Diet

Holiday Cocktails for the Hostess Who Hates to Cook

Spare your guests the food coma and provide holiday cheer in liquid form instead

by Allie Flinn | 4 COMMENTS

PHOTO 2/10

Punch It Up Another trick for the hostess who doesn't want to spend her evening playing bartender: Make a versatile punch. "If you make a great punch, your friends and family kind of help themselves," Duff says. And to make it look extra pretty, with minimal effort on your part, she recommends making your own block of ice using a salad bowl -- toss in some cinnamon sticks, orange peels, or other extras for added oomph. Bonus: it's also practical because a block of ice will melt more slowly than regular ice cubes, which can dilute your punch (and nobody wants a watered-down drink).

Here, Duff's favorite fall punch recipe:

The All-American Punch
Serves 6
3 oz Bulleit Rye infused with Lapsang Souchong tea (recipe below)
2 oz Dickel Whiskey No. 12
1.5 oz Carpano Antica Vermouth
1.5 oz Pom fall syrup (recipe below)
1 oz Aperol
1.5 oz lemon juice
1.5 oz pomegranate juice
1.5 oz apple cider
10 dashes of Angostura bitters

Mix all ingredients together in a punch bowl. Slide in ice block.

Pom Fall Syrup
1 cup of pomegranate juice
1 cup of sugar
1/4 cup cloves
1/4 cup star anise
3 cinnamon sticks

Cook cloves, anise, and cinnamon sticks into the Pom juice and sugar. Remove from heat and let cool. Strain into a clear glass.

To infuse the Bulleit: Pour the Bulleit into large container, add in 3 tea bags and allow it to steep for 7-10 minutes with Lapsang Souchong tea. Once it achieves the desired taste, remove the tea bags and strain the Bourbon back into the bottle.

And for those of you with a sweet tooth, try out her recipe for The Custom Tailored:

Serves One
1 ounce Zacapa Rum 23
1/3 ounce Pedro Ximenez Sherry
1/3 ounce White Crème de Cacao
1 teaspoon Stirrings Espresso Liqueur
3 dashes Chocolate Bitters
Garnish: Dark Chocolate Shavings

Combine Zacapa 23, Pedro Ximenez sherry, white crème de cacao, and espresso liqueur in a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir with a bar spoon until thoroughly chilled. Strain into a chilled coup glass and then garnish by grating dark chocolate on top.

SEE NEXT PAGE: The "Meeting His Entire Extended Family for the First Time" Holiday Party

EDITORS' BEST OF

12 Best Acne Products for Your Clearest Skin Yet

11 Best Tinted Moisturizers for Easy, On-the-Go Coverage