to accompany them. Very often, it so happens that all our attention is devoted to creating a lavish food menu, with very little heed paid to the drinks that would pair well with it. We are here to change that. In this guide, we will explore drink pairings for traditional Christmas dishes that will add merriment to your holiday get-togethers with family and friends.
Honey-glazed Ham with Bourbon Maple Smash
Inherently sweet, honey-glazed ham will pair well with this cocktail that combines the warmth of bourbon and the richness of maple syrup.
To create the drink, you will need:
60 ml bourbon
30 ml pure maple syrup
15 ml fresh lemon juice
4-5 fresh mint leaves
Crushed ice
To prepare the drink:
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves along with maple syrup. Then, add bourbon and fresh lemon juice to the mix. Shake the mixture well and strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. To complete the drink, garnish with a sprig of mint leaves.
Roast Turkey with Cranberry Mule
The succulent and savoury flavours of the roast turkey will need a drink that balances out its richness. The Cranberry Mule, with its refreshing, tart taste, is the perfect accompaniment to the dish.
To create the drink, you will need:
60 ml vodka
120 ml ginger beer
30 ml cranberry juice
15 ml fresh lime juice
Cranberries and rosemary for garnish
To prepare the drink:
In a copper mug filled with ice, pour in the vodka, cranberry juice and fresh lime juice. Top off the mixture with ginger beer and stir gently. Finish off the drink with a garnish of cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
Prime Rib with Rosemary Gin Fizz
To counter the luxurious and rich flavour of prime ribs, a drink that is slightly herbal and effervescent is ideal. The Rosemary Gin Fizz is the drink for this dish.
To create the drink, you will need:
60 ml gin
30 ml fresh lemon juice
15 ml simple syrup
Club soda
Fresh rosemary sprig for garnishing
To prepare the drink:
In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, fresh lime juice and simple syrup. Shake the mixture well and strain it into a glass filled with ice. Top off the drink with a dash of club soda, and garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Christmas Pudding With Spiced Rum Old Fashioned
The decadence of Christmas Pudding can be balanced out with a cocktail having warm and spiced undertones, such as a Spiced Rum Old Fashioned.
To create the drink, you will need:
60 ml spiced rum
15 ml simple syrup
2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters
Orange peel for garnish
To prepare the drink:
Combine the simple syrup, spiced run and Angostura bitters in a glass. Add ice to the mixture and stir gently. Garnish the drink with orange peel. Don’t forget to give it a slight twist to release its aromatic oils and flavours.
Smoked Salmon with Pomegranate Rosemary Spritz
For the light, smoky notes of the salmon, it is best to pair it with a drink that has a hint of sweetness and herbal complexity.
To create the drink, you will need:
60 ml vodka
30 ml pomegranate juice
15 ml rosemary-infused simple syrup
Prosecco
Pomegranate seeds and a sprig of rosemary for garnish
To prepare the drink:
Add vodka, pomegranate juice and the rosemary-infused simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Shake the mixture well and pour it into a glass filled with ice. Top off the drink with prosecco, and garnish with pomegranate seeds and a sprig of rosemary.
There you go… Five festive drinks that can be paired with traditional Christmas dishes. It is time to start gathering ingredients for this delectable holiday menu.
