christmas

Celebrate the Holidays with Chambord

December 22, 2020 by Natalie Leave a Comment

Celebrate the holidays with Chambord! I’ve teamed up with my friends from Chambord to give you a last-minute gift idea plus two holiday cocktail recipes. I understand better than anyone what it’s like to procrastinate to the very last minute to buy gifts and to plan what you’re making for the holidays. It is me. Every. Single. Year.

Chambord makes the perfect gift for a hostess, last-minute gifting or stocking stuffer. The bottle is so unique and elegant and looks amazing on your home bar or entertaining area. Pretty and delicious? Sounds great to me!

Every drop of Chambord is produced at a chateau wholly dedicated to Chambord in Cour-Cheverny in the Loire Valley of France. It’s made with 100% natural ingredients and uses whole, fresh fruit in the production process and contains XO Cognac, which is aged longer than VS or VSOP. So you can feel great about using it in your cocktails.

A very easy cocktail you can whip up in no time for Christmas or even the New Year is The Chambord Royale by simply adding 1/4 oz. of Chambord to your favortie glass of Champagne or Prosecco and garnishing it with a raspberry, blackberry or both.

I’ve made my own little spin on this cocktail by turning it into a larger format punch for easy entertaining at-home or socially distanced. In addition to Chambord all you do is add lemon juice and your spirit of choice. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Chambord Royale Punch

1/2 cup of Chambord

1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice

1 cup of your spirit of choice (I recommend gin or Cognac)

Top off with a bottle of sparkling wine

lemon wheels, for garnish

raspberries, for garnish

blackberries, for garnish

Add lemon juice, Chambord and spirit to punch bowl. Then add ice and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon wheels, raspberries and blackberries.

This Chambord Royale punch is decadent and wonderfully effervescent. It’s the ideal accompaniment to meats and cheeses for a cocktail hour or beside a rich holiday meal. Might I add that a sparkly punch is always wonderful and appropriate for NYE.

Whether you’re spending it with your closest family members or even apart from them, Chambord makes the perfect gift. If you’re spending it apart, gifting a bottle and then making the Chambord Royale cocktail or punch over Facetime/ Zoom might be a fun way to connect with your loved ones this season. Regardless have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and please celebrate responsibly.

Order directly via Drizly and you can get $5 credit on your first order* using promotion code CHAMBORD. Also don’t forget to tag your Chambord cocktails with #makethemomentmagnifique over on Instagram.

This is a Drizly offer. 21+ subject to terms and conditions of Drizly. Void where prohibited. Offer Expires 3/30/21. Thanks for supporting the sponsored posts that make Arsenic-Lace happen.

Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate

December 20, 2019 by Natalie Leave a Comment

There’s nothing I love more than a hot chocolate on a cold night. In fact, that’s about all I love about cold nights because I hate the cold! I made this Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate the other night when we had a snow squall. What’s a snow squall you might ask? I had to ask google the same thing. It is a very abrupt and short-lived snowstorm with blizzard and whiteout conditions. Thankfully I had my friends over at Exotico Tequila to help me through it and this Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate to keep me warm.

Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate, makes 2 cups

2 cups milk

4 oz. Exotico Tequila

2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tbsp. demerara sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. chili powder

1/8 tsp. ground cayenne (you can omit this if you don’t want it too spicy)

bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish

marshmallows, for garnish

To make your Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate whisk cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, chili and cayenne together until combined. Add your milk to a small saucepan and place on the stove over low heat. Add in your dry ingredients and stir until all ingredients are incorporated and the cocoa has melted into the milk, about 10 minutes. Stir in your vanilla extract.

Add 2 oz. of tequila to your serving vessel, I used enamel mugs, and then pour the hot chocolate. Garnish with mini marshmallows and chocolate shavings.

