BS: Favourite Christmas drink

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Raedwulf
Date: 17 Dec 12 - 11:03 AM

Mead. Is not just for Xmas! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Dec 12 - 10:08 AM

A good claret with the roast beef (can't really afford it this year. though) and an old tawny port sat by the fire afterwards.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Becca72
Date: 17 Dec 12 - 09:41 AM

Thanks, Bobad! That's exactly the one I was trying to post. Must have offended someone at Google...

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: fat B****rd
Date: 16 Dec 12 - 03:19 PM

Anything but Gin.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: mg
Date: 16 Dec 12 - 02:12 AM

I would like a hot buttered rum or a Spanish coffee..If I was inclined to beer, I would have a bitter bitch ale.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: mg
Date: 16 Dec 12 - 02:12 AM

I would like a hot buttered rum or a Spanish coffee..If I was inclined to beer, I would have a bitter bitch ale.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 16 Dec 12 - 02:00 AM

For me it has to be sherry, sounds boring but there is nothing like opening a bottle of Harveys on Christmas mid morning while everyone is opening their presents and while I am cooking the Christmas meal. I tend to stress over the cooking so a couple of sips of sherry seems to make everything fall into place. However I take care not to have too much as I have been known to mislay crucial parts of the meal like the stuffing balls or the roast parsnips! It has always been a long running joke in the family.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Dec 12 - 09:49 PM

Holy cats, michaelr, my gall bladder is screaming for mercy just at the recipe; the concoction itself would put me into a coma.

I just bottled this year's raspberry cordial. With a little bit of dark chocolate, it's just effing delicious.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Dec 12 - 05:30 PM

Scotch Cream, which I make myself every winter. It's sort of like Bailey's, but better. Here's the recipe:

Aunt May's Scotch Cream

6 eggs*
2 14oz cans Eagle condensed milk
1 5.5oz can Hershey's chocolate syrup
2 cups Scotch whisky (not too peaty)
1 pint whipping cream
Vanilla / almond extract to taste

Beat eggs, then mix in other ingredients. Makes ½ gallon.

*If concerned about raw eggs, drop them into boiling water for 1 minute.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: bobad
Date: 15 Dec 12 - 05:12 PM

Here ya go Becca

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: kendall
Date: 15 Dec 12 - 04:44 PM

Abelour on the rocks.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 04:47 PM

Adrien: Yes the "refreshments" and the parties. It WAS like that, many to go to. It can still be done, with a bit of spirit.

I remember the ones at The Yellow Door, where everybody brought something. The Jews(and honorary Jews, like everybody is Irish on St. Patrick's day) brought bagels, Chuck & Jenny made a turkey, the Italians brought pizza, etc., everybody from many nationalities & faiths all being together in the spirit of Christmas. It was nice.

And you know what? Falafel CAN go along with Pizza & Chinese...LOL

And I seem to remember what could best be described as "Zombie Punch"; even the fruit in there had a smile on it's face. YOUR favourite drink was in there for sure....;0)

It showed that we could all share & enjoy the moment...

Merry Christmas....bob

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 12:48 PM

Torpedo - by Sierra Nevada is indeed good... also Arrogant Bastard

but Garg... if there is ANY outlet there that has beer/ale from Dogfish Head in Delaware, you will have more to talk about... their IPAs have become legends.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Becca72
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 09:04 AM

Ok, so apparently Google Images doesn't want you to see a picture of a sixer of Woodchuck Cider...bummer.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Becca72
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 09:02 AM

Virgin egg nog or a nice cold Chuck

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 08:46 AM

Garg, Some nice beers there. I'll have to check out Pliny.
Hop Stoopid by Lagunitas might sit well on your list.

Also, this time of year Maudite by Unibroue is a nice Belgian dubbel-style beer from Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Ed T
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 07:20 AM

Whiskey, Chongo?

Are you drinking corn-mash, bathtub-distilled Bourbon?

Why not try home-grown Canadian whisky?

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 06:32 AM

I went into "home brewing " because there was not decent brew available,   to the common man ... in the entire USA...that was 1950 to 1980

My father pronounced my brew too "cider " and suggested I had not cleaned the brewing vessalls thoroughly between....Reality....I had used cane rather than corn grain sugar. I understand fermentation and the different core strata much better today    than the youngest days when ANYdspew).

Only these past recent years,   has the blending of Hops risen to a point of reverence.on my pallet.


