BOOZY PUMPKIN WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE

Hot chocolate made with pumpkin, white chocolate, and alcohol. Yes, please! What better time of the year, too? Instead of whining about the weather, head to your kitchen right now and prepare this delicious winter beverage! The quickest and easiest way to beat the winter chill is to rip open a packet of hot chocolate and pour it into a cup of hot water, and add a special ingredient, booze!

In a pan, stir together white chocolate chunks and half a cup of milk over low to medium heat until the white chocolate is melted. Whisk in the remaining milk, pumpkin pie spice, and pumpkin puree.  As it will burn easily, stirring frequently is essential. Fill two to four mugs with a small amount of white hot chocolate each. Add to each glass one ounce of Kahlua, which should be mixed in with the chocolate Pour in the rest of the hot chocolate equally between the glasses. As if the pumpkin white hot chocolate wasn’t already delicious, you get to add a towering dome of whipped cream, a dollop of caramel sauce, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice to make it even more seductive.

PEPPERMINT WHITE RUSSIAN COCKTAIL

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO MARTINI

Why not attempt to make a chocolate espresso martini for something truly delectable? Nothing beats the flavor combination of chocolate and coffee, and adding vodka, chocolate liqueur, and Kahlua to a base of booze doesn’t hurt either.

Place chocolate syrup on a plate, then turn a chilled glass upside down and dip the rim of the glass in the chocolate to coat it. In a measuring cup, heat 1 ounce of water for 1 to 2 minutes in the microwave. Stir in 1 tablespoon of instant espresso before setting the mixture aside. Combine 1 and ½ ounces of vanilla vodka, 1 ounce of Kahlua, and 1 ounce of creme de cocoa in a shaker with no ice. Shake for 10 seconds then add 1 ounce of instant or fresh espresso and a cup of ice. Serve straight up in your chilled coupe after shaking for 10 seconds. Add espresso or coffee beans as a garnish.

GINGERSNAP MARTINI COCKTAIL

This ginger snap martini is a particularly unique holiday beverage that combines all the tastes and spices that are associated with the chilly winter months. Additionally, it does a fantastic job of re-creating a popular Christmas delicacy in liquid form.

Place 2 slices of ginger, ½ an ounce of molasses, ½ an ounce of simple syrup, and a pinch of ground allspice, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Blend well. Fill the shaker with ice before adding 2 ounces of pear vodka and 1 ounce of amaretto. Shake ferociously until the shaker’s exterior is frosted. Into a chilled cocktail glass, strain. Add a final ginger slice as a garnish.

NOEL NOEL SPRITZER

 Need a beverage that will allow you to host the perfect Christmas party without having to spend all day at the wet bar mixing up cocktails? The James & Everett-inspired noel spritzer is a fuss-free, celebratory, and enjoyable beverage that serves a crowd with ease.