I love sweet and savory dishes and drinks and this Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate checks all those boxes. It’s decadent and rich and warming from the chili and cayenne. I have a very high tolerance for spice and while I don’t find this overwhelmingly spicy, you can omit the cayenne if you think this recipe will be too spicy for your taste. Exotico Tequila is so perfect for this drink. Chocolate and spices complement the sweet earthy notes in tequila and other agave spirits.

This is not only a great drink to serve on Christmas Eve or for dessert on Christmas Day but you can also enjoy it all winter long. A hot cocoa bar is a great idea to set up for a party or gathering and I put together some ideas in this post. While I will be enjoying this Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate for as long as the temperature dips below 45 degrees there’s nothing like sipping on a warm drink in front of the Christmas tree.

I hope you decide to make this drink and Happy Holidays from me and Exotico Tequila! xo

All I Want For Christmas is Gin: Peppermint Negroni

December 23, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

Hey everyone! Just thought I’d jump in here and squeeze in one Christmas post before it’s too late. I needed something easy to make for Christmas so I variated on one of my favorite classics and made a Peppermint Negroni. Sorry for being MIA the last few weeks but life has taken some crazy turns and I needed to step away and take care of myself. I will probably share more about that soon but let’s just say I’m more excited to start a new year than you could possibly know. So let’s have a drink, shall we?

Peppermint Negroni, makes 1 serving

1 oz. peppermint tea-infused gin (I used Brooklyn Gin)

1 oz. sweet vermouth

1 oz. Campari

Making a tea infusion is a super simple way to change up a classic. I decided to infuse the gin for this one because it is the highest ABV of the three ingredients so I know it would infuse pretty quickly. I used two peppermint tea bags and steeped half a bottle of gin for an hour and then removed the tea bags. That should suffice taste wise but give it a test and if you want it more peppermint forward add another tea bag or leave them in for longer.

To make the Peppermint Negroni add all of your ingredients to a mixing glass and stir on ice. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube and garnish with an orange twist. Perhaps even a candy cane on the side. Not going to lie, I totally stirred this with a candy cane and then ate it. It’s Christmas, what can I say?

All I want for Christmas is Gin.

I love how a simple tweak can change a cocktail entirely plus make it more festive for the holidays. Enjoyed quite a few of these last night by the tree. I hope you’ll give this Peppermint Negroni a try for Christmas Eve or Christmas. As always I would love to hear your thoughts below and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. xo

Spiked Eggnog Cupcakes

December 22, 2017 by Natalie Leave a Comment

It wouldn’t be Christmas without some eggnog, right? I’ve whipped up these delicious Spiked Eggnog Cupcakes just in time to enjoy the perfect holiday treat. Of course, enjoying a glass will do but I love finding other ways to use it, particularly in baked goods. Last year I made these eggnog snickerdoodle cookies for my favorite Christmas Eve tradition: Adult Milk and Cookies. I’d really love to reshoot that post just because my photography and styling has improved but there wasn’t enough time this year. I couldn’t get the idea out of my head for making these Spiked Eggnog Cupcakes and I’m so happy I made them. They’re like a two for one cocktail and dessert!

Spiked Eggnog Cupcakes, makes 12 cupcakes

for the cupcakes:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 cup spiced rum

1 cup eggnog

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup sugar

for the frosting:

2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

pinch of salt

pinch of nutmeg

2 1/2 tbsp. eggnog

1 tbsp. dark rum

To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg and whisk to combine. In a bowl of an electric hand mixer, combine the rum, eggnog, vegetable oil, vinegar, and sugar. Beat on medium speed until well blended. Add in dry ingredients and mix on low speed until incorporated. Divide the batter between the cupcake liners and bake 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, place the butter in the bowl of an electric hand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth. Add in powdered sugar, salt, and nutmeg, and mix on medium-high speed until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the eggnog and whip on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the rum and mix on low speed until incorporated. Add icing to a pastry bag and pipe on cupcakes. Garnish with grated cinnamon or nutmeg and a cinnamon stick if desired.

