Introduction

The holiday season is always a time for celebration, family, and cocktails. It’s the perfect time to try new recipes and experiment with different flavors. With the 12 days of cocktails calendar for 2024, you can do just that!

What is the 12 days of cocktails calendar?

The 12 days of cocktails calendar is a collection of 12 unique cocktail recipes, one for each day leading up to Christmas. Each recipe features a different spirit, flavor profile, and garnish, making it the perfect way to explore new flavors and perfect your mixology skills.

How do I get started?

To get started, all you need is the 12 days of cocktails calendar and your favorite spirits and mixers. You can purchase the calendar online or at your local liquor store. Once you have the calendar, simply follow the instructions for each recipe and enjoy!

Day 1: Spiced Apple Cider Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 2 oz spiced apple cider
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz Cointreau
• 1/2 oz agave nectar
• Cinnamon sugar for rimming the glass
• Apple slices for garnish

Directions:

1. Rim a glass with cinnamon sugar.
2. In a shaker, combine tequila, spiced apple cider, lime juice, Cointreau, and agave nectar.
3. Shake and strain into the rimmed glass.
4. Garnish with apple slices.

Question: What is spiced apple cider?

Answer: Spiced apple cider is apple cider that has been simmered with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Day 2: Cranberry Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 2 oz cranberry juice
• 1 oz lime juice
• Ginger beer
• Fresh cranberries for garnish

Directions:

1. In a copper mug, combine vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
2. Fill the mug with ice and top with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with fresh cranberries.

Question: What is a Moscow Mule?

Answer: A Moscow Mule is a cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. It is typically served in a copper mug.

Day 3: Hot Buttered Rum

Ingredients:

• 2 oz dark rum
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• Hot water
• Cinnamon stick for garnish

Directions:

1. In a mug, combine rum, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
2. Fill the mug with hot water and stir until the butter has melted.
3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Question: What is the difference between dark rum and light rum?

Answer: Dark rum is aged longer and has a stronger flavor than light rum, which is typically used in cocktails.

Day 4: Aperol Spritz

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Aperol
• 3 oz Prosecco
• Splash of soda water
• Orange slice for garnish

Directions:

1. In a wine glass, combine Aperol and Prosecco.
2. Top with a splash of soda water.
3. Garnish with an orange slice.

Question: What is Aperol?

Answer: Aperol is an Italian apéritif made with bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb, and other herbs and spices.

Day 5: Peppermint White Russian

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz peppermint schnapps
• 1 oz Kahlúa
• 1 oz heavy cream
• Crushed candy canes for rimming the glass

Directions:

1. Rim a glass with crushed candy canes.
2. In a shaker, combine vodka, peppermint schnapps, Kahlúa, and heavy cream.
3. Shake and strain into the rimmed glass.

Question: What is Kahlúa?

Answer: Kahlúa is a coffee-flavored liqueur from Mexico.

Day 6: Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• Hot water
• Cinnamon stick and star anise for garnish

Directions:

1. In a mug, combine bourbon, honey, and lemon juice.
2. Fill the mug with hot water and stir until the honey has dissolved.
3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and star anise.

Question: What is a toddy?

Answer: A toddy is a hot cocktail typically made with liquor, water, honey, and spices.

Day 7: Irish Coffee

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Irish whiskey
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 cup hot coffee
• Heavy cream

Directions:

1. In a mug, combine Irish whiskey and brown sugar.
2. Fill the mug with hot coffee.
3. Top with heavy cream.

Question: What is Irish whiskey?

Answer: Irish whiskey is a whiskey made in Ireland from a mash of malted barley, unmalted barley, and other grains.

Day 8: Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• 1/2 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
• Champagne
• Pomegranate seeds for garnish

Directions:

1. In a champagne flute, combine pomegranate juice and St-Germain.
2. Top with champagne.
3. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Question: What is St-Germain?

Answer: St-Germain is an elderflower liqueur from France.

Day 9: Hot Chocolate Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz chocolate vodka
• 2 oz hot chocolate
• 1/2 oz Kahlúa
• Whipped cream and chocolate shavings for garnish

Directions:

1. In a shaker, combine chocolate vodka, hot chocolate, and Kahlúa.
2. Shake and strain into a martini glass.
3. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Question: What is chocolate vodka?

Answer: Chocolate vodka is a flavored vodka that has been infused with chocolate or cocoa.

Day 10: Blood Orange Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 2 oz blood orange juice
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz Cointreau
• Tajín seasoning for rimming the glass