Holiday Cocktail Recipes

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Kick off your Christmas gathering with one of these fun festive holiday cocktails!

BEER NOG- A beer lover's Egg Nog you can make in a cinch!
  •  4 large eggs, separated 
  •  1/2 c. sugar
  •  1 1/2 c. milk 
  •  1 c. heavy whipping cream
  •  nutmeg, vanilla
  •  Brown Ale
  •  Bourbon or Dark Rum (optional)

Preparation:
Separate the eggs. Beat the sugar into the yolks, milk and cream until smooth. Season with a dash  of nutmeg and dash of vanilla. Beat the egg whites, fold into eggnog.
Fill a 6-8 oz glass 1/4 full with beer (optional: add 1/2 oz rum, be careful not to go overboard too much rum can overwhelm the beer's flavor). Fill glass with eggnog.

ROSY CHEEKS SHOTS
  •  1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
  •  1/4 c. Chambord
  •  3 Tbs Raspberry Vodka
  •  2 Tbs. Vanilla Vodka
  •  1/2 c. ice cubes
  •  8 fresh raspberries

Preparation:
In a blender, combing whipping cream, liquors, and ice cubes. Cover and blend thoroughly. Pour mixture into eight 1.5 - 2 ounce shot glasses, garnish with raspberries and serve immediately.

THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE - for a dessert drink, with three ounces of straight alcohol
  •  1 ounce peppermint schnapps
  •  1 ounce Kahlua
  •  1 ounce Bailey's

Preparation:
Combine the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake thoroughly then strain the ingredients into a chilled martini class

RED HOT SANTA-TINI - to spice things up
  •  Cocoa powder
  •  Cayenne pepper 
  •  Thai chili pepper 
  •  Whipped cream
  •  Chocolate liquor
  •  Vodka (to add a bit more heat, choose chili-infused vodka)

Preparation:
Rim a martini class with a cocoa powder and pinch of cayenne pepper mixture. Shake together 2 oz vodka and 2 oz chocolate liquor and pour into glass, top with whipped cream and garnish with a small Thai chili pepper.

THE GRINCH - for those who aren't a fan of the typical Christmas-y drinks
  •  2 ounces Midori
  •  1/2 ounce lemon juice
  •  1 teaspoon simple syrup

Preparation:
Combine the ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Wine Pairings for Christmas Dinner

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Christmas dinner presents a time to try some new wines with your favorite recipes. If you're looking for a new wine to compliment this year's holiday meal, see below for some pairing suggestions:

Wines to serve with Ham: baked, smoked, or honeyed hams beg for wines with a dash of sweet
Red: Beajolais Nouveau, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Tempranillo
White: Riesling and Gewurztraminer
 
Wines to serve with Turkey: Turkey on its own presents a pretty straight forward pairing partner, its the side dishes one must take into account.
Red: Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah/Shiraz, Beajolais Nouveau
White: Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer
 
Wines to serve with Prime Rib: Red meats and red wines go hand in hand to bring out bold or subtle flavors
Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Shiraz, Tempranillo
 
Wine to serve with Fish: Opposite from the above, white wines are favored for fish pairings.
White: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Red: Pinot Noir can pair nicely with salmon 

Looking for something more specific? Wine Enthusiast Magazine put together a great 'Twelve Wines of Christmas' list featuring their favorit gift worthy bottles. So whether you are hosting dinner or heading to a loved ones, check out some of these suggestions of bottles to bring:

Excerpt from Wine Enthusiast Magazine:

Bottle: Alain Voge 2009 Vieilles Vignes (Cornas), $70
“When I think of wines I like to drink, share and gift during the holidays, I immediately go to wines that pull at my sensory heartstrings,” says Shelley Lindgren, co-owner and beverage director at A16, SPQR, and A16 Rockridge in San Francisco and Oakland. “Cornas has long been one of these special wines.”

Bottle: Robert Sinskey Vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir (Carneros), $38
“This Pinot Noir is incredibly versatile, and as Christmas parties can be a smorgasbord of dishes and flavors, a wine like this is necessary,” says Cappie Peete, beverage director at McCraddy’s Restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina. “Robert Sinskey believes in producing elegant wines with bright acidity so that they can age beautifully. This gives the recipient the freedom to decide whether to share the wine during the holidays or tuck it away for another special occasion."

Bottle: Grosjean 2005 Fumin (Vallée d’Aoste), $40
“Instead of defaulting to a cult Cabernet or—even though we love Champagne—a predictable bubble this holiday season, explore the wines of Vallée d'Aoste,” says Charlie Berg, assistant sommelier at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York. “There is something about [the region’s] snow-covered Alpine slopes and the spicy varietals that evoke a wonderful sense of the yuletide.”  ...continue reading here!

 Share your favorite bottle with us on our Facebook page ~ Happy Holidays!

Rappelling Santa, Fireworks, and a Tree Lighting - This Weekend!

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Santa and his elves are kicking off Christmas early - this coming Sunday to be exact.  It's time for the annual Heights and Lights celebration in Stamford Downtown!

Starting at 5pm, from 22 stories high above Stamford Downtown, watch and cheer for Santa Claus and guest rappellers Brian Cashman and Bobby Valentine, as they make a daredevil descent, twisting and flying from the top of one of Stamford’s tallest buildings, Landmark Square.

Then follow Santa up Bedford Street to Latham Park for an evening of holiday fun with live music with the Swingset Mamas and join in the countdown of the annual lighting of Stamford’s Holiday Tree.

For more information, visit Hey Stamford.