There are several world class "winter brews° exquisite in their malt but most thoroghly reknowned for an astounding bouquet blend of HOPS.
Hopped in the frig at this time:
Pliny the Elder - an explosion of bitters with previos unheard names - by Russian River
Torpedo - by Sierra Nevada
Noble (a blend of the American four foundation hops) - by Sam Adams
Arogant Bastard - by Stone

From Chrisrtmas to 12th night the switch is to Lambics and Imperial Stouts. For the bitter cold of January we lean heavily on the barley wine....and gradually digress to the pillsners of summer er by way of the BOCK and ALE (yeah) of spring.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Beer - proof that God loves us ....Ben Franklin

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: GUEST,BobL
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 04:31 AM

Charmion, KGL is indeed on the sweet side, but more me, it's gingery all right. Have you tried sipping it ice cold? Please don't dilute it with ordinary rum. My concoction requires Wray & Nephew Overproof, there's no substitute that I know of. The almost subliminal amount of Cointreau removes a slightly rough edge.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 01:08 AM

Cheddar cheese daiquiris. Tuna Colada. Hot chocolate Bloody Mary.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 11:03 PM

Like usual. Whiskey and Banana Dacquiris.

- Chongo

Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Christmas drink
From: Beer
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 10:29 PM

Back then Bob there were so many Christmas parties going on you had a hard time to get to them all. I recall one Christmas around 68/69 I had 4 to go to. Sometime you brought a bottle but most of there time there was lots there. All the drinks were good because it was Christmas and if you were single you were looking to get .....
Anyway,we got home safely.
Merry Christmas to all.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 08:47 PM

My favourite Christmas drink would be the one YOU offer me...;0)

But seriously Folkies, Appleton Estate Rum...reportedly "tested" by the Lady who owns the business...she is supposed to sip every batch, to make sure it's up to scratch. or to put a damper on that "cold"...

Jack Daniels....Breakfast of Champions (just kidding) But that we call, "Yer sippin' whiskey!

I have a British friend who is fond of Scotch. He always had 2 bottles. One was THE REAL DEAL, top shelf Scotch. The second was, shall we say, less expensive. He would ask a guest, " would you like a Scotch?," The guest who would say, "yes, please, with ice..." He got the economy brand. If you wanted one neat, you got the good stuff...No point in wasting good booze...LOL

And from the old days... The Manhattan...which takes a skilled hand to prepare properly...Ah memories...don't know if I'd try one these days...

The infamous "Black Russian," but you would have to be twenty something, with a beautiful Lady by your side, and candles...Ah, MORE memories(I was going to write something else, but I better not...) use your imagination...

By the time we get all this drinking done, Christmas will be over...Jingle all the way...

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 08:08 PM

This year... to celebrate.. one of these!


(for those who just don't click on links, that's Rhum Barbancourt-ESTATE RESERVE - AGED 15 YEARS) I have never had more than the standard 3 star..4 year old... and that was GOOD.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Elmore
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 06:47 PM

shot and a beer

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Spailpin
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 03:59 AM

Irish coffee ... Whisky substituted with a little clear spirit from the still of a well know Kerry banjo player ...well ground coffee and freshly whipped cream ,add more turf to the fire .....life is good !

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Joe_F
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 08:18 PM

Smoking Bishop has the hono(u)r of being the punch with which Ebenezer Scrooge celebration his redemption:

   "A merry Christmas, Bob," said Scrooge, with an earnestness that
could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. "A merrier
   Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a
    year. I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your
    struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very
afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob. Make up the
fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob
                              Cratchit!"

                         5 unpeeled oranges
                        1 unpeeled grapefruit
                              36 cloves
                         1/4 pound of sugar
                        2 bottles of red wine
                           1 bottle of port

       Wash the fruit and oven bake until brownish. Turn once.
Put fruit into a warmed earthenware bowl with six cloves stuck into each.
         Add the sugar and pour in the wine - not the port.
              Cover and leave in a warm place for a day.
            Squeeze the fruit into the wine and strain.
                 Add the port and heat. DO NOT BOIL!

           Serve "smoking" warm. Yield: 15 to 20 servings

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 08:07 PM

Oooh, cool. What's a Drambuie shandy?

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 06:05 PM

A pint of Drambuie shandy.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 02:55 PM

I have a bottle of King's Ginger I bought more than a year ago, expecting something like Stone's Ginger Wine but more -- ah, sophisticated, in keeping with its elevated price.

Imagine my surprise when I tasted it and found it almost revolting.

