Making the Season More Merry: Best Holiday Drinks

Between decking the halls and stuffing the stockings, you may feel in the spirit to serve up a little liquid holiday cheer at home, for your guests--and you). Patch spoke with three local bars which shared some of their favorite seasonal drinks (recipes at bottom).

Looney's Pub offers four holiday-themed martinis that customers look forward to each season, from bartender Christine Neagher: the Caramel Appletini, the Berry Russian, the Oatmeal Cookie and the Gingerbread Cookie. Hostess Katie Lagna says they're all popular, but "the favorite is probably the Caramel Appletini." Neagher shared the recipes for all (below).

Cornerstone Grill bartender Madeline Livingston says their bar don't have "favorite" holiday cocktails, but customers seem to prefer their offering of seasonal beers. Among the popular brews are "Snow Day," by New Belgium Beers ("a very dark winter beer," says Livingston); "Cheer" by Shiner Beers, which she says has a mix of several "fruity flavors, including apricots."; and Sam Adams "Winter Lager," which Livingston says is "difficult" to describe. "It has sort of a pine-smell, but tastes really good."

Her personal favorite holiday drink, Livingston says, is an old-fashioned "burbon and eggnog."

At R.J. Bentley's, "shooters" are the favorite holiday concoctions, says Mike Areizaga, one of the restaurant's owners, "but we offer the drinks year-round." 

Areizaga offered the recipe for three shooters: the "Caramel Apple," "Candy Cane" and the "Girl Scout Cookie," which he adds is the most popular (really!).

Recipes:

Looney's Pub Martinis:

• Caramel Appletini

1 part Bailey's Irish Cream
1 part Smirnoff's Apple Vodka
Goldschlager*

Shake all ingredients and pour into glass. Drizzle with melted caramel.

• Berry Russian

1 part Godiva Chocolate Vodka
1 part Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka

Shake with milk, on the rocks.

• Oatmeal Cookie

1 part Bailey's Irish Cream
1 part Butterscotch schnapps
Goldschlager*

• Gingerbread Cookie

1 part Bailey's Irish Cream
1 part Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka
1 part Butterscotch schnapps
Goldschlager*

*Goldschlager is a cinnamon liqueur flecked with gold. Other cinnamon-flavor liqueurs may be substituted.

R.J. Bentley's Shooters:

• Caramel Apple

1 part Sour Apple schnapps
1 part Butterscotch schnapps
1 part soda water

Shake, strain and pour into glasses.

• 'Girl Scout Cookie'

1 part Creme de Menthe
1 part Cream de Cacao
1 part milk or cream

Shake, strain and pour into glasses

• Candy Cane

1 part Peppermint schnapps
1 part Creme de Menthe

Shake, strain and pour into glasses.

Enjoy (at home)!