Salud!
It’s hard to imagine Jesus sipping candy cane peppermint schnapps or white chocolate martinis in the manger. He was a baby, after all, living 2,000 years ago. But that doesn’t mean we contemporaries can’t enjoy a cocktail or two whilst celebrating his birthday.
Aside from its religious and societal implications, Christmastime is a playground for mixologists and amateur party throwers all over the world. What other holiday has a designated mixed drink (eggnog) to represent it?
And as an added plus, we folks in Arizona can enjoy much more than the warm Irish coffees, hot toddies and heated dairy products, because it’s not really that cold here! Our bartenders (including Gabrielle Painter of Delectables, pictured) have the freedom to put their drinks on ice or serve them martini style, and all the better for us.
Since there are so many options, here are some of our favorite drinks being served around town.—Andi Berlin, Special to Metromix
