The 12 Drinks of Christmas!! Day 9 Brings Diamonds & Pearls– and More !!

It’s winding up to be a big day and you need to have a couple of killer martinis at the ready– or at least up your sleeve if you are hitting the town tonight. Make sure you know how to concoct it in case the bartender doesn’t– and then that person will be impressed with your mixology acumen.

Diamonds and Pearls
1 oz Hendrick’s or Reyka
1 oz Lillet Blanc– a liqueur best found at larger beverage or super markets
6 blackberries
½ oz Monin Coconut
Muddle blackberries with coconut syrup, add other ingredients and shake very well
Serve up in a martini glass
Garnish with a single blackberry
Using either Reyka Vodka or Hendricks Gin (use the gin to balance out the sweetness in a cocktail. It makes it more “sippable” and less of a fast slurp and bring on more. It also goes better with food).
While it’s not the real deal of diamonds and pearls, it will get someone’s attention.
Want a drop dead sexy drink? Here’s something that’s sure to whip someone into frothy fervor– just can’t tell you who!

Blood Orange Margarita
Served at the Rose Bar at the Plaza Hotel
3/4 oz. Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur ( this is the key element on this drink)
1.5 oz Corzo Tequila (or try other Tequilas I have featured)
1/5 oz. Agave Nectar
1/2 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice
squeeze of fresh lime ( key lime is nice if you can find it fresh!)
Shake with ice and strain over ice in a rocks glass.
Serve with salted rim and blood orange segment garnish
This is Day 9 of the 12 Drinks of Christmas. Realize that day 10 is New Years Day, Day 11 is Friday January 2, which is obviously (hopefully) not a working day and perhaps a day for a bit less indulgence and Day 12 is Saturday January 3– the perfect day for one last drink before you get into gear with the proper resolutions for 2009.
Stevie Wilson