Crowd Pleasing Cocktails for your Next Party

Testing out these cocktail recipes takes me back to my bar tending days in college. I’ve got three different drinks that I’m going to list in order of easiest (& least time to prepare) to most complex. They are each different but equally delicious and sure to be a hit at your next get together!

Pomegranate Cider Mimosa
This drink is so simple to make y’all! (Only 3 ingredients, well okay 4 if you count the salted caramel on the rim)

Ingredients:

•Salted caramel

• 1 bottle chilled Champagne

• 1/3 cup pomegranate juice

•1/3 cup apple cider

Instructions:

Rim the champagne flutes with the salted caramel sauce. (I just dipped the flute directly into the container to coat the rim)

Add the pomegranate juice & apple cider, then fill with Champagne and serve!

Told y’all that was easy! 😉

Apple Butter Old Fashioned:

This drink takes a few more steps than the first, but it’s oh so worth it! I actually tested out this recipe during Thanksgiving with my family in Oklahoma and it was a huge hit! Now to be fair, most of them are bourbon drinkers, but even those who don’t usually care for that type of liquor also really enjoyed this cocktail (myself included). The sweetness from the sugared rim and apple butter inside the cocktail really help to balance out the intense flavor of the bourbon.

Ingredients:

•Coarse sugar for the rim

•1/4 cup apple cider

•juice from 1/2 a lemon

•2-3 dashes of orange bitters

•1 teaspoon apple butter

•2 ounces Bourbon (I used Woodford Reserve)

•Ginger beer

•Apples, thinly sliced & cinnamon sticks (both for garnish)

Instructions:

Rim the glass with coarse sugar (I ran the lemon slice around the rim first to ensure the sugar sticks well).

In a cocktail shaker, filled with ice, combine apple cider, lemon juice, apple butter, bourbon & bitters and shake well!
Strain into rocks glass, then top with ginger beer! Add a few apple slices & 1 cinnamon stick and bottoms up!

Cranberry Rosé Sprtizer:

I’ll warn you now, this cocktail recipe is time consuming, but its great for a larger crowd since it makes a pitcher.

Ingredients:

•1/2 cup honey

•2 cups fresh cranberries

•2 sprigs fresh rosemary plus more for serving

•1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

•1 bottle Rosé wine

•4 ounces elderflower liqueur

•1/3 cup pomegranate juice

•4-5 dashes orange bitters

•2 oranges, sliced

•4 ginger beers

Instructions:

In a medium pot bring 1/2 cup water, honey, cranberries, rosemary & cardamom to a boil over high heat. Boil approximately 5 minutes until the cranberries start to burst, then remove from heat and let cool. Remove the rosemary sprigs and strain out the cranberries to leave you with a gorgeous cranberry syrup.

Combine the cranberry syrup, Rosé, elderflower liqueur, pomegranate juice & orange bitters in a large pitcher. Chill for at least 1 hour.

Before serving add orange slices & ginger beer. Garnish each glass with candied Rosemary. (This step is optional, but totally worth it for a gorgeous cocktail that will WOW your guests!

Candied Rosemary Instructions:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Gently run the rosemary sprigs under water to dampen then place on the baking sheet. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the rosemary sprigs so that each side is thoroughly coated. Let the sprigs dry for at least 1 hour. (This can be done the day before and stored at room temperature)

I hope that you all enjoy these recipes as much as I have. I would love to know if you give any (or all 3) of them a try! Also, be sure you tag me in any photos you post on Facebook or Instagram.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!