A long-standing tradition of my family is cocktail hour, typically the hour before dinner, where everyone enjoys a libation. My Uncle B tends to be the bartender, mostly because he is a well-educated wine  connoisseur. A basic bar usually includes rum, vodka, wine (red and white) and sherry. All of these options allow for a few unique permutations when added to other ingredients. My favourite cocktail hours usually involve the cottage where one spritely child would sprint up the many stairs with Uncle B to rustle in the refrigerator to  see what would be the libation of the day. On other occasions, my Uncle D would whip up a pitcher full of his famous margaritas or my dad would bust out the rum and Coke for all.

The same tradition continues at Christmas, although the tray is a decidedly less sandy. We attend church on Christmas Eve then invite our friends and family back to the house to share in a little holiday cheer. I have enjoyed several holiday cocktails in the past involving my favourite eggnog. Since discovering I was allergic to eggs, I have been search for my newest holiday cheer cocktail, and here are a few that I deem as contenders.

Holiday Cocktails

Alcoholic

 

 

 

Non-Alcoholic