The HGTV Magazine Editors' Favorite Holiday Cocktails

Hosting season is in full swing! Stock your bar and get the holiday parties started with these seasonal drink recipes and gorgeous glassware guests will love.

Cranberry Martini

1. Make the cranberry simple syrup: Bring ½ cup each cranberry juice and sugar to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Let cool.
2. Combine 3 tablespoons of the cranberry syrup, 3 tablespoons vodka and 2 tablespoons each orange liqueur and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, shake and strain into a martini glass.
3. Garnish with sugared cranberries.

Sugared Cranberries

1. Bring 1/2 cup each sugar and water to a boil.
2. Pour over 1 1/2 cups cranberries and let sit 1 hour, then drain.
3. Roll the cranberries in sugar and let dry.

Shaken vs. Stirred

If a cocktail has citrus, cream, egg or any opaque ingredient, shake it with ice to thoroughly combine the ingredients and aerate the drink. When all the ingredients are alcohol, you should stir it. This chills and slightly dilutes the drink without affecting the flavor and integrity of the liquor.

Peppermint White Russian

1. Combine 1 ounce each vodka and coffee liqueur and ¾ ounce peppermint schnapps in a short glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Add 1 ounce cold heavy cream.
4. Serve with a peppermint stick.

Ice Math

Ice is typically sold in 5-, 7-, 10- and 16-pound bags. For a cocktail party, you should buy about 1 1/2 pounds per person.

Champagne Cocktail

1. To create the sugared rim, moisten the edge of your glass with water, then dip in a small plate of sugar.
2. Soak a sugar cube with 2 or 3 dashes of bitters.
3. Drop the sugar cube into a coupe. Add ¾ ounce brandy if desired.
4. Top with sparkling wine.

Tips for the Toast

• Make sure everyone’s glass is full. Toasting with an empty glass is considered bad luck!

• Keep the speech short. You don’t want to interrupt the flow of the party. As FDR once said, “Be sincere, be brief, be seated.”

• If you’re hosting a small group, make eye contact with everyone and clink all the glasses. Cheers!