‘Tis the Season for Holiday Cocktails with a Texas Flair
Discover > Texas Home Cooking > ‘Tis the Season for Holiday Cocktails with a Texas Flair
Texas is known for its bold and unique history, which extends to the drinks Texans enjoy. We often rely on familiar favorites like wine, champagne, and beer during the holidays. However, if you're looking to add a bit of Texas flair to your holiday celebrations, why not consider some of the Lone Star state's interesting specialties?
In celebrating the holiday season, nothing goes better with good conversation and quality time with family and friends than a festive cocktail! Thankfully, Texans are no strangers to flavorful recipes, including several distinctly Southern winter cocktails. These drinks will upgrade any holiday gathering. In addition, their adaptability makes them a holiday staple. Ingredients can be switched out, alcohol content adjusted according to preference, and each recipe offers distinct complexity in flavor. The South has tons of specialty spirits, too, so there's something for every occasion—not just your run-of-the-mill recipes. And don't forget Texas honey (how long does honey last?)—it adds a lovely finish to many of these much-loved holiday drinks.
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Texas Holiday Cocktails
Southern Sours
Southern sours are more than just an average drink. But, as the favored choice of Texas cocktails goes, they stand out from the crowd. You can craft this delightful combination right at home with just a few ingredients - Southern Comfort liqueur, aromatic bitters, sweet vermouth, and ice.
Ingredients:
2 oz Southern Comfort liqueur
2 dashes of aromatic bitters
1.5 oz sweet vermouth
ice cubes
Making your southern sour is easy: All you have to do is fill a cocktail shaker with some ice and add the whiskey, bitters, and vermouth before shaking for 15 seconds. Then, strain your drink into a glass of choice with or without ice, depending on what you prefer. A refreshing southern sour is a perfect way to cool off any summer day!
The Pepper Eater
Texans are familiar with unique and delicious drinks, but some hidden gems have fallen off the radar. One such drink is the Pepper Eater, a cocktail made from tequila, triple sec, pepper vodka, orange juice, and cranberry juice with a spicy twist of one hot red chili pepper. This refreshing combination of flavors can excite any gathering – it will turn your party up a notch! So whether you try this drink or others like it, Texas always has something different and flavorful to offer when it comes to drinks.
Ingredients:
Ice cubes
Broken ice
1 measure tequila
1 measure triple sec or Cointreau
1 teaspoon pepper vodka*
1 measure orange juice
1 measure cranberry juice
1 hot red pepper
The Pepper Eater cocktail is the perfect surprise for parties or the daring tequila drinker. It's simple enough to make, and its unique ingredients will tantalize your taste buds. Half-fill a shaker with ice cubes, and pour in tequila, triple sec or Cointreau, pepper vodka, orange juice, and cranberry juice. Shake well and strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with broken ice. Top it off with a hot red pepper garnish, and take bets on who will eat their garnish! This spicy cocktail will surely bring a bit of boldness, adventure, and color to any gathering!
*Impress your guests by making your pepper vodka! Steep a hot Mexican or Italian pepper in regular vodka for a few weeks.
The Paloma
The Paloma has long been hailed as one of Texas's most beloved cocktails. It is an incredibly fresh, easy-to-make beverage that requires only a handful of ingredients. The classic combination consists of tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice, club soda, Texas honey, ice, and salt - all combined into an icy-cold concoction with a perfect balance between sweet and salty. So whether it be an afternoon holiday party or a Christmas Tex-Mex feast, the Paloma can liven up any gathering!
Ingredients:
2 oz tequila
1/2 oz lime juice
2 oz grapefruit juice
2 oz club soda
1/4 oz Texas honey
ice
salt
Begin by taking a margarita glass and rubbing the rim of it with a grapefruit wedge. Then dip the edge in a plate of salt to get that delicious combination of sour and sweet. Once that's done, pour in some club soda, add grapefruit juice, some Texas honey, and a squeeze of lime juice into the glass. Stir everything together to ensure it's mixed thoroughly, then fill it with ice. With these few steps, you have a refreshing beverage ready for holiday cocktail hour!
Are you looking to sweeten up your favorite cocktail? Unfortunately, sugar isn't the only answer. It often isn't the best answer, especially when you have access to some local Texas honey.
The Texas Hurricane
The Texas Hurricane is notorious for packing a punch that cannot be underestimated. Not only does the mixture of coconut rum, spiced rum, vodka, gin, orange juice, grenadine syrup, orange-flavored liqueur, and 151-proof rum come together to create a desirable concoction, the crushed ice provides a cooling addition that allows you to enjoy every sip without any burning aftertaste. For those who are eager to experience the power of this cocktail firsthand but need help figuring out where to start securing all the ingredients, fear not! With liquor stores all over Texas providing easy access to everything required for crafting this delightful cocktail, your next Texas Hurricane will be just around the corner. Cheers!
Ingredients:
1 oz coconut rum
1 oz spiced rum
1 oz gin
1 oz vodka
2 oz orange juice
1 oz grenadine syrup
1 oz orange-flavored liqueur
1 oz 151-proof rum
1 cup crushed ice
To make a Texas Hurricane, begin using a blender or drink shaker. Add coconut rum, spiced rum, orange-flavored liqueur, vodka, gin, orange juice, grenadine, and pineapple juice before giving it a good shake and mixing the ingredients. Next, fill up your hurricane glass before pouring some 151 rum over the back of your spoon so that it floats on top. Lastly, garnish the drink with cherries, limes, and oranges for extra flavor.
Confetti Punch
For many Texans, New Year's Eve is a time to celebrate the passing of one year and the start of a new one in style. A Confetti Punch is an easy and refreshing way to add nostalgic cheer. Made with white rum, champagne, lemonade, white grape juice, and orange juice and topped off with halved strawberries, this tasty concoction is sure to bring holiday smiles. So whether sipping on this delicious beverage at an afternoon New Year's Brunch or basking in its taste as the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, it may become your new favorite festive quaff!
Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups white rum
2-2/3 pints, or approximately 42 ounces of champagne or dry, sparkling wine
1-3/4 pints or 3-1/2 cups lemonade
1-1/4 pints or 2-1/2 cups white grape juice
18 ounces orange juice
1 punnet strawberries, halved
Nothing beats chilling all your ingredients for a genuinely perfect punch. Start at least two hours ahead; if there's the possibility, enjoy it even more and allow the flavors to blend for a full day. Then everything is as simple as can be - pour all the ingredients into the punch bowl, add the halved strawberries, give everything a gentle stir and serve. Use chilled balloon wine glasses to show off your amazing concoction for an even more excellent touch!
Planning your Christmas eve soirée? Try these other Texan Christmas Tipples That Won't Get You Too Drunk
Summary
The South truly shines during the holiday season, offering unique flavors and ingredients that make any gathering—a Christmas party or New Year's Day—more memorable. Thankfully, Texans are no strangers to these flavorful winter cocktails! Recipes can be tailored to each person and event, with ingredients such as Southern specialty spirits adding distinct complexity to each drink. Whether you're partial to whiskey or prefer something bubbly and cider-based - there's something for everyone! Adjustable alcohol content allows folks of all ages to join in on the fun. Don't pass up the chance to include some authentic local recipes this holiday season - the sweet finish of Texas honey might just become your new favorite way to celebrate!
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