Holiday Treats and Cocktails - MGM Wine & Spirits

Holiday Treats and Cocktails

Sweet Holiday Partners

Leave the milk and cookies for the kids-or by the chimney for that elusive late-night visitor-you can pair wine and cocktails with your sweet treats this holiday season. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the wine or cocktail should be sweeter than the dessert it accompanies to make a tasty match.

In terms of wine, Moscato d’Asti is a go-to choice that pairs well with most everything sweet, including the French classic bûche de noel, cheesecake and fruity desserts. Plus port, Banyuls and PX Sherry pair well with chocolates and chocolate desserts.

When it comes to mixing it up with spirits, have fun with compatible flavors-such as apples and cinnamon (apple cider martini) or bananas and chocolate (chocolate martini with banana dessert). Creamy cheesecake could team well with fruity liqueurs and cocktails, and chocolate treats are a natural with peppermint liqueurs.

Maybe if you leave a glass of port or a tasty martini by those cookies near the chimney that could earn you a big bump up the “nice” list for next year.

SIP ON THIS

The Minty Grasshopper

The cool, minty Grasshopper cocktail reportedly dates back to the 19th-century. It was created at Tujague’s, the second-oldest restaurant in New Orleans, which was opened in 1856 by Guillaume Tujague. Some time before he died in 1912, Guillaume sold the restaurant to Philibert Guichet, who won second prize in a prestigious New York cocktail competition for this drink.

Source: Cocktails, The Bartender’s Bible by Simon Difford

Following are suggestions to help you mix it up with some specific treats you may see atop the dessert table this holiday season. Beyond the ideas here, try experimenting with flavors you enjoy together.

Almond-Flavored Cookies: Oloroso sherry or Madeira
Apple Pie: French Sauternes or Barsac, sweet styles of Riesling (Auslese, Beerenauslese or Trockenbeerenauslese) or an ice wine
Citrus Desserts: Muscat, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, citrus cocktail or perhaps a chocolate orange martini
Chocolate Desserts: Banyuls (from France), tawny port (from Portugal), and PX sherry (from Spain). Chocolate mint martini or a Brandy Alexander. With milk chocolate: Ruby port
Fruity Desserts (banana, cherry, pear): Moscato d’ Asti and desserts made of fruits that pair well with chocolate. Chocolate martini
Gingerbread: Late harvest Gewürztraminer is sweet and fruity with its own spicy notes to complement those of the cookies. Also try Riesling, Zinfandel or a sweet Muscat
Hanukkah Doughnuts: Bubbles can make a match if they are fried; try sweet sparkling wine or Champagne labeled “demi-sec” or “doux.”
Pecan/Pumpkin Pie: Tawny port, pumpkin spice martini, pumpkin seasonal beer
Sugar Cookies: Moscato d’Asti

Holiday Treats and Cocktails

Grasshopper

The classic minty cocktail would be a good complement with chocolate.

1 ounce green crème de menthe

1 ounce crème de cacao (white)

1 ounce heavy cream

1 ounce milk

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake briskly and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Holiday Treats and Cocktails

Godiva Peppermint Stick Martini

No holiday party would be complete without this dark and decadent chocolate martini.

1 ounce Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur

1 ounce crème de menthe

1 ounce cream

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with crushed candy cane.

Courtesy of Godiva Liqueurs

Holiday Treats and Cocktails

Eggnog Martini

Jazz up a holiday classic.

1 part DeKuyper Amaretto Liqueur

1 part Pinnacle Original Vodka

2 parts eggnog

Nutmeg

Add ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into a Martini glass. Sprinkle with Nutmeg.

Courtesy Beam Suntory

Holiday Treats and Cocktails

Maker’s (Non-Egg) Nog

For those who want a taste of the season without the egg.

2 parts Maker’s Mark Bourbon

2 parts simple syrup

2 parts half-and-half

Nutmeg, for garnish

Dark chocolate, for garnish

Shake contents over ice. Strain and pour over ice into a cocktail glass and garnish with nutmeg and dark chocolate.

Courtesy Maker’s Mark

Holiday Treats and Cocktails

Snickerdoodle Cookie Martini

Pair like with like and have a liquid version of this sweet little cinnamon sugar cookie.

½ part DeKuyper Amaretto Liqueur

½ part Pinnacle Cinnabon Vodka

½ part Cruzan Velvet Cinn Rum

Combine ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a snickerdoodle cookie, if desired.

Courtesy of Beam Suntory

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