Nothing’s more anticipated more by Filipinos than the celebration of Christmas. With colorful bright lights filling up every corner, Christmas songs being played on loops, and the mouthwatering scent of specially prepared food, Christmas is one of the most awaited holidays in the country. Christmas season takes over as soon as the -ber months start. As one of the few predominantly Catholic countries in Asia, the Philippines widely celebrates the occasion.
The event is celebrated by everyone differently, Christmas is enjoyed in all sorts of ways. Whether your perfect Christmas night involves a loud and huge get-together with your relatives, or a simple and relaxing night spent with your loved one at a special place – the Christmas spirit is still present. Although there is one thing always present in all celebrations: good food – and of course, good drinks.
With its rank of earliest Christmas celebration is the country’s high rank in alcohol consumption. Filipinos are known to be some of the heaviest drinkers in Asia. When taken responsibly, a night with drinks always makes the most memorable experiences. Of course, who would miss out on drinking on such a joyous occasion like Christmas?
For the most-awaited holiday, Cocktails are the ideal alcoholic. The amazing flavor that each cocktail recipes serves is something that will add to your memories this holiday season. This article guides you on how to serve only the best drinks to suit your picturesque Christmas celebration. Just like Atticus said, “Life is just a little more alive after the first few drinks.”
Cocktails can be considered a form of art – not every cocktail can be made the exact same way. These recipes are a guide to help you make your cocktail recipes, but always remember that you’re free to alter them and create your own twists!
Filipino Classics
Did you know that the Philippines is known to be the top consumer of gin in the world? As a community that loves the drink so much, most of our local cocktails revolve around the said alcohol. Of course, we’re bound to come up with numerous drinks to spice up our evenings! These drinks are easy-to-prepare recipes loved by Filipinos all over the country, with ingredients available at every corner.
(Preparation Time: 5 minutes)
Perhaps deriving its name from the energy drink that serves as its base, Velocity is one of the easiest and well-loved Filipino cocktails. With different flavors available for you to try, this recipe guarantees that you’ll be drinking this cocktail at speeds unlike any other! Since it’s Christmas season, we recommend getting Gatorade flavors Blue Bolt or Fruit Punch to give some holiday colors in your drink.
Fruit Punch Velocity Cocktail | Photo Courtesy of Booky
Ingredients:
• 2 parts gin
• 2 parts Gatorade
• 2 parts Sprite
• Dash of lemon
• Ice
Procedure:
1. Pour gin into a glass with ice.
2. Mix in Gatorade and Sprite into glass.
3. Squeeze in lemon according to taste.
(Preparation Time: 5 minutes)
Short for Gin Pomelo, the content of this drink is quite straightforward – gin and pomelo. The drink has been around as early as the 90’s when powdered pomelo juice first came out. It’s an easy recipe that serves as an all-time classic for those who love adding juice to their gin!
Classic Gin Pom | Photo Courtesy of DrinkManila
Ingredients:
• 250 mL gin
• 2 sachets of powdered pomelo juice (25 g each)
• 750 mL water
• Ice
Procedure:
1. Mix powdered pomelo juice into the water.
2. Add gin into the mix and stir.
3. Add ice to the mixture and continue stirring.
4. Pour the drink into a glass with ice.
(Preparation Time: 10 minutes)
Want to kick up your Gin Pom a notch for this holiday season? There are different variations and twists to the classic Gin Pom, but Gin Pom Garden from DrinkManila is our top pick for this Christmas. The drink is filled with fruit and herbs that makes you feel as if in a garden – a drink that will make you feel refreshed and satisfied.
Gin Pom Garden | Photo Courtesy of DrinkManila
Ingredients:
• 45 mL gin (preferably Bombay Gin)
• 15 mL lemon juice
• 5 mL rose syrup
• Fresh Pomelo slices
• 3-4 pcs basil leaves
• Ice
Procedure:
1. Place ice in glass for chilling.
2. Muddle pomelo slices in a tin shaker for a total of 45 mL fresh pomelo juice.
3. Add lemon juice and rose syrup.
4. Clap the basil leaves before adding it into the mixture to release its oils.
5. Add gin and then ice.
6. Close and seal the tin shaker before shaking it vigorously to ensure that the drink is well-mixed.
7. Remove ice from glass.
8. Strain the mixture into the glass. Double-straining is recommended.
9. Add a slice of pomelo to make the drink look more presentable!
(Preparation Time: 10 minutes)
A drink most enjoyed by experimental college students at the prime of their youth, this drink is composed of a whopping 5 different spirits. Nobody really knows where the cocktail recipes got its name from, which is why it’s famed for being the “urban legend Filipino drink”. With all these spirits condensed into one drink, make sure you’re in for a strong kick that will take you to the moon back!
A glass and pitcher of Weng-weng surrounded by the different spirits and drinks used in the drink | Photo Courtesy of Pepper.ph
Ingredients:
• 1 jigger/45 mL vodka
• 1 jigger/45 mL rum
• 1 jigger/45 mL tequila
• 1 jigger/45 mL brandy or whiskey
• 1 jigger/45 mL gin
• 1 jigger/45 mL grenadine syrup
• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ cup pineapple juice
• Ice
Procedure:
1. Mix all spirits and juice into a shaker.
2. Add ice and shake vigorously.
3. Strain into a glass with ice.
4 .Decorate with an orange slice for presentation.
