Spice Up Your Holiday Cocktails

One way to enjoy the holidays is to enhance your favourite cocktails with seasonal ingredients. A shot of peppermint schnapps, for example, adds holiday flare to a mug of hot chocolate. The inclusion of winter berries also gives a nod to the season. The Sea Breeze, for example, is typically thought of as a summer concoction of vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice served over ice with a lime wedge for garnish. Almyra’s Winter Sea Breeze substitutes tonic water for cranberry juice, yet it includes fresh cranberries as well as pomegranate seeds and mint: the result is a slightly more astringent taste suitable to cooler climes. The classic Martini cocktail is a mixture of gin with vermouth garnished with olives or a lemon twist. Mixologists have developed endless variations on the drink in recent years—so why not try one specifically invented for the holidays? Almyra offers the Santa Hat Martini. It evokes holiday biscuits with a base of Absolut Vanilla Vodka (which gives hints of butterscotch and dark chocolate in addition to its distinctive vanilla flavouring); Malibu Rum adds a warm, buttery taste with tropical coconut overtones. Santa’s hat receives its red colouring from cranberry juice, while its fringe is suggested by a garnish of grated coconut on the rim. Try it and you’ll be tipping your hat to the bartender! Are you looking for more inspiration? Stop by the bar in Almyra’s Lobby and sample these and other offerings from our Festive Cocktail Menu.