Very Merry Ornamentini
We’ve made it halfway through the 12 Days of Christmas! That deserves a cocktail.
Welcome to Day 6 of the 12 Days of Christmas here on IBC. I’m so happy to have you with me for this merry series. In celebration of reaching the midway point, I thought a cocktail was in order. Today we are making a Very Merry Ornamentini. Plus, there’s a spectacular giveaway thanks to our friends over at Grandin Road. (If you’ve been dreaming of adding a bar cart to your home, then this is the giveaway for you!)
Let’s start things off with the cocktail.
As you can imagine, it’s a lot of fun to brainstorm ideas for this series, but it can be a bit stressful, too. (You can read more about my creative thinking process here.) When planning 12 Days, I knew I wanted to include a cocktail. With the success of my Jingle Juice Holiday Punch last year, I had some big glasses to fill. Literally. My initial thought was to make a Hot Cocoa Martini, but a quick web search revealed that it had been done many times over.
Then, as I was putting together my clear glass ornament gift ideas a few days ago, it hit me. Why not make a holiday martini, but serve it in a glass ornament!? I loved the idea, but wondered if had been done before. After a quick Google and Pinterest search, I was thrilled to see it hadn’t been tackled. #winning
Following some experimentation and decision making, the perfect seasonal martini recipe was born. Thus, I present to you the Very Merry Ornamentini!
Tell me that this isn’t one of the most festive and fun martinis ever. I’m certain Buddy the Elf would approve.
First, let’s talk about the actual cocktail. I opted to create a variation on a classic cosmopolitan. With vodka as the base, I added cranberry juice, cherry juice, orange liqueur, and a splash of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Adding cherry juice and substituting orange juice for lime juice is what makes this drink different and seasonal. The cherry juice gives it a beautiful deep red color and the orange juice suits this time of year. The resulting flavor combination is deliciously classic with a twist.
Garnished with a few of those sugared cranberries I taught you how to make here, plus a sprig of fresh rosemary, this martini is Christmas in a glass.
Now, you’re probably wondering how to serve this.
You could pop a straw in the ornament or drink directly from it. However, I don’t love either of those ideas. That’s not how to enjoy a martini.
My suggestion is to serve the cocktail in the ornament and invite each guest to pour the cocktail over the cranberries into a glass. Or if you’re hosting a dinner party, you can present it and pour it for your guests.
Sidenote: As you can imagine, ornaments weren’t designed for pouring liquids. What I’ve learned is to only fill them about 90% full and to pour slowly into the martini glass. This will help prevent spills.
These martinis do take a little longer to prepare, but they can be made in advance. Mix up the cocktails several hours before your party (or the morning of) and portion them into the ornaments. Pop them in the refrigerator and pull them out when it’s serving time. That way there’s no fuss during the actual gathering.
Christmas cocktail perfected. What do you think?
I’d recommend these for a party of up to 10 people. If you’re serving a crowd, definitely check out my Jingle Juice Holiday Punch.
Makes 4 martinis
Here's what you will need:
1 cup vodka (I prefer Tito's.)
1/2 cup orange liqueur (I prefer Cointreau.)
1/2 cup cherry juice*
1/4 cup cranberry juice*
1/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed with pulp removed
Sugared cranberries (recipe HERE) and fresh rosemary sprigs to garnish
*Use 100% juice. I found mine in the juice aisle at Walmart. It should be readily available.
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously.
Using a funnel, pour the mixture into four 3-inch clear glass ornaments that have been rinsed. Replace the topper on each ornament.
Add sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig to four martini glasses. Set the ornament in the glass to serve. Before drinking, slowly pour the contents of the ornament onto the cranberries.
Print
I know I say this a lot, but this might be my new favorite thing. I vow not to drink a cocktail this holiday season unless it’s served in an ornament. Haha!
Throughout this post, I hope you’ve also been admiring my new bar cart. I shared it with you in my Holiday Home Tour, but wanted to give it a little more attention today. (Hint. Hint.)
It’s the Oak Park Bar Cart from Grandin Road. It’s definitely a big upgrade from my previous bar cart which was an old metal stand I picked up for $8 at Goodwill many years ago.
Naturally, I filled it with some seasonal and staple liquors as well as lots of fun accessories, trays, glassware, and holiday touches. I even found room to hang a plaid and sequined stocking that matches my tree skirt.
All-in-all, I’m loving the change and rich look it gives my dining room. My friends at Grandin Road thought it looked pretty fabulous too and have generously offered to allow me to give away an Oak Park Bar Cart (valued at $599) as part of the 12 Days of Christmas! Yay!
Per usual, to enter to win, use the entry form below. (Those viewing this on a blog reader may need to visit the actual post by clicking here.)
This giveaway is open to readers in the United States. You must be 18 or older to win. Void where prohibited. This giveaway will end at 11:50 pm ET on Thursday, December 15. The winner will be randomly selected, contacted by email, and announced at the top of this post.
Best of luck to everyone!
I hope you enjoyed this unique and festive cocktail and are as excited as I am about today’s giveaway. A big thanks to Grandin Road for being so generous.
Join me back here tomorrow for Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas when I’ll be showing you around my holiday kitchen and sharing a delicious sweet treat.
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 2016
The post Very Merry Ornamentini appeared first on Inspired by Charm.
