Christmas Cocktails

I have a holiday drinks article in today's Los Altos Town Crier. Below are the cocktail recipes I share in the piece. 

My Bucking Reindeer, a holiday riff on the Moscow Mule, is fresh and cheerily pink. The Tropical Sidesleigh puts a holiday twist on the classic Sidecar cocktail.

Keep these recipes handy – they’d be equally welcome at a New Year’s celebration.

Christine’s Bucking Reindeer

• Ice cubes

• 1/4 cup vodka

• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

• 1/2 cup chilled ginger beer

• 3 tablespoons pomegranate juice

• 1 lime wedge

• Pomegranate seeds

• Sprig of rosemary

Fill tall glass with ice cubes. Add vodka, lime juice, ginger beer and pomegranate juice. Stir thoroughly. Garnish with lime wedge, pomegranate seeds and rosemary and serve immediately.

Christine’s Tropical Sidesleigh

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1 tablespoon crystallized ginger, very finely chopped (can be omitted)

• 1 cup cognac or good brandy

• 1/2 cup Cointreau

• 1/4 cup pineapple juice (plus scant more for frosting glasses)

Pour small amount of pineapple juice into shallow plate. Place sugar and finely chopped crystallized ginger in another shallow plate. Dip rims of four martini glasses into juice and then sugar mixture. Allow glasses to dry for 10 minutes – this can be done earlier in the day.

Combine cognac, Cointreau and remaining pineapple juice in pitcher and mix well. Add half of mixture to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and then pour into two glasses. Repeat process to fill remaining glasses.