Aries: Apple Cider Sangria
With its rich, fruity taste and warm cinnamon flavor, this festive drink is the ideal blend of sweet and spicy. Can you think of a more suitable addition to your holiday party, Aries?
This recipe calls for crisp apples, juicy oranges, and sweet pears — all thinly sliced and coated in sweet cinnamon and sugar. You’ll want to let the fruit sit in a large pitcher for about an hour or so (before adding in any liquids) to let the flavors meld together. Then, pour in your red wine and stir thoroughly. For this particular recipe, you’re going to want to opt for a dry red wine — it will mix better with the sweet, fruity flavors! You can serve immediately, but we recommend letting the drink chill in the fridge for a few hours to achieve maximum flavor!
To serve, fill your glass with ice, then pour it halfway full with the sangria mixture and halfway with apple cider (or sparkling cider if you want to make it extra fancy). This drink is best-served chilled over ice and garnished with a cinnamon stick, rosemary sprigs, or leftover orange slices.
To make this drink non-alcoholic: Substitute the red wine with seltzer water. Canada Dry is a great go-to brand, and it also comes in a variety of flavors (like lemon-lime) to add an additional zesty kick!
Leo: Christmas Margarita
Nothing says “paaarty time!” like margaritas, and this recipe puts a festive holiday twist on a classic favorite.
In a cocktail shaker (or any jar with a leak-proof lid), you’ll want to add your tequila — we recommend using tequila blanco, but you can use whatever you have on hand — then add the Cointreau (or a different orange-flavored triple sec liqueur), cranberry juice, lime juice, simple syrup or maple syrup, and ice — and shake vigorously. Serve over ice (or “clear ice,” if you’re feeling ambitious!) in a glass with either a salt or sugar rim (depending on your preference) and garnish with cranberries and/or a sprig of rosemary.
Despite having “cocktail” in the name, do not use the cranberry “cocktail” liquid — you’ll want to be sure you use 100% cranberry juice instead. The 100% juice version doesn’t have additional sugars or syrups added, giving this drink a better taste and a brighter, more vibrant color. The “cocktail” liquid will also make your drink very sweet, so you’ll want to opt for less sugar if you do purchase it by mistake!
To make this drink non-alcoholic: Omit the tequila and orange liqueur, replacing it with orange juice (and definitely opt for a sugar rim over salt). Fresh orange juice is best to guarantee maximum flavor, and you can always add in a little seltzer water, as well, to give your drinks a nice fizz.
FULL RECIPE HERE (including easy simple syrup and clear ice recipes)
Sagittarius: Christmas Punch
This Christmas punch is a hodge-podge of different fruit juices and holiday flavors, perfectly suited for all your eclectic guests, Sagittarius. We know how busy you are around the holidays, so you’ll be happy to hear the ingredients are simple and this recipe only takes 5 minutes to throw together! Despite its name, this drink could easily become your next go-to party punch, not reserved only for the holidays!
All you have to do is combine chilled cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and ginger ale in a large punch bowl. Then, add in your rum to give it a nice kick and bring those citrusy flavors together. The fun part of this recipe is the garnish — you can use cranberries, orange and/or lemon slices, fresh rosemary sprigs, cloves, or even star anise (the Asian licorice-tasting spice that looks like a star) — perfection!
To make this drink non-alcoholic: Simply serve without the rum! The punch will still be just as tasty without it, trust me. You can even serve with rum on the side so guests can choose whether they’d prefer their drink alcoholic or not. The perfect ratio is about 2 ounces of rum to every 8 ounces of punch.
Be sure to subscribe below for the rest of Festive Drinks for the Zodiac, and always drink responsibly!