Let's get festive!

We put together a list of our favorite cocktails that we think you should incorporate into your dinner plans this holiday season. All of the recipes are very easy (i.e. shake with ice and drink), very delicious and very festive. We think they're great drunken alone or with a big crowd.

PAIRE's Favorite Holiday Cocktails

 

Classic Daquiri | Fun & Elegant

2 oz. lightly aged rum
¾ oz. lime juice
¾ oz. simple syrup
Shake with ice. Double strain into chilled cocktail glass.

This is not your conventional ice-blended daquiri. A classic daquiri is the perfect balance of boozy spice from the rum and bright zing from citrus. It’s super smooth and kicks up the ambience for any occasion.

 

Vesper | Classic & Sexy

3 oz. London dry gin
1 oz. vodka
½ oz. Lillet Blanc
Lemon twist

Shake with ice. Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with a long thin lemon twist.

James Bond’s famous phrase, “Shaken, not stirred” specifically applies to this drink, introduced by Ian Fleming (shaking a classic martini would not be advised). We love this drink because it’s similar to a dry martini, but more interesting.

 

Brandy Alexander | Sweet & Sophisticated

1 oz. brandy
1 oz. crème de cacao
1 ½ oz. light cream or half and half

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with grated nutmeg.

This drink is the most grown up iteration of a chocolate shake you can imagine. Not overly sweet and very well rounded, it’s a perfect dessert drink at the end of a dinner party.

 

Paper Plane | Perfectly Drinkable

¾ oz. bourbon
¾ oz. Aperol
¾ oz. Amaro Nonino
¾ oz. lemon juice

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Introduced to the world in 2007, this is a boozy cocktail that packs a punch but goes down like punch. We love it because the color is beautiful and can be premixed in large quantities for a party.

 

Aperol Spritz | Festive & Light

3 oz. sparkling wine
1 oz. Aperol
1 oz. seltzer

Combine ingredients in a wine glass with ice. Stir and drink!

We love this drink because it’s really easy to make and reminiscent of a summer spent in Italian coasts.

 

Image Credits: The Moody Mixologist