Emergency help needed!

[raine]

Hi all, I know this is a bit of a long shot but the grapevine has always come up trumps in the past so... Has anyone got any ideas for home made drink ideas that I can do in time for Christmas! Normally instant in October and make limoncello, 44 and spiced rum- all from grapevine recipes but this year I've not been able to and I've just been told how Christmas won't be Christmas without them- eek!

[bearded bloke]

I would think your best bet would be to make a big batch of mulled wine & add some rum/brandy to it.

[Lisasbolt]

Eggnog can be made quite quickly but i have never tried it.

You could resort to cocktails, different fruity mojito´s

Good luck

[Jungle Jane]

Snowballs are christmassy - advocaat & lemonade (& a tiny bit of vodka). I always make Malibu & baileys mixed together with a little block of ice,it's a christmas treat.

[raine]

Thank you!

[jonny the plant pot]

The 12 cocktails of Christmas - Mix That Drink

[vixylix]

There's a recipe on BBC Good Food (I think) for gingerbread syrup - looks really easy to make and a nice festive twist to your drinks!

[Zelenina]

Oh, that kind of emergency. When I saw your title I was thinking of fires and floods and horrible accidents.

When I lived in Ireland the favourite Christmas drink was hot whiskey, which doesn't need any kind of advance preparation. Just put some whiskey in a glass, fill it up with hot water, then add a slice of lemon and a few cloves. If you stud the cloves into the lemon it avoids the possibility of swallowing them. Most people prefer it sweetened with a spoonful or two of sugar, but you can let them do that themselves.

In Slovak Christmas markets you can get hot wine, hot Christmas punch, hot mead and hot apple juice. They are usually heated up in a large container with a tap at the bottom, but at home a saucepan would do. There are special spice mixtures available for making them, or you can mix your own. Maybe you can get something similar in England too. I guess hot brandy or hot rum made in the same way would be fine as well.

If I was in your situation, with guests coming who expected Christmas drinks, I'd probably improvise a Christmas punch on the spot by throwing some fruit juice into a large bowl or pan, depending on whether I wanted it hot or cold, then adding whatever alcoholic drink I had around - could be wine, cider, or spirits, but probably not beer. You might need to add water if it's too strong or there's not enough of it. Throw in some chunks or slices of fruit and maybe some spices. Add some sugar or honey if it isn't sweet enough. Mix it all up and let the flavours mingle. Heat it before use if you want it hot. Of course you have to taste it several times while making, and adjust the amounts of everything until it's just right.

N.B. If you're using non-organic citrus fruits, they are usually chemically treated so you should peel them before use.

[raine]

Thank you, I like the sound of them all!