cocktail times

It's safe to say that a lot of alcohol will be consumed at your Ugly Sweater party. It's a shindig that starts later in the night, so guests will be excited and in the mood. When they arrive, offer them a cheesy cocktail or a scrumptious shot. Sandra Lee's Glacer-tini is bright green and sophisticatedly trashy, while a Slippery Santa shot is deliciously dark and potent.

Have plenty of beer and wine on hand. Expecting a large crowd? Splurge on a keg. Champagne and sparkling apple cider are festive crowd pleasers, so stock up on a few bottles. Sparkling and still water are a must.

For the holiday-themed cocktail recipes, read more

It's cocktail week here in San Francisco and a whole bunch of the city by the bay's best bartenders are participating in celebrating the dynamic beverage community. This is the first year this event has been hosted and many popular bars, lounges, and restaurants are contributing by featuring two limited edition specialty cocktails: one classic recipe and one innovative concoction. As I browsed through the list of cocktails, I noticed two places were offering a negroni as their classic cocktail. Invented in Florence, Italy in the 1900s, a negroni is often consumed as an aperitif to stimulate the appetite. For the recipe (if you are an aspiring mixologist you better learn how to make this!) read more