Flavor of the Month: Holly jolly cocktails

Whether entertaining or unwinding at home this holiday season, deck the bar with this selection of themed cocktail recipes created by Jason Daly, bar manager at The Refuge.

His “Christmaspolitan” is made as follows.

Christmaspolitan

• 2oz Bottoms Up vodka
• 1oz spiced cranberry juice
• .5oz St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram
• .5oz lime juice
• Absinthe rinse in the glass

Present in a coupe-style glass garnished with a fresh rosemary sprig garnish.

Daly also created the ‘Egg? Nah!’ as a play on the classic. “For the nog itself, we have a secret recipe, which we jazz up with additional ingredients,” he said.

For the eggnog, Country Living Magazine recommends this recipe.

Egg? Nah!

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 cinnamon sticks, broken
• ¼ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for serving
• 4 cups whole milk, divided
• 8 large eggs, separated
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• Pinch of kosher salt
• ¾-1 cup dark rum, bourbon or cognac

Combine heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and 2 cups of milk in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat until tiny bubbles begin to appear around the edge of the pot, without letting it boil, for two to three minutes. Remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat egg yolks with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Gradually beat in sugar and salt. Increase speed to high and beat until thick and very pale in color, 2 to 3 minutes.

Strain spiced cream mixture, discarding solids; return liquid to pot. Slowly beat 1 cup warm cream mixture into yolk mixture on low speed. Return to the pot with cream mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until mixture coats the back of the spatula, nine to 10 minutes.

Place the pot over a large bowl filled with ice water and let cool, stirring occasionally, until chilled, 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 cups of milk.

Just before serving, beat egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form, one to two minutes; fold into eggnog. Serve topped with grated nutmeg.

Then add the following “Egg? Nah!” ingredients.

• 6 oz homemade eggnog
• 1.5oz Grand Marnier
• .5oz Disaronno
• Caramel syrup
• Grated nutmeg

Peppermint Snow Plowed

• z Vanilla infused Tequila
• 1oz Peppermint schnapps
• 1oz Godiva liquor
• 1oz Frangelico

By Sarah Rose