(Preparation Time: 5 minutes)
Looking for a different color to match your greens this Christmas? This cocktail recipes is just right for you! Poison can be easily prepared with just 3 main ingredients, but still gives off a great taste that will leave you wanting more. Perhaps getting its name from its poison-like green color, this cocktail will make heads turn at every celebration!
Glass of Poison | Photo Courtesy of Mighty June from Flickr
Ingredients:
• 250 mL gin (preferably G.S.M. Blue)
• 500 mL Mountain Dew (or more)
• ½ sachet of powdered iced tea (12 g)
• Ice
Procedure:
1. Pour gin and mountain dew into pitcher and mix well.
2. Add powdered iced tea and mix.
3. Add ice and stir constantly.
4. Serve in a glass of ice.
Special Christmas-themed cocktail recipes
Willing to go extra lengths to serve only the most appealing and tastiest cocktails at your Christmas celebration? These recipes are bound to leave a huge impact on your guests with their unique presentation and extraordinary tastes you often won’t find!
(Preparation Time: 1 hour)
This creamy and classic cocktail is something you wouldn’t want to miss out during the holidays. The drink has been around for decades and is part of Christmas seasons all over the world. Although not much present in local Filipino celebrations, it would be nice to try out this cocktail loved internationally.
The creamy classic cocktail recipes, Eggnog | Photo Courtesy of Tim Nusog of Liquor.com
Ingredients:
• 1½ cups milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ rum, bourbon, or brandy
• 2 eggs (separated)
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon or nutmeg (for garnish)
Procedure:
1. Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the egg yolks in a bowl.
2. Beat until fluffy.
3. While constantly stirring, add milk, heavy cream, and spirit into the bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, add 1 tablespoon of sugar to the egg whites.
5. Beat until soft peaks form.
6. Fold the mixture of whites into the bowl from egg yolks.
7. Pour into the glasses.
8. Garnish with nutmeg and/or cinnamon before serving.
(Preparation Time: 5 minutes)
Who doesn’t love snow? Even in a country like ours that doesn’t experience snow during the holidays, we still find ourselves attracted to the idea of snowfall during Christmas season. If we can’t have snow outside, then this cocktail will make up for the feeling of this snow-filled occasion. The cocktail recipes can be easily prepared but is sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests!
Snowflake Martinis | Photo Courtesy of Delish US
Ingredients:
• 3 oz. white chocolate liqueur
• 2 oz. vanilla vodka
• 2 tbsp. heavy cream
• 1/3 cup white sanding sugar
• 1 lemon wedge
• Ice
Procedure:
1. Wet the rim of your glass with the lemon wedge.
2. Dip the rim on the sugar until the whole rim is coated.
3. Mix the white chocolate liqueur, vanilla vodka, and heavy cream in a shaker.
4. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
5. Strain mixture into the glass with coated rim and serve.
(Preparation Time: 10 minutes)
Peppermints are undoubtedly the candy symbolization of Christmas. Especially the candy cane, no sweet screams the holidays as much as the bent candy rod does. The peppermintini is a playful cocktail with such amazing presentation that would instantly be recognized as a Christmas cocktail as soon as one lays their eyes on it.
Peppermintinis | Photo Courtesy of Brad Holland from Delish US
Ingredients:
• 6 oz. white chocolate liqueur
• 4 oz. vodka
• 2 oz. peppermint schnapps
• 2 tbsp. heavy cream
• ½ semi-sweet chocolate chips (melted)
• Candy canes (preferably small)
• Ice
Procedure:
1. Crush a few candy-canes, enough to cover the rim of your glass.
2. Dip the rim of your glass onto the melted chocolate, and then on the crushed candy canes.
3. Pour melted chocolate onto the glass and swirl until 1/3 of the glass bottom is coated.
4. Place the glass in the freezer while preparing the cocktail.
5. Mix the white chocolate liqueur, vodka, peppermint schnapps, and heavy cream in a shaker.
6. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
7. Strain mixture into the glass with coated rim.
8. Decorate the glass with a candy cane before serving.
(Preparation Time: 10 minutes)
One of the most well-loved Christmas figures by both kids and adults is none other than the famed Jack Frost. The striking blue color of this cocktail recipes decorated with a white rim makes the perfect cocktail symbolization of the iconic Christmas legend. A beautiful drink with an extravagant taste to match the chilling atmosphere this holiday season.
Jack Frosties | Photo Courtesy of Emily Hilavac Green of Delish US
Ingredients:
• 1 cup Vodka
• 1 cup Prosecco
• ½ cup Blue Curaçao
• ½ cup lemonade
• 1/3 cup white sanding sugar
• 1 lemon wedge
• Crushed Ice
Procedure:
1. Wet the rim of your glass with the lemon wedge.
2. Dip the rim of the glass in the sanding sugar until it is fully coated.
3. Pour vodka, Prosecco, Blue Curaçao, lemonade, and ice into a blender.
4. Blend well until the drink is fully combined.
5. Pour mixture into the glass with coated rim and serve immediately.
After a long and exhausting celebration of the holidays, you’d want to sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the season in a calming environment. No other home can give you the peaceful sensation than the internationally known luxury real estate, Portofino Alabang.
The stunning clubhouse found in Portofino | Photo Courtesy of Brittany
Home to the most expensive houses in the Philippines, the comfort offered by Portofino is unparalleled by other house and lot for sale. You’ll never run out of things to do in the area with all the amenities available. Whether you want to take a dive in the Roman-inspired lap pool, or just take a relaxing walk, Portofino has it all. House and lot properties are available at Portofino, don’t miss your chance to get the best home available in the Philippines!
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