Holiday Entertaining – Making Spirits Bright!

Toasting the Holidays in Green

This season skip the silver and gold, toast the holidays with a burst of green. Shy away from cliches like dull egg-nog and opt for holiday inspired cocktails with a modern twist of color and flavor. Let the season serve as inspiration for clever cocktail recipes that will become the focal point for festive entertaining. For added flair, try dressing up cocktails with seasonal garnishes, fun stirrers, spices or candy. Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year's Eve, the green recipes below will keep spirits bright and make every cocktail a special celebration.

Created by San Francisco-based mixologist Victoria D'amato-Moran, MIDORI's(R) Holiday Hopper puts a spin on the retro Grasshopper cocktail by combining the melon flavor of MIDORI with Green Creme de Menthe, White Creme de Cacao and Heavy Cream. The result is a luxurious, yet creamy taste with a retro twist. "In the 60's and 70's," says D'amato-Moran, "the Grasshopper was the most refreshing cocktail to have as an after dinner drink. Bring it back for a special holiday toast and update it with MIDORI Melon Liqueur to add a festive green glow."

MIDORI Holiday Hopper
1 oz. MIDORI Melon Liqueur
1 oz. Creme de Menthe Green
1 oz. Creme de Cocao White
1 oz. Half and half
Shake and strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with mint leaves and raspberry.
Credit: Victoria D'amato-Moran

For a taste of the east, spice up the menu with the flavors of Japanese green tea and serve up the Dreaming of ZEN cocktail, also created by D'amato-Moran, who uses white pepper and mango to complement the flavors of ZEN Green Tea Liqueur(TM), America's first and only green tea liqueur. "Serve in a tall Champagne flute and garnish with fresh nutmeg to add a tasty, tea inspired finish to a holiday meal."

Dreaming of ZEN
1 oz. ZEN Green Tea Liqueur
.5 oz. MIDORI Melon Liqueur
3 oz. Mango Juice
White Pepper
2 oz. Cream
Shake/strain over ice into a champagne flute.
Garnish with mint leaves and a dash of nutmeg.
Credit: Victoria D'amato-Moran

For a warm alternative, add an ounce of ZEN to a cup of steamed milk to create the green ZEN Latte, the perfect drink for a chilly December evening.

ZEN Latte (hot)
1 oz. of ZEN Green Tea Liqueur
Top with Steamed Milk
Stir and garnish with matcha powder
Credit: ZEN Green Tea Liqueur

And on New Year's Eve, make any celebratory toast glow with the MIDORI Melon Ball Drop, a playful twist on the ball drop in New York City's Times Square. The flavors of elderflower, citrus, lemon and melon blend to create a burst of flavor and a modern twist on the tradition New Year's champagne toast.

MIDORI Melon Ball Drop
2 oz. MIDORI Melon Liqueur
1 oz. SKYY Citrus Infusions
.5 oz. Elderflower Liqueur
Juice 1/2 Lemon
Sugar Rim
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a melon ball and a sugar rim.
Credit: MIDORI Melon Liqueur

Source: PRNewswire.com

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Tagged with: cocktail recipes • Holiday Cocktails • Midori • Recipes

Filed under: Food And Beverage

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