Let’s face it - COVID-19 has put a damper on the holiday season this year! That said, I still think there are plenty of ways to do some entertaining this year! Here in Toronto, we are advised to only celebrate with the ones in our household. Some of us have bigger households then others, so I’ve got you covered for both. I’ve been loving Iceberg Vodka lately, a local Canadian vodka, so I thought it would be fun to share a couple holiday entertaining ideas that you could do this year! I love a smooth vodka, and Iceberg Vodka is hands down the best! It uses the purest water on earth, iceberg water harvested by cowboys off the coast of Newfoundland and you can taste the quality from the very first sip. I’ll be enjoying a nice holiday cocktail featuring Iceberg Vodka, with my loved ones, even if it’s virtual! Here are a couple of tips I think you could find useful for entertaining during this pandemic.
1) Embrace the virtual! I know we’re all zoomed out, but Zoom can still be fun! With just a little bit of planning, you can have everyone you love making a killer cocktail together on a zoom call. I love the idea of delivering ready to make cocktail boxes to your friends and family. You can get individual sized bottles and fill them with all cocktail ingredients. I love making my famous Medge’s Iceberg Madras cocktail and it’s so easy! Measure out 2 ounces of orange juice, cranberry juice, soda water, put them in reusable bottles. I would suggest gifting a nice bottle of Iceberg Vodka because it’s so good and they’ll want to have it on hand too! You can put it in a basket with a bow or you can use a shoe box and just wrap it up in festive paper or newspaper! Either way, don’t forget the garnish! Make sure to put in a couple leaves of mint and a lemon in there. Print the instructions, or write them on personal stationary (I, for one, love the personal touch) and it’s ready to go. So when you all get on that zoom call, you lead the group into the cocktail making. That is sure to be fun!
2) If you’re doing in-person entertaining (you live in a big full house), I think 2020 is definitely the year to wow people! Everyone loves watching a really good mixologist do their thing. Well, here’s your chance to be a world-famous mixologists, except with a punch! I made a White Cosmo using Iceberg Vodka recently, and it was amazing! Start with making your ice cubes beforehand! Put in a couple fresh cranberries and little bit of thyme in the mold, and freeze. When it’s party time, have your area set up with everything you’ll need. Throw the ice cubes in your pitcher – the ice cubes alone will wow! Then ask your audience to help you with measurements! It really is something that depends on personal taste. Once your white cranberry, cream soda and vodka is in there, I recommend either having a little garnish station. Gives them something fun to do! You can do individual little garnish stations (think tiny bowl with cranberries and a stem of rosemary at each place setting, or some cute little tongs for people to do it themselves at a designated station.
Medge’s Iceberg Madras Recipe
- Ice
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 2 oz orange juice
- 2 oz soda water
- 2 oz Iceberg Vodka
- 1 sliced lemon for garnish
Put ice in your shaker (3/4 full of ice). Pour all ingredients into your shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour into glass, garnish with lemon or cranberries!
White Cosmo Punch Recipe
- Ice
- 2 cans of cream soda
- ½ litre of white cranberry juice
- 1 bottle of Iceberg Vodka
- 2 sliced lemons for garnish
- 1 cup of cranberries for garnish
Bunch of rosemary for garnish
Fill your pitcher with the ice. Pour in ½ litre of white cranberry juice (you can adjust to taste once it’s all done!). Pour in cans of cream soda. Now it’s time for the Iceberg Vodka! You can start with half the bottle and see how you like it first! Put as much lemon and cranberries as you want, but leave a little for garnishing. Mix with your cocktail mixing spoon. And it’s ready to serve! Add a little rosemary to jazz it up!