Wassail – Photo by Design Sponge

Holiday season is upon us. That means friendly gatherings, parties, and spending quality time with the ones you love! What better way to unwind than mixing up a festive cocktail and catching up with friends and family by the fire while the snow falls (and it is falling!). Hot or cold, bourbon or vodka, cider or eggnog we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite holiday libations.

Holiday Peppermint Mocha (makes about 8 cups)

Level: Intermediate

Ingredients:

• 4 cups 2% milk
• 8 packets instant hot cocoa mix
• 1-1/2 cups brewed espresso or double-strength dark roast coffee
• 3/4 cup peppermint schnapps liqueur or 1 teaspoon peppermint extract plus 3/4 cup additional brewed espresso
• Whipped cream and candy cane for garnish, optional

Preparation: In a large saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until bubbles form around sides of pan. Add cocoa mix; whisk until blended. Add espresso and heat through. Remove from heat; stir in liqueur. If desired, serve with whipped cream.

Winter Forest Mule (1 serving, double as needed)

Level: Easy

Ingredients

• 5 oz Gin or Breckenridge Vodka
• Splash of cranberry juice
• Dash of simple syrup
• 1 Ginger Beer (we prefer Cock n’ Bull)
• Garnishes: 1 rosemary sprig, orange slice, and sugared cranberries

Preparation: Mix gin or vodka, cranberry juice, simple syrup and ginger beer in a copper mug over ice. Garnish with your rosemary sprig, orange slice and a few sugared cranberries on a toothpick. Voila! Holiday forest in a copper mug. Employee submission by Jenna Fickenscher.

Maple Breckenridge Bourbon Eggnog (makes about 8 cups)

Level: Hard

Ingredients

• 8 eggs, separated
• 2/3 cup maple syrups
• 3 cups whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups Breckenridge Bourbon
• 16 strips crisply cooked bacon

Preparation: Place egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk on low speed until frothy (about 30 seconds). Increase speed to medium-high and carefully beat until egg whites are about the consistency of shaving cream (about 90 seconds). Reduce speed to medium. With mixer running, add half of maple syrup and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Transfer whites to a large bowl. Do not wash bowl. Add egg yolks and remaining syrup to now-empty stand mixer bowl and beat at medium-high speed until pale yellow and ribbony, shutting off machine and scraping down sides with a rubber spatula as necessary, about 2 minutes total. Add milk, cream, and Breckenridge Bourbon and mix on low speed to combine. Using a rubber spatula or handheld whisk, fold the whipped whites into the egg yolk/milk mixture until completely incorporated. Serve by ladling into goblets and garnishing with a bacon strip.

Special Equipment: stand mixer, hand blender with whisk attachment, or handheld electric mixer

Wassail (makes about 6 cups)

Level: Easy

Ingredients:

• 6 cups apple cider
• 1 cups orange juice
• 1 cup lemon juice
• ½ cup sugar
• 4 cinnamon sticks (or 2 teaspoons cinnamon)
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 orange, sliced
• Bourbon or whiskey (optional, but highly recommended)

Preparation: In a large dutch oven or crock pot, bring all of the ingredients to a low boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for a couple of hours. Serve hot; spike with bourbon/whiskey if desires. Garnish with whole cinnamon sticks.

Hot Buttered Rum (makes about 4 servings)

Level: Easy

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• ¼ cup honey
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• Pinch salt
• ¾ cup spiced rum
• 2 cups boiling water
• 4 sticks cinnamon (for garnish)

Preparation: Using an electric mixer, beat the brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl until blended and smooth. Transfer the mixture to a 4-cup or larger measuring cup. Add the rum and then 2 cups of boiling water. Stir until the butter mixture dissolves. Divide the buttered rum among 4 mugs. Garnish with the cinnamon sticks and serve.

Cosmo Blanco (1 serving, double as needed)

Level: Easy

Ingredients

• 1 shot vodka
• 1 shot triple sec
• 1 ½ shot white cranberry juice
• ½ shot freshly squeeze lime juice

Preparation: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with fresh cranberries or orange zest twist. Employee submission by Kimberly Tramontana.

So there you have it. Are any of these cocktails on your favorite holiday list? If not, we’d love to hear from you! What’s your favorite festive drink over the holidays? Share a photo of your specialty cocktail with us on Instagram using #BestOfBreck!

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Best of Breckenridge! Wishing you a safe and Happy New Year!