I’m really happy with how these Spiked Eggnog Cupcakes came out. I had to bring them to work because if I were to be left alone with these at home I would have eaten every single one of them. That’s how good they are! The cake was so soft and moist from the eggnog but not overly sweet. I love when cupcakes aren’t too sweet because that’s what the icing is for.

Adding spiced rum was the perfect addition to these cupcakes because it complimented all of the other baking spice flavors. You could also use bourbon is you prefer that over rum. Either way, these were delicious and are the ultimate Christmas treat. Serve them with a side of boozy eggnog and dessert is served. I hope your holiday is merry and bright everyone. Cheers and Merry Christmas! xo

Christmas Decor Tour

December 21, 2017 by Natalie 3 Comments

Over the last few weeks, I’ve posted little snippets of my Holiday decor on Instagram stories. To my surprise, I got a lot of messages asking if I would be posting a Christmas Decor Tour. Sadly I didn’t get to decorate as much as I would have liked but the living room does look pretty glorious and festive. I decided to do a last minute Christmas Decor Tour post of the living room to fulfill some of your requests.

The first thing I knew I wanted to do was make these DIY Mid-Century Christmas Village Putz Houses from Krys Melo of Melodrama. If you don’t follow her or her blog please run right over there ASAP. Her style, use of color, and home inspire me so much. Plus she lives in Palm Springs which is my dream! I saw these Christmas village houses last year and I said to myself, “one day I’m going to make those”.

A couple Sundays ago Ethan and I made boozy hot chocolate, put Christmas music on, decorated the pink Christmas tree of my dreams, and made the Mid-Century Christmas village. They turned out even better than I imagined and I think I want to make it a holiday tradition to make one every year. I guess if I start running out of space I’ll just have to start gifting them to people! They make the perfect Christmas decor for the mantel. My favorite part was decorating and styling them. I love bottle brush trees so much! At one point Ethan was like, “do you have enough bottle brush trees?”, and the answer is always no, never!

We decorated so much for the holidays in the house I grew up in and it always got us into the holiday spirit. Since then I’ve haven’t lived in a place with the space to accommodate holiday decorations and honestly, the holidays have never really felt the same. For the first time in my adult life, I have the room for a real sized tree and this made my heart so happy beyond belief. I collected a few ornaments over the years and have been gifted quite a few as well. I’ve been basically hoarding them until the day I could put them on my very own tree. 2017 was my year for this. 2017 has pretty much been my year for a lot of things.

I decorated the bar cart for my Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar post and slightly tweaked it after moving the Keurig back to the kitchen. I love the Be Merry banner which is from Target. Most of my holiday decor is pretty budget friendly (Target, Michaels, Homegoods, DIY). I just had to invest in the tree which I got from Treetopia. It’s called the Pretty in Pink Tree which couldn’t be more appropriate.

Last year I found this Tom & Jerry punch set at a thrift store for $12. I’m so glad I can finally put it out on display for the holidays. I seriously can’t wait until next year to expand my decor a little more into other rooms of the house. What is your favorite Christmas decoration? Is it something that’s been passed down in your family? Perhaps a special ornament? I’d love to know. I hope my Christmas Decor Tour has brightened your day and puts you in the holiday spirit. Four days till Christmas!

My Favorite Tom & Jerry Recipe

December 19, 2017 by Natalie 1 Comment

A Tom & Jerry is a classic winter beverage that every cocktail drinker should try at some point. It’s a sweet, frothy, warm drink that is flavored with dark rum and cognac and it has been a holiday favorite since the 1820s. There’s just one thing: the Tom & Jerry is not the easiest drink to make, but it is worth it. I’m showing you how to make my favorite Tom & Jerry recipe just in time for Christmas.

The Tom & Jerry is a descendant of eggnog but not eggnog. The main difference is that the Tom & Jerry is served warm and the drink is built in the serving mug. Eggnog, on the other hand, is cold and already mixed and ready to drink. The Tom & Jerry is, however, a fantastic alternative to Eggnog and many drinkers prefer it because it is more of a warm milk punch and has less of an ‘eggy’ flavor. First, I’ll show you how to prepare the batter then how to assemble the drink.

