At this point in the semester, the average party just won’t cut it. The CEOs and corporate hoes theme? Bland. ‘Free Weezy’ parties? C’mon man, get with the times. It’s the holiday season, and you need to step your game up for it. With more than two feet of snow on the ground and temperatures well below freezing, it’s going to take more than a keg or two to get your friends outside and into your attic (which, by the way, probably needs a space heater).

 

For your end-of-the-semester celebrations, pass the less-than-festive cases of beer and contrived Jell-O shots. There are plenty of ways you can class up your holiday party without the use of ugly sweaters (although those are still highly recommended). Try these holiday-themed drinks at your next gathering of like-minded individuals (and their 99 friends), and your party may be the greatest gift they’ll receive this year.

 

The Christmas shot

Though it isn’t very high in alcohol, the Christmas-themed shot is the most perfect drink to shoot back. The best part is that if you spill some on your Christmas sweater, it will blend in perfectly.

1 ounce crème de menthe

1 ounce grenadine

Whipped cream

Pour the grenadine into a 2-ounce shot glass. Take a spoon and pour the crème de menthe over the spoon slowly, so the grenadine and liqueur remain separated. If you’re in the zone, you can take the shot and spray the whipped cream into your mouth. Or just top the shot with whipped cream for a classier version.

Gingerbread

This creamy drink is easy to chug down, but it will leave you feeling a little more like Santa Claus (aka it’s not water, like the Keystone you’re normally drinking). The coolest aspect of this drink is that it can be just as much dressed up as you are. Even your drinks need the holiday spirit.

1 ounce butterscotch schnapps

1 ounce Irish cream (no need to buy Bailey’s — all of them taste the same)

1 ounce Goldschlager cinnamon schnapps

Pour each liquid into a small martini shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour it (ice included) into a rocks glass. Wet the rim with Irish cream and dip it in brown sugar. Garnish the drink with a sugar cookie rested on the lip of the glass, like you would an orange. Serve.

Candy apple martini

Sweets are a staple of the holidays. And just because apple-picking season passed a few months ago doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a taste of the fall. This isn’t your typical apple martini, however — even with the sour apple schnapps, it has a sweet taste. This might have the most sugary taste of all the drinks, but if you enjoy the taste more than you do the burn, this is the perfect drink.

1/2 ounce butterscotch schnapps

2 ounces vodka

2 ounces sour apple schnapps

2 ounces cranberry juice

Pour everything into a martini shaker filled with ice, then shake. Strain the mix into a chilled martini glass (you might want to go with a plastic one to be safe, if you’re going to have a few). Serve.

Fuzzy melon

Consider this Christmas in July. The drink won’t warm you up, nor does it feel festive, but who can resist a bright green drink? The fuzzy melon will certainly catch someone’s eye. But be careful, its sweetness hides the fact that it can catch up with you… quickly.

1 ounce Midori

1 ounce peach schnapps

2 ounces vodka

Splash orange juice

Mix the Midori, peach schnapps and vodka in a martini shaker and pour over ice. Put a splash of orange juice over the top. Serve.

FOR THE WHOLE PARTY

If you know what goes into jungle juice, chances are you won’t want to drink it (or maybe you would). Luckily, Andre champagne is cheap, delicious and comes in a variety of colors (well, we could call them flavors, but after a while, it all tastes the same). So try a champagne punch for your next gathering. This one is easy and relatively high in alcohol content, which is what your guests are probably looking for anyway.

Bottles of Andre

Cranberry-flavored vodka

Dried cranberries

Combine the Andre and vodka in a large punch bowl. Use about five to six shots for each bottle of Andre (each bottle has four servings). Ladle out the punch into champagne flutes, and drop in two or three cranberries. The bubbles from the champagne will cause the cranberries to float up and down as you drink. It’s as fun to watch as it is to consume.

knmciner@syr.edu

Published on December 8, 2010 at 12:00 pm