For cocktails, the holiday look is part of the charm

 

 

For bartenders like Tannille Riccitello, it’s nearly as important that a drink looks every bit as good as it tastes.

“I’m one of those people that dresses up every cocktail I make,” said Riccitello, who tends bar at Stoney’s Irish Grill on Van Vranken Avenue in Schenectady.

The crowd at Stoney’s enjoy a hot toddy this time of year, according to Riccitello, who also gets extra orders for Rumchada fireballs and white Russians every holiday season.

“Our hot toddy is made of rum and warm cider, with a cinnamon stick or some sugar on the rim,” she said. “I’ll put it in a martini glass or some kind of funky cocktail glass with an orange slice or a cinnamon stick. This time of year the regular beer drinker might order an after-dinner cocktail instead, and we can do a lot with vodka and club soda.”

At Canvas, Corks and Forks on Union Street, the drink of the month is apple cider sangria, made with white wine, apple cider, orange seltzer and red cinnamon sangria, while at the Stockade Inn bartender Paul Tracy says it’s business as usual, only a bit more of it.

“There’s about 100 different recipes for holiday punch, but you’d think after 40 years I’d be able to come up with something more,” joked Tracy. “At holiday time a lot of people think of eggnog, and you can use brandy, whiskey or just about anything you want as a base. My customers don’t really prefer a specialty drink. People usually stick with what they drink. They just want more of it.”

Kevin Brown, owner of Cafe Nola on Union Street, is pushing a red Phoenix on his customers. A portion of every sale goes to help his daughter, Meghan Hall, who is battling breast cancer.

Katie O’Byrne’s, Schenectady

Grinch

• Vodka

• White chocolate liqueur

• Creme de Menthe

Katie O’Byrne’s

Sugar Cookie

• Vanilla vodka

• Amaretto

• Cream

Katie O’Byrne’s

Mistletoe

• Peppermint vodka

• Cranberry juice

Stoney’s Irish Grill, Schenectady

Hot Toddy

• Rum

• Warm cider

• Sugar

• Cinnamon stick

Johnny’s, Schenectady

Candy Cane Martini

• Vanilla Stoli

• Godiva white chocolate

• Peppermint schnapps liqueur

• Garnished with crushed candy canes

Circus Cafe, Saratoga Springs

Sugar Plum Martini

• Stoli Razberri

• Chambord

• Champagne

• Sugar plum candy

Lillian’s, Saratoga Springs

Christmas Coffee

• Tia Maria

• Ameretto

• Flamed with brandy

• Sugar

• Whipped cream and cherry

Max London’s, Saratoga Springs

Holiday Eggnog

• Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

• Fundador brandy

• Battenkill eggnog

• Shaved nutmeg

• Topped with maple drizzle, cocoa and cinnamon

Gaffney’s, Saratoga Springs

Honey Apple Cider Martini

• Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey

• Apple cider

• Lemon twist garnish

Canvas, Corks and Forks, Saratoga Springs

Apple Cider Sangria

• Apple cider

• White wine

• Orange seltzer

• Red cinnamon sangria

Get more recipes, gifts ideas, fun activities for the kids, and a roundup of holiday traditions from The Daily Gazette’s special Celebrate page!

Categories: Uncategorized