Tom & Jerry batter, serves 12

6 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick of butter, room temperature
1/2 tsp. allspice, ground
1/2 tsp. cinnamon, ground
1/2 tsp. cloves, ground
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Separate the egg whites from yolks into two large bowls. Add butter and sugar to egg yolks and beat with an electric stand mixer. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Gently fold egg whites into yolk mixture until color and consistency are the same.To finish the batter, stir in allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla.

Tom & Jerry, serves 1

1 oz. cognac

1 oz. dark rum

1 tbsp. Tom & Jerry batter

warm milk

nutmeg, for garnish

The hard part is over and now we can make our cocktail. To assemble Tom and Jerrys, gently heat milk in a saucepan over low heat (amount depends on how many drinks you plan to serve). For two servings I heated 1 cup of milk. This will also depend on the size of your serving vessels. While constantly stirring batter, add brandy and rum. Fill to the top with milk and stir until foamy.

Grate fresh nutmeg on top for garnish. Sip and enjoy!

The Tom & Jerry is much like making a Hot Buttered Rum. It all begins with mixing the spiced batter, which can be refrigerated or frozen until it’s time for a drink. Once that is done, it’s as simple as pouring warm milk over your liquor and batter. It’s a fabulous way to have a tasty hot cocktail ready for holiday visitors and parties.

You can also serve this in a Tom & Jerry punch set. My glasses are a part of a vintage set but I opted not to shoot a whole bowl or else I would have been drunk on a Monday afternoon. Not a terrible thing right? But really bad for productivity. I’m so happy I got to share my favorite Tom & Jerry recipe with you in time for the holidays. It’s the perfect drink to make for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. Please chime in on the comments if you decide to make this and let me know how it turns out! Cheers everyone and don’t forget to eat, drink, and be merry! xo

Holiday Spirit Gift Guide

December 16, 2017 by Natalie Leave a Comment

Are you a last minute shopper like me? Every year I say I’m going to get a head start but I never do. I think I work better under pressure anyways. I put together this Holiday Spirit Gift Guide in case you need any last minute ideas on what to get that special someone. I’m never disappointed with a bottle of booze and I’ve included all my favorites to gift and get. The best part? These are all under $50!

