I started searching for cocktail recipes and came across this in Food and Wine. Its called the Evergreen Swizzle.
- 18 ounces gin
- 6 ounces Yellow Chartreuse
- 6 ounces Zirbenz (pine liqueur)
- 6 ounces strained fresh lime juice
- 18 ounces water
- Combine the ingredients in a pitcher and stir well. Chill for at least 4 hours, until very cold. Serve with small rosemary sprigs. Lest the proportions alarm you, this recipe is for 12 drinks. (Credit to Jamie Boudreau and Food & Wine).
Now, that just sounds really good to me, wintery and fresh and herbal. The problem is, I'm guessing it would be impossible to find pine liqueur here in Mexico.
So . . . my next choice is a French 75, a fizzy, lemony drink, usually made with gin, but this one calls for cognac. Sounds good either way. And, the ingredients aren't hard to come by.

- Ice
- 1 1/2 ounces VSOP cognac
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
- Sparkling wine
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the cognac, simple syrup and lemon juice and shake well. Strain into a martini glass, top with sparkling wine and serve.
(Recipe: Neal Bodenheimer Image: Paul Costello)
So here's to your Merry Christmas!
Cheers,