Now, I am not what the French call a "fin bec", nor am I fussy about food and drink except with respect to quality. As a confirmed ginger fan, I was eager to like King's Ginger. But it was not to be.

I find that King's Ginger tastes rather like what cheap perfume smells of -- unfortunately, not ginger. On top of that, it's very sweet.

I'll try that concoction of BobL's some time soon, at a time when I don't have to go anywhere or do anything intelligent. If the concoction is not a success, the King's Ginger goes down the sink.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: pdq
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 11:58 AM

In the real world, a "good" bottle of wine is one that you enjoy.

Gallo is a family-owned winery and has pride in family the name, unlike the two corporate entities that it competes with as members of the Big Three (my term) vintners in the US who (probably) produce 80% (by volume) of all US wine.

Gallo has 16,000 acres of grapes they own, most in or near the Central Valley of California. They have thousands more acres under contract,

Merlot is produced in quantity, often to be blended with the varieties.

Because they have huge amounts of money, Gallo can buy small wineries in better regions such as Sonoma County. They sometimes market mass-produced Central Valley wine under the recently-puchased name, sometimes they keep the original outfit reasonably intact, and once in a while they attempt to put out a superior product under their own name.

I suspect that Gallo's Sonoma County Merlot and other varietals from that region are quite good. Not really cheap, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 11:37 AM

My musical chums and I have a holiday tradition now that includes Dogfish Head Pangaea and Widmer Bros. Brrrbon (beer from bourbon barrels).
At home we'll have mulled wine if it gets cold enough and I'll spring for some good bourbon.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: JohnnyP
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 10:59 AM

Robinson's Old Tom. Preferably a pint from a handpump.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Musket
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 10:42 AM

My favourite Xmas drink is, as ever, my next one.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 10:39 AM

Sloe Gin except this year there were no Sloes so no Sloe Gin are well

Joe N.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 10:10 AM

In my drinking days, I had a seasonal fondness for apple cider with a shot of bourbon. Nowadays, I just drink the cider.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: EBarnacle
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 10:04 AM

Charmion, don't waste the good stuff on a mixed drink of that sort.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 08:53 AM

On Christmas morning while we open presents it's traditional to drink brandy alexanders. Not sure when Tom started that tradition (as of Saturday, December 15th, we'll have been together for 33 years), but it was before my time.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 07:37 AM

Coffee

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 06:30 AM

Finally, a use for King's Ginger! I'll try that latter concoction with what's on our back bar: Appleton Estates rum and Grand Marnier.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 05:33 AM

Favourite Christmas drink?
The first beer - after I've done the last of any running around (ferrying relatives) in the car. That is the time to relax!

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: GUEST,BobL
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 05:22 AM

Quick rum punch: 1 part dark rum, 1 part ginger wine, 2 parts boiling water. An excellent restorative after an evening's carol-singing in the snow.

For a more potent potion (50% abv), mix equal quantities Wray & Nephew rum and King's Ginger Liqueur, plus a dash of Cointreau.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 04:59 AM

Glass of advocaat while putting the tree up. Single malt - usually a Balvenie - for a tipple in the evenings.

PS PeeDee, check out Gallo's Merlot - big wine.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: EBarnacle
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 12:07 AM

Coquito, aka homemade Puerto Rican eggnog. Now if I can only find the recipe I used to make, mumble, mumble...

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: pdq
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 10:08 PM

I checked.

Gallo bought Mathew Fox Vineyards in 2004 and Barefoot Wines in 2005.

Both qualify as sleepers in my humble opinion.

Perhaps someone else can confirm or refute this assessment.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Beer
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 09:24 PM

Wher do you live pdq? I'm moving there. Are you serious that is all you paid?
Ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: pdq
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 08:30 PM

I just bought a few bottles of Mathew Fox Shiraz.

On sale for $3.39 for a 750 ml bottle.

I believe M. Fox was bought by Gallo a couple of years ago but the current batch still seems to be good.

This is a very heavy red wine with a lot of character for about the price of Boone's Farm junk.

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Elmore
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 08:19 PM

Rusty Nail

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 07:38 PM

Well, this is a topic on which I can agree with pdq, Sierra Nevada produces some VERY good beer...even besides the Pale Ale.

But I like for holiday dinner with friends, an Australian Shiraz wine from Penfolds (various 'bins'). (not that I refuse various good beers, wines and whiskeys that people bring)

Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Christmas drink
From: Ed T
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 07:24 PM

Beer Nog?