Monkey 47 Gin $45– An unusual gin from the Black Forest in Germany, Monkey 47 contains a unique ingredient, cranberries! The 47 comes from the number of botanicals that go into this unique gin and is bottled at a healthy 47% ABV. In 2011 Monkey 47 won the World Spirits Award Gold in the Gin category and Gold for best in class for the Gin Worldwide at the International Wine and Spirits Competition London. Such a great gin to use in cocktails and a staple in my home bar.
Plantation Pineapple Rum $32-This blended rum is crafted in two parts, first by infusing ripe Queen Victoria pineapples in rich, aged Plantation Original Dark Rum for 3 months. Then they distilled a second batch using pineapple rind with their classic white rum, blended the two and before bottling, matured them for an extra period in the barrel. The result is an absolutely delicious, bright rum with pineapple essence to blend with the lushness of the infused Plantation Rum. Enjoy it straight on ice or mix it with a cocktail. This was originally supposed to be a limited edition Rum gifted to friends, family, and limited stock in certain bars. It was such a hit they decided to keep making it. I was lucky enough to receive one of the very first bottles and that’s the one that sits at home on my bar cart. I’ll sip on it when I’m feeling special!
Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila $25– Altos Reposado Tequila is a super premium, high quality, 100% agave tequila. Altos Reposado is aged in oak barrels for 4-6 months, which creates a rich and complex taste perfect for drinking on its own or in cocktails. Margarita, please! It was rated a 94 at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.
Laird’s Apple Brandy $32– Laird’s Apple Brandy is hands down my favorite spirit there ever was. Besides the fact that it is a must-have for any at home cocktail enthusiast because of its history and presence throughout classic cocktail culture, it is from my home state of New Jersey. Laird’s also holds distilling license number 1 in the USA making it the oldest and the first distillery in America. It’s also the oldest family-run distillery in the country, run by a 7th generation Laird, Lisa Laird Dunn. Did I mention George Washington is the only other person to have the family recipe? Drinking this is like drinking history and everyone needs a bottle on their home bar. The Jack Rose is my favorite classic cocktail and are perfect for drinking during the holidays.
Pierre Ferrand Cognac $40– A top-quality golden Grande Champagne Cognac from distinguished boutique producer Pierre Ferrand. A lively, expressive style with fresh fruit flavors and good depth from this award-winning house. This is what I drink and mix with at home and also what I prefer to use behind the bar. Ferrand is also the producer of the Plantation Rums. Pretty much my favorite line of spirits. Check out Citadelle Gin too!
Glen Grant 12 year Scotch $48– I’m not a huge Scotch drinker but I love the Glen Grant 12 year. I call this the beginner Scotch because it is so easy to drink! It’s light and fruity with notes of apple pie, caramel, vanilla and subtle spice. Glen Grant 12 year is great to drink alone but also mixes great in cocktails because of its subtle flavors.
Amaro Nonino $47– This is one of my favorite Amaro’s because it is so unique! A digestif made from grappa infused with herbs, plus grain alcohol, and ingredients that include caramelized sugar, bitter orange, cinchona, licorice, quassia wood, rhubarb, saffron, sweet orange, and tamarind. Has an herby fragrance, with a mildly bitter spicy taste. Great on its own before or after dinner and in my favorite Paper Plane cocktail!
Elijah Craig Bourbon $33– Bottled exclusively from a dumping of 70 barrels or less, all drawn from the middle to upper floors of the traditional metal-clad rickhouses. It is the original Small Batch Bourbon, having been made available even before the term was invented.
Del Maguey Vida Mezcal $36– I love all the expressions that Del Maguey puts out but the Vida is really great for the price. A fruity bouquet complemented by honey, vanilla and agave. Palate spiced with cinnamon, sandalwood, and ginger, with a citrus undertone. Finish is smoky soft and lingering. Great on its own but especially great in cocktails. I use this at home and behind the bar.
Faretti Biscotti Liqueur $30– A uniquely delicious spirit, the famous Faretti liqueur comes from Northern Italy where wonderful biscotti cookies are baked in rustic brick ovens. This is one of my absolute favorite liqueurs! It is great on its own, in coffee, but especially in cocktails. You’ve probably seen me use it on the blog numerous times. It is a great substitute for when amaretto is called for in drinks and in my opinion yields a much more delicious flavor. Faretti is so festive for the holidays and makes a wonderful Christmas gift. Crack it open with coffee and dessert!

Pineapple Pomegranate Punch

December 14, 2016 by Natalie Leave a Comment

I found this mid-century blue carnival glass punch set brand new in box at a thrift store for $2.99!

Hello Everyone!

I’m sure you’re all doing the rest of your shopping for the remaining days before Christmas and finalizing your holiday menus. I wanted to include a large format drink this month on the blog because I know how hard and stressful it can be to entertain. I basically entertain for a living! While I may be making every drink to order when I’m behind the bar, I know how much easier it can be to have some of the pressure off of you by putting together a punch and letting people serve themselves. Not assembling cocktails to order will save you time and allow you to enjoy yourself more by spending it with your loved ones. It beats running back to the kitchen everytime you need to refill someones glass, that’s for sure!

This might be the largest bottle of Vodka ever!

I’m working with Sobieski Vodka and Dole Pineapple Juice to bring you my Christmas Pomegranate Punch! I usually stick to using all fresh juices when I’m developing drinks, but sometimes it’s a hassle to juice pineapple, especially when you don’t have the right equipment. It can also be very time consuming to juice, as well as expensive. I’m tryng to shorten your prep time so you have more party time! Dole Pineapple Juice is your answer, it is 100% juice, not from concentrate, and works great in cocktails. It’s naturally a very sweet fruit so you can cut back on adding additional sugars and syrups.

