Get your drank on this holiday season

Although you may be daunted by the responsibility of hosting a Christmas party, don’t worry: alcohol can provide the perfect inhibitor to your guests’ potential judgement of your hosting ability. Follow these recipes to create the best holiday potions. Disclaimer: Do not consume more than three on your own before you begin serving to guests.

RUM AND EGGNOG

It’s a drink that cannot be matched in its simplicity, unless you make the eggnog from scratch. Here’s the lazy, I mean, less ambitious way first.

You’ll need:

• 1.5 oz. spiced rum
• ½ cup eggnog
• Grated cinnamon and nutmeg

To do:

1. Mix the eggnog and spiced rum.
2. Garnish with nutmeg and cinnamon.

Now, the superhuman version.

You’ll need:

• 1 large egg, separated
• 2 tsp superfine sugar
• 1 oz. heavy cream
• ½ tsp pure almond extract
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 ½ oz spiced rum
• Grated cinnamon and nutmeg

To do:

1. Separate the egg into bowls.
2. Beat the yolk until it’s stiff.
3. Beat the egg white with 1 tsp of sugar until peaks rise.
4. Carefully combine the white and yolk.
5. Beat the cream, vanilla, almond extract, and 1 tsp sugar in a bowl until stiff.
6. Fold the cream and egg mixture.
7. Garnish with cinnamon and nutmeg.

ORANGE PISCO HOT CHOCOLATE

You’ll need:

• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 3 cups whole milk
• 4 oz. milk chocolate chips
• 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate chips
• 3 oz. Grand Marnier or Cointreau
• 4 oz. pisco or rum
• 4 segments orange zest
• Whipped cream
• A Terry’s Chocolate Orange

To do:

1. Combine the cocoa with sugar and salt.
2. Stir in milk chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, and milk.
3. Cook over medium heat until the chocolate is melted and gently whisk the mixture.
4. Add Grand Marnier and pisco or rum.
5. Divide four ways and dip cup rims into the orange zest.
6. Top with whipped cream, Terry’s Chocolate Orange shavings, and the remaining orange zest.

HOT MINT COCOA TODDY

You’ll need:

• 1 oz. Kahlua
• 1 oz peppermint Schnapps
• Cocoa mix for 6 oz.
• 6 oz. water
• Chocolate shavings

To do:

1. Mix up the hot chocolate powder and water.
2. Add Kahula and Schnapps.
3. Garnish with chocolate shavings.

HOLIDAY MIMOSA

You’ll need:

• 1/4 cup Grand Marnier
• 2 tbsp white sugar
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 bottle brut champagne, chilled

To do:

1. Pour Marnier into a shallow bowl and the white sugar in a saucer.
2. Dip the rims of glasses into the Marnier and then the sugar for a frosty rim.
3. Put the remaining Marnier and orange juice in six glasses.
4. Fill the glasses with champagne.

HOT BUTTERED RUM

You’ll need:

• 1 small slice soft butter
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice
• Vanilla extract
• 2 oz dark rum
• Hot water

To do:

1. Mix butter, vanilla extract, sugar, and spices in a glass.
2. Pour in hot water and rum and stir.

SPARKLING GINGERBREAD OR CRANBERRY

You’ll need:

• 1 bottle Prosecco or sparkling white wine
• 1 bottle gingerbread- or cranberry-flavoured syrup

To do:

1. Pour Prosecco into a glass and add just a cap of syrup to each.