With the holiday season finally here, we turned to Bacardi’s Brand Manager Vernon Pemberton for tips on hosting and creating the perfect holiday cocktail.

BM: Please tell us, what is a holiday cocktail that everyone will love?
VP: That’s easy! The Ho Ho Mojito is made using ginger beer and BACARDÍ Spiced Rum. It’s refreshing and festive and will be enjoyed by everyone on your guest list.

BACARDÍ HO HO MOJITO

Ingredients:
1 ½ oz BACARDÍ Spiced Rum
¾ oz Lime Juice
½ oz simple syrup
6 mint leaves
3 oz ginger beer

Directions:
Build all ingredients (except ginger beer) in a highball glass.
Churn with crushed ice.
Top with more crushed ice and ginger beer.
Garnish with mint sprig and enjoy!

BM: What about a cocktail to serve at a New Year’s Eve party?
VP: Perfecting a New Year’s Eve cocktail isn’t easy. You want one that isn’t too boozy and overwhelming but is festive and fun. The Bombay Bramble Spritz is simple to create, aesthetically pleasing and packs a big punch, making it the best cocktail for ringing in the new year with.

BOMBAY BRAMBLE SPRITZ

Ingredients:
2 parts Bombay Sapphire
1 part Martini & Rossi Bitter
1 part Lemon Juice
1 part Honey Syrup (Just add a little water to your honey to help it blend into your drink. Good rule of thumb is 3 parts honey to 1 part water)
2 parts Fever Tree Club Soda
4 parts Martini & Rossi Prosecco

Directions:
Pour all ingredients into a shaker.
Give it a quick shake.
Pour into balloon glass or wine glass with fresh ice cubes.
Top with Fever Tree Club Soda and Martini & Rossi Prosecco
Garnish with orange wedge and serve.


 
How about a Christmas morning cocktail?
There’s no better way to usher in Christmas Day than with a festive mimosa. My favourite recipes incorporates rosemary, cranberries and Martini & Rossi Prosecco. The hard part will be to only have the one!

CHRISTMAS MORNING MIMOSA

Ingredients:
6 ounces Triple Sec
24 ounces cranberry juice
1 bottle Martini & Rossi Prosecco
Fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish, optional

Directions:
To a champagne flute, add the cranberry juice and Triple Sec.
Fill to the top with the Prosecco.
Add cranberries and rosemary for garnish.
Serve immediately.


 
Can you give us a really good egg nog recipe?
While store-bought egg nog is convenient, there is no real substitute for one made made from scratch. The perfect egg nog is thick and creamy, warming and aromatic. A good egg nog is like liquid gold come Christmas and this one will have your family and friends singing your praises.

BACARDÍ SPICED EGG NOG

Ingredients:
6oz BACARDÍ Spiced Rum
½ cup light brown sugar
¼ tsp salt
20oz oat milk
6oz unsweetened coconut cream
¼ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
6 eggs (separated into egg yolk & egg whites)
Star Anise as garnish

Directions:
In a stand mixer or a large bowl with a hand mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale yellow and fluffy. Add in sugar and salt until thoroughly combined.
Slowly whisk in oat milk and coconut cream, followed by BACARDÍ Spiced Rum and the vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and thick. Set mixture aside in a large bowl.
With the stand mixer in a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until soft peaks are formed. Gently fold into the original nog mixture with a spatula or wooden spoon.
Serve chilled and garnished with star anise.

And what about a spiked hot chocolate recipe? 
Sure! This is a great one using Bacardi Spiced Rum and Butterscotch Schnapps, it’s warm, comforting and is perfect for celebrating the season with.

BACARDÍ BUTTERSCOTCH HOT CHOCOLATE

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz BACARDÍ Spiced Rum
1 1/2 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
3 oz hot chocolate
Dash of orange bitters.

Directions:
Add equal parts liquor to hot chocolate, top with whipped cream, or Marshmallows shaved chocolate.
 

Is there a right way to serve holiday punch? Can you serve it in a punch bowl and guests help themselves or is it better to pour drinks for your guests?
As a busy host, it’s best to lighten the load by allowing guests to serve themselves. Presentation is key, and I recommend serving in a beautiful glass punch bowl or glass pitcher.


How do I determine how much alcohol I need for a party?
The last thing you want to do is run out of spirits and drinks for your guests, and that’s why we’re making it easy for hosts to find the perfect cocktail and know what to add to their grocery basket with Host Mode On.

Host Mode On is a website that helps hosts figure out exactly what to buy to prepare a certain amount of drinks. You simply specify what mood you’re in, what spirit you prefer and you’re presented with a list of cocktails. After choosing the cocktail you want to serve at your party, you can input the amount of drinks you’d like to be able to prepare (average consumption for each guest is 2 drinks/hour) and a shopping list is generated, which includes the number of bottles you will need to prepare your drinks. The list can be downloaded so you can take it with you to the grocery store!
 
Can I get away with only serving cocktails at my party or do I need to provide wine/beer too?
To accommodate all your guests, it’s best to have a little of each on hand,  but the key is to set expectations at the outset. In your invitation, make sure to let guests know that you plan to serve up some delicious cocktails and punch. It’s also important to consider the demographics of your guest list, if your event is made up of mostly women, there are certain drinks they tend to enjoy over others and vice versa with men.
 
Should I hire a bartender for my party? If so, how much should I expect to pay?
A knowledgeable, creative and attentive bartender is a great addition to help add a special touch to your event. It’s also a great way to take the load off in terms of organizing glassware, preparing garnishes and researching recipe ideas. A great bartender will ask questions about the type of event you’re hosting, the crowd, and vibe and will curate a cocktail menu that will be sure to please all those in the room.

You should expect to pay $20-$40/hour for a bartender or server and additional for the cost of spirits. The complexity of the drinks menu and quality of spirits will also impact cost.

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