By Pat Sherman
If plain old champagne or supermarket eggnog keep missing your merry mark, try one of these festive holiday sips, served up at a number of La Jolla hotspots — or hit the town and discover what other wondrous libations and non-alcoholic holiday concoctions await.
The Gingerbread Martini
La
Valencia Hotel, 1132 Prospect St., lavalencia.com
The List:
1 oz. vanilla vodka, 1 oz. gingerbread liqueur, splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream, splash of Licor 43, splash of cream or half & half, whipped cream, ground cinnamon
The Gist:
Pour all liquors and cream into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Pour into a martini glass and top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Also Offering:
Cranberry Cooler (orange flavored vodka, amaretto, cranberry juice, fresh cranberries, cinnamon stick)
Merry Chocotini
Barbarella, 2171 Avenida de la Playa, barbarellarestaurant.com
The Gist:
Hot French
Valrhona
chocolate and vodka, served up with a
Valrhona
chocolate rim
Also Offering:
Tinsel Bellini (Hpnotiq, limoncello, champagne), Peppermint Mojito (rum, fresh mint, soda, candy cane). Candied Appletini (sour apple liqueur, vodka, butterscotch schnapps), Barbarella Hot Apple Cider (homemade apple cider, rum)
The Grinch
Beaumont’s Eatery, 5662 La Jolla Blvd., beaumontseatery.com
The List:
Captain Morgan Rum, Midori melon liqueur, green tea, lemon, fresh mint, nutmeg and cream
The Gist:
Mix ingredients over ice and serve up. Dust with fresh nutmeg and garnish with a fresh mint sprig.
Also Offering:
The Cinnamon Girl (Crusoe Organic Spiced Rum, Citrus, and cinnamon-apple reduction, served up); Gingerbread Man (rye whiskey, gingerbread syrup, citrus, Aztec chocolate bitters, served on the rocks)
Baccala Gumbadi Buchadadi
NINE-TEN, 910 Prospect St., nine-ten.com
The List:
1½ oz. dark rum, ¼ oz. amaretto, ¼ oz. crème de almond, 1 tsp. vanilla bean simple syrup, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 egg white
The Gist:
Mix well in a shaker and strain into a martini glass.
Inspiration:
Created by NINE-TEN mixologist Sarah Lemke, this drink mirrors the flavor of the Cucidati cookies her Sicilian great grandmother used to make at Christmas. “The Italian cookie is filled with rum, nuts, figs and has a thin sugar glaze,” Lemke said. “I was the only great grandkid that loved — I mean loved — these harsh little nuggets adorned in rainbow sprinkles. This cocktail replicates the flavor, to a tee, with a creamy finish. It’s a little reminder of the woman that taught me my stealthy dice and card skills, how to spit popcorn seeds and who passed down some of her ornery nature in my direction.”
Manhattan Flip
Whisknladle, 1044 Wall St., whisknladle.com
The List:
bourbon, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, sugar, whole egg
The Gist:
Shake all ingredients together without ice to emulsify the egg. Next, shake with ice to chill and dilute the cocktail, then strain the drink into a snifter. The egg creates rich foam that settles on top, which is finished with a couple dashes of swirled angostura bitters for aromatics.
Inspiration:
Like a marriage of eggnog and a Manhattan cocktail.
Also Offering:
The Byzantine (Rye Whiskey, house-made spiced fig cordial, Cherry Heering liqueur, chocolate bitters)
Hot Buttered Rum
California Modern (George’s at the Cove), 1250 Prospect St., georgesatthecove.com
The list:
10 Cane rum, butter, brown sugar, hot water, nutmeg, cinnamon, whipped cream.
The Gist:
10 Cane is from Trinidad. It’s lightly aged, so it has that caramel and vanilla vibe without being too dark,” mixologist Frankie Thaheld said.
Also Offering:
Double Jack (rye whiskey, maple-chicory soda, brandied cherry)
Winter Wonder
Marine Room, 2000 Spindrift Drive, marineroom.com
The List:
Steamed eggnog, Zaya rum, chocolate covered candy cane stick
The Gist:
Combine a shot of Zaya rum with steamed eggnog and garnish with candy cane stick. Can also be served cold.
Non-alcoholic version:
Mix equal parts steamed eggnog and hot chocolate, serve in a candy cane-crusted mug.
Also Offering:
Smashed Pumpkin (Pearl vodka, pumpkin liqueur, cinnamon syrup); Holiday Sparkler (Prosecco, passion fruit puree, St. Germain, fresh cranberry juice); Santa’s Sidebar (Hennessy VS cognac, Dubonnet Rouge, sweet vermouth, brandied cherry garnish)
Pumpkin Spice Late
Pannikin Coffee & Tea, 7467 Girard Ave., pannikincoffeeandtea.com
List:
Pannikin’s pumpkin spice syrup, shot or two of Indo Noir espresso, steamed milk, love
Also Offering:
Peppermint Mocha (ground Mexican chocolate, peppermint syrup, coffee or espresso)