Simple But Fancy Holiday Cocktails [Intro to Cooking]

By Ari

Heading home for the holidays can be an extremely stressful time. Re-adjusting to your parents rules, meeting up with high school friends with whom you share nothing more than a hometown, and making small talk with family who you can’t seem to remember could feel like a poor way to spend your much needed break from school.

If I had known then what I know now, it is that a gentle and delicious cocktail both provides a conversation starter and gives me something to do with my hands at parties.

Here’s a couple of my favorite budget-friendly cocktails that only seem way fancier than I can afford…

Sloe Gin Fizz

• 1.5 oz. sloe gin
• 8 oz. lemon-lime soda
• 1 spoonful of lemon juice
• Ice

Add sloe gin and lemon juice to a glass. Add ice. Top with soda. Garnish with lemon wedge if you’re feeling fancy.

Pimm’s Cup

• 1.5 oz. Pimm’s No. 1
• 8 oz. lemon-lime soda
• 1/8 c. cucumber, de-seeded and thinly sliced
• Leaves from 1 sprig mint
• Ice

Add Pimm’s, lemon juice, cucumber, and mint to glass. Muddle with the back of a spoon. Add ice and top with soda. Garnish with cucumber.

Pro Tips:

1. The traditional version of these drinks calls for club soda and making your own simple syrup, but really, who has time (or energy) for that nonsense. Sprite or Sierra Mist works just as well.
2. If you are looking for something a little stronger, adding a shot of gin to both of these drinks would work well.

Happy Holidays!

[Lead image via mast3r/Shutterstock]