Sobieski & Dole are awarding twenty-five $100 gift cards to shoppers who post their own vodka/pineapple juice cocktail recipe. You can enter by tagging your original recipe with the hashtag #SobieskiAndDoleContest. Shoppers can save up to $5 on Dole 100% Canned Pineapple Juice & Sobieski vodka with a digital coupon at SobieskiAndDoleCocktail.com. So go get your coupons, make some drinks, snap a photo, and use the hashtag!

Pineapple Pomegranate Punch (serves 12)

9 oz. Sobieski Vodka

9 oz. Tawny Port

12 oz. Dole Pineapple Juice

6 oz. Triple Sec (like Cointreau or Combier)

3 oz. Grenadine or preferably Pomegranate Molasses

Assemble right in bowl. If you have the space refrigerate or freeze your bowl beforehand to keep your punch extra cold!

You can build this right in your bowl, give it a good stir, and add ice. I used a large piece of block ice, but I am spoiled and have access to such things. If you don’t, freeze water in a large baking pan, bundt pan, or small cooler. Any type of shape that can hold a large amount of water and that fits in your punch bowl. You can even freeze fruit and garnishes in the ice if you want to get fancy. I added rosemary sprigs and pomegranate seeds to the bowl as well. Give it a heavy grate of fresh cinnamon on top. Serve, sip, enjoy!

They call it “The Flowing Bowl” for a reason! Get your party started!

The Port in this punch really works well with Sobieski Vodka. Tawny port is full of delicious flavors like caramel and peanut brittle, apricot, plum, raisin and walnut. These flavors are perfect for the holiday/winter season and compliment the other ingredients beautifully. It is super simple, easy to assemble, has a very approachable flavor, yet still is very refined taste. Happy Holidays!

Cheers!

l love BIG ice!

Sobieski Vodka & Dole Pineapple Juice.

Natalie

Peppermint Old Fashioned

December 12, 2016 by Natalie Leave a Comment

Christmas is just around the corner and I have a few recipes coming to the site over the next two weeks, so stay tuned! I can’t believe how time is flying, before we know it, it will be the New Year. Does anyone have any big plans for the holiday or NYE? I have the perfect cocktail to get you in the mood to decorate the tree, listen to your Christmas vinyl, do some online shopping, and wrap those presents! My Peppermint Old Fashioned is great for your next holiday party or Christmas Eve and Day festivites. If you’re not familiar with a classic Old Fashioned it’s just Bourbon, sugar, Angostura Bitters and a twist of lemon and orange. Super simple! I didn’t want to over complicate such a simple drink, so I used the same template with just a few minor adjustments.

My main trick was infusing the Bourbon with Harney & Sons Peppermint Tea, which is devine if you haven’t had it. All of their tea is delicious and great for drinking on its own hot, iced, or using to infuse wine, vermouth and spirits. The tea is really fragrant so it didn’t sit very long with the Bourbon, I’d say 30 minutes maximum. Honestly, I only let mine sit for about 15 minutes and the flavor was already very strong. This will all depend on how minty you want your drinks to be, so I suggest straw testing as you go until you get your desired level of flavor. You can infuse a whole bottle or a few ounces depending on how many cocktails you want to make. You will need 2 ounces of Peppermint Tea Bourbon per drink. I would estimate 2 tea satchels for every 12 ounces of whiskey for the infusion.

Peppermint Old Fashioned

2 oz. Peppermint Tea infused Bourbon

1/2 oz. Honey Syrup (3:1 Honey & Water)

2 dashes Scrappys Cardamom Bitters

Build all ingredients in a single old fashioned glass, add ice, stir. Garnish with a candy cane.

christmas

Peppermint Negroni, makes 1 serving

Spiked Eggnog Cupcakes, makes 12 cupcakes

Tom & Jerry batter, serves 12

Tom & Jerry, serves 1

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