Merry Christmas, everybody. I hope you're all having a relaxing holiday and enjoying some of your favorite treats, liquid and otherwise. The holiday season is a time when people are willing to step away from their simple stand-by drinks and make room for something with a little more pizazz. Now, I generally advise people away from complicated drinks for a number of reasons. Alcohol doesn't usually play well with others when too many ingredients show up to the party, especially when those ingredients are powerful spices and sweet things. These holiday drinks are the exceptions to that rule. That doesn't mean I'm lifting my recommendation that you approach them with moderation in mind, both for the sake of your stomach and to keep that holiday cheer at a reasonable level.

Traditional Egg Nog

We've gotta start with the most iconic of Christmas drinks. It's complex, it's strange and it's definitely an acquired taste. For those who love it, egg nog is Christmas in a cup. Sure, you could buy the stuff in the carton, but why go for the fast option when you've got the time to do it right? To serve you and the whole family, start by cracking 12 fresh eggs and separating the whites from the yolks. To save your arm, put those yolks into an electric mixer on a low setting. Slowly add one and a half cups of sugar to the yolks. Don't dump it all in together or you'll make a mess, not to mention some crunchy yolks. Let that mix for ten minutes until it's firm and looks like butter. Now, little by little, add a cup of brandy (good but not too good) and two cups of bourbon. i recommend Maker's Mark. It's smooth and sweet, but not too harsh.

Once all your alcohol is in the mix, cover your bowl with plastic wrap and give it a nice rest in the fridge for at least six hours. This will give the sugar time to break down and the whole mixture to really marinate. When your yolks have rested, stir them with a teaspoon of fresh ground nutmeg, more if you'd like.

In a separate bowl, use your mixer to beat two cups of heavy cream until you get peaks. Do the same, again in another bowl, with your egg whites. Then, fold your cream and egg whites together. Again, don't do it all at once. Add a third of the egg whites to the whipped cream until it's all mixed, then add the next third. Do the same with the cream/whites in the yolk mixture until the whole thing is uniform. Now all that's left to do is ladle a cup of your nog for a taste test. Don't forget to garnish with a little sprinkle of nutmeg.

Jelly Donut

We can't leave out a good Chanukah drink. One of the traditional foods enjoyed during the Festival of Lights is the jelly doughnut. This drink is designed to taste just like one. In a large mixing tin half full with ice, add three ounces of white rum, an ounce and a half of Chambord, four ounces of strawberry juice (store bought is fine) and one ounce of half-and-half or cream. Shake the whole mixture so it comes together completely and serve it in a highball glass. If you're feeling fancy, garnish it was a slice of strawberry on the edge of the glass.

Happy Holidays, everybody. Drink responsibly.