Create a signature Christmas cocktail with infused spirits for your next holiday get together. Step by step instructions included.

Greetings friend.  Welcome back to A Very Global Christmas.  If you are new to the series, my friend Casa Watkins Living and I are sharing 12 days of globally inspired Christmas DIYs and decorating ideas.  You can find them all in one place on A Very Global Christmas page. Today is day 11 so we are getting close to the end!  For a little change, I’m going to share with you how to make infused spirits so you can create a signature Christmas cocktail!

A Signature Christmas Cocktail

My husband is helping me out with this one.  He’s been infusing spirits (flavoring alcohol) for a few years and is in the middle of a seasonal batch to give to friends and co-workers.  Two of our favorite holiday flavor pairings are blueberry and cinnamon and cherry with vanilla.

I’m including the recipe for blueberry and cinnamon vodka but feel free to use your favorite fruit and spice/herb with your liquor of choice.

Blueberry and cinnamon infused spirits recipe for your signature cocktail.

Blueberry and Cinnamon Infused Spirits

Create your own signature Christmas cocktail by using infused spirits.   It makes for a great hostess or holiday gift! 

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Ingredients

• 1 bottle vodka or rum 750 ml
• 1 quart of fresh blueberries or 2 bags of frozen blueberries
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 cup turbinado sugar
• 1/4 cup of filtered water
• 1 glass jar
• 1 muddle
• 1 fine mesh metal strainer optional coffee filter and basket

Instructions

How to make infused spirits

1. Place blueberries in jar (thaw first if frozen) and mash with muddle.

2. Pour in vodka (or white/silver rum if you prefer).

3. Let it sit in a cool, dark place for 4 days to work it's magic.  It should strongly smell of blueberries! Yum.

4. Add cinnamon sticks.  Store for additional 1-2 days.  When you can smell the cinnamon, it's ready.

5. Strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer, removing blueberries and cinnamon sticks.  Store in an air tight container.

Simple syrup recipe (1/4 cup per 750 ml of diffused spirits)

1. Bring 1/4 cup water to boil.

2. Add 1/4 cup of turbinado sugar, stirring until all sugar dissolves.

3. Remove from heat and pour directly into infused spirits.

Notes

Enjoy your infused spirits on the rocks or mix it in cranberry juice or sparkling water. 

IMPORTANT! Do not press berries for more juice.  Alcohol diffuses all flavor so there's no need to. 

Optional step:  Some particles may not strain but you can remove them by straining again through a coffee filter.

Add simple syrup (or honey) to sweeten and dilute it if it's too strong. 

Garnish your drink with cranberry ice cubes and fresh blueberries with cinnamon sticks. 

Freeze fresh cranberries into your ice cube tray with water for cranberry ice cubes!

I just love the colors of this cocktail!  Aren’t they festive?

Other flavors to try!  Cherry and vanilla, berries and mint.

A huge thanks fo my darling husband for sharing the recipe and details with me.  

There’s his cute face!!

Casa Watkins Living is sharing a dessert recipe that would compliment this cocktail perfectly!  Make sure to check out her semi-homemade pound cake! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  This is the first official recipe I’ve shared and I enjoyed it so much that I might be doing more in the future.  I would love to hear your thoughts on that.