With winter officially in full swing, now’s the time of year when holiday parties begin to pop up for friends and family to enjoy the season together. Of course, we all know that delicious food and the holidays go hand in hand, but specialty cocktails are another great way to embrace the festive spirit. Are you looking for new recipes to spice up your holiday parties? Here are 3 of our favorite mixed drinks featuring honey sticks to serve your loved ones this jolly winter season and celebrate this wonderful time of year.
1. Whiskey Apple Cider
Made with aromatic cinnamon, juicy apples, honey, and your favorite smooth whiskey, this cozy warm drink tastes just like Thanksgiving in a cup.
Ingredients
- 6 Cups of apple cider
- 2 Cups of whiskey
- 3 Tablespoons cinnamon flavored honey sticks
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 2 Lemons
- 2 Apples
Instructions
Begin by juicing the lemons and slicing the apples. Once all your ingredients are prepped, add everything into a slow cooker. Set your slow cooker to the lowest setting and allow the ingredients to simmer for about two to three hours. If needed, adjust the sweetness by adding more honey. Finally, garnish with apple slices and your drink is ready to be served warm!
2. Winter Sangria
This festive take on the well-beloved and classic sangria is sure to have you feeling the holiday cheer. Serve chilled or over ice to enjoy this refreshing drink.
Ingredients
- 1 Bottle of dry red wine
- 1 Cup of cranberries
- ¾ Cup of ginger ale
- ½ Cup of brandy
- ¼ Cup of orange liqueur
- 2 Tablespoons of honey from honey sticks
- 2 Sticks of cinnamon
- 1 Orange
- 1 Pear
- 1 Lime
Instructions
Prepare your ingredients by evenly slicing the orange, pear, and lime. Next, grab a large pitcher and add in the wine, cranberries, brandy, orange liqueur, honey, and cinnamon sticks as well as the orange, pear, and lime slices. Stir everything in the pitcher to combine everything evenly. Next, cover and place the sangria in the refrigerator to allow the flavors of the fruit to infuse into the drink. Ideally, the sangria should sit for about 1 to 2 hours before serving, however, if you can spare the time, allow the sangria to chill overnight for a better flavor experience. When you’re ready to serve your drink, top off your pitcher with ginger ale and ice. If desired, rim your serving glasses with cinnamon sugar and garnish with orange and lime slices for an even more festive experience.
3. Spiced Buttered Rum
It doesn’t get any more Christmas than a steaming cup of buttered rum! Whip up this cocktail to warm up your guests on a chilly December evening.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups of spiced rum
- 2 Cups of water
- ⅔ Packed cup of dark brown sugar
- ¼ Cup of honey or honey sticks for tea
- ½ Teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ¼ Teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- ⅛ Teaspoon of ground clove
- 1 Stick of unsalted butter
- 1 Pinch of salt
Instructions
Gather the water, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, butter, and salt and place them in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once everything is melted, reduce to low heat and allow it all to simmer for about 10 minutes. Make sure you’re whisking occasionally. When your mixture is heated, remove from heat and pour in your rum. Mix together to combine the rum with the spiced butter and pour into glasses to serve. Optionally, you could also substitute the water for equal parts of apple cider for a sweeter taste.