Fashion Reverie’s 2021 Holiday Cocktails

The year is coming to an end, and we are ready to pour it up and celebrate! Whether we are celebrating a successful 2021, or celebrating just surviving through it, it is time to say farewell to the old year and toast the new year.

Here is Fashion Reverie’s holiday cocktail guide to toast to joie de vivre and all of the success we are claiming and manifesting for 2022!

UNWINED

Not everyone wants to indulge in alcohol this holiday. For those who want to participate in the festivities, but don’t want to indulge in the libations, there is UNWINED by Kariva. A first-of-its-kind wine replacement, this alcohol beverage is made from berries and tastes similar to wine. The blend of aronia berry, dark cherry, schisandra berry, mulberry and pear mimics the taste of Malbec, yet leaves you unimpaired. Perfect for expecting mothers and designated drivers, you can enjoy the party in a fun, flavorful, and responsible way.

Tiffany Mimosa

At Fashion Reverie, we like to infuse style into everything we do. So, there’s no way we could ring in the new year dressed to the nines while holding a drab drink. With the Tiffany Mimosa, our festive flute will be as fashionable as our outfit.

1 slice lemon

1 ounces granulated sugar

2 ounces blue Curaçao, divided

1 bottle champagne or prosecco

2 cups lemonade, divided

Thin white ribbon (optional)

1. Place sugar on a small shallow plate. Rim each champagne flute with lemon wedge and dip in sugar.
2. Divide blue curacao evenly between each glass. Fill halfway with bubbly, then top with lemonade.
3. If using, cut ribbon into 6” pieces and tie bows on each glass’ stem.

Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail

Whether just two or a group of ten, whiskey is a great liquor to enhance get-togethers with friends. Adding a holiday touch makes it that more special. You can make this drink by the glass or as a punch for guests to help themselves.

1.5 ounces bourbon whiskey

1 ounce of sweet red vermouth

2 ounces orange juice

1 ounce 100% unsweetened cranberry juice (If all you can find is sweetened cranberry juice, cranberry juice blend, or cranberry juice cocktail, omit the simple syrup or add it to taste)

½ ounce simple syrup

Ice, for serving

For the garnish: fresh or frozen cranberries, rosemary sprigs

1. Place the bourbon, sweet vermouth, orange juice, unsweetened cranberry juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake until cold.
2. Strain the drink into an ice-filled glass. If desired, garnish with fresh or frozen cranberries and rosemary sprigs.
3. Pitcher variation (8 servings): Add 1 ½ cups bourbon, 1 cup sweet vermouth, 2 cups orange juice, 1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice, and ½ cup simple syrup to a pitcher. Add 2 handfuls ice and stir until cold.

New Year’s Eve Frozen Margarita

Who said frozen margs are just for the summer? A good drink deserves to be enjoyed year-round. And what better way to round out the year than with tequila? Start the party with the frozen margarita, and as the night progresses, maybe change over to tequila shots. Happy New Year!

6 ounces frozen limeade

3 ounces tequila

1 ounce of Grand Marnier

Splash fresh orange juice

Splash fresh lime juice

Crushed ice

Add all ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth and thick.

French 75

The name of the French 75 oozes old-time fun and flair. A simple concoction for those of us who want to enjoy a good drink without all the fuss.

1 ounce of gin

½ ounce lemon juice

2 dashes simple syrup

2 ounces champagne

1. Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a champagne flute.
3. Top with the champagne.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Rum Berry Cocktail

Every good party should have rum in attendance. Rum is the unassuming party starter, but spiced rum is its little brother that steals the attention. Create this punch for your party, and your friends will certainly come back for more.

3 ounces spiced rum

18 ounces pomegranate juice – 100% juice, not the diluted kind

1 ounce Cointreau

8 ounces spiced ginger beer

10 ounces frozen mixed berries

Ice: optional

3 ounces fresh raspberries

A few sprigs of fresh thyme

1. Pour the rum, pomegranate juice, Cointreau and ginger beer into a large jug. Stir to mix.
2. Half fill 4-6 glasses with frozen berries (add a little ice to if you want to).
3. Fill the glasses with the cocktail, then top with a few fresh raspberries and a sprig of fresh thyme before serving.

French Pear Martini

Martinis are all about sophistication. Make that martini with pear vodka, elderflower, and champagne, and you elevate from sophistication to luxury. Yes, please, I’ll have another!

1.5 ounces St. Germain elderflower liqueur

1.5 ounces pear vodka

Chilled champagne

Granulated sugar for the rim

1 lemon, wedged

1 pear, sliced

1. Prepare your garnishes by slicing a lemon into wedges and the pear into rounds.

Tip: To prevent pear from discoloring, squeeze a lemon over cut slices.

2. To prepare martini glasses, run a lemon wedge around the rim and dip into sugar.
3. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine St. Germain and Pear Vodka. Shake vigorously until well chilled.
4. Strain into prepared martini glass and top with champagne.
5. Garnish with a round of pear and a festive stir stick.

Spiced Apple Hot Toddy

Sometimes you want a mellow, relaxed vibe for your New Year’s Eve celebration. Get decked out in your fancy pajamas, grab your favorite blanket, and curl (or cuddle) up on the couch with a nice hot toddy as you watch the ball drop.

1.5 ounces spiced rum

4 ounces hot apple cider

1 tbsp sugar + 1 tbsp cinnamon combined

lemon juice

1. Pour a small amount of lemon juice into a shallow container and dip the rim of the glass into it. Shake off excess and dip the rim into the cinnamon sugar mixture.
2. Pour in spiced rum and hot apple cider together and stir.
3. Garnish with cinnamon stick if you like.

—Carl Ayers