On the thirteenth day of Drinkmas,

High Heels Lo Fi said to me...

 

Drink Anything with

Family and Friends

 

Today is the day to sip sherry with your Nana, even if you think it's gross. Try your cousin's favourite beer, your sister's special blend of tea. Talk about how you miss your grandpa, and laugh about how he smelled of scotch on special occasions. Talk about your friend who moved away, and always found the most interesting sparkling waters. Talk about your neighbour's new coffee shop.

 

It's not about booze; non-alcoholic drinks are just as important. It's about sitting still for a moment, being together in person. It's about stopping the outside world and turning off your phone, because you are engaged in real conversation.

 

Today is the day to remember friends and family, food and parties. It is the week to create new memories. No matter how you celebrate the winter holidays, we hope you gather with wonderful people to share a lovely meal, and a drink together.

 

Take a moment to send messages to people you haven't spoken with in ages. Sometimes we drift apart; it happens. Use this holiday to reach out to fabulous people, and reconnect. Let them know you still think of them.

 

Wishing you warm hearts, hot tea, and chilled cocktails,

 

High Heels Lo Fi

Cynthia * Doug * Jackie * Mark

 

On the twelfth day of Drinkmas,

Cynthia made for me...

 

A Suntanned Clit

 

I invented this drink. I could blame

someone else, but why bother?

Sometimes you just get an idea,

and it's delicious. (Did I ever mention

that I was briefly a bartender, and am fascinated by flavour combinations?) This is a super sweet little cocktail, and it works best if you just have one, maybe two, then have a glass of water before switching to tequila or white wine.

 

INGREDIENTS:

Ice

Fresh Lime

1 shot Malibu Coconut Rum (because it smells like suntan lotion)

1 shot Peach Schnapps (because "I could eat a peach all day")

 

METHOD:

Place 3 big ice cubes in a rocks glass, add the booze, and squeeze in some fresh lime. The lime is essential for taking the chemical taste out of the schnapps and making it taste a bit more like actual peach. Swirl for a moment to chill and blend, then sip slowly. It's really, really sweet, but so good!

 

NOTES:

Asking bartenders for this drink is hilarious - you'll have to explain the whole thing. Also, letting other people take a sip, and watching them run to the bar for their own is hilarious - the bartender will likely force them to say the actual name of the drink loudly before they'll make it. Basically, this sassy little cocktail is a riot among the right crowd.

 

P.S. - How does one trademark a cocktail?

 

On the eleventh day of Drinkmas,

Doug made for me...

 

Ginger Infused Vanilla Sangria

 

One year, for my annual Ass On The Grass

Pride party, I decided to forego the classic

Jesus Juice and create a refreshing thirst

quencher for the hot day at hand. I ended

up creating the best White Sangria ever.

And it still had the sneaky kick in the ass that Jesus Juice is known for.

 

INGREDIENTS:

1 2L bottle of white wine (Gewürztraminer or Riesling for their lightness and sweetness)

1 750ml bottle of Galliano liqueur

1 375ml bottle each of Orange Brandy / Cherry Brandy / Peach Schnapps

2 each of lemons, limes, oranges

10 cubes of candied ginger

1 500ml bottle of ginger ale or ginger beer or ginger green tea

 

NOTE: Place candied ginger in container, add 1/2 bottle of Galliano. Store in refrigerator over night.

 

METHOD:

Fill a 5L pitcher half full of ice

Add wine, Galliano, Orange Brandy, Cherry Brandy and Peach Schnapps

Add candied ginger and rest of Galliano

Slice lemons, limes and oranges into even half slices and add to alcohol

Add ginger ale / beer / tea

Stir and enjoy! Ahhhhhh....refreshing

 

NOTES:

You can add grapes, cherries and / or watermelon as well if you find it too citrusy.  This is a strong drink, so pace yourself as to not become the human piñata early in the evening. Also this doesn't come back up so nice I've been told. Hola!

 

EXTRA NOTE FROM CYN:

Doug is known as "Canada's Deadliest Bartender" for good reason. This sangria is SOOOOO delicious that you'll drink two glasses without even realizing it, because you don't taste any alcohol at all. Then you'll slowly discover you've just chugged the equivalent of 3-4 servings of booze. Don't drink more than one glass unless you're also drinking water and eating food. Pace yourself.

 

 

 

On the eighth day of Drinkmas,

Cynthia made for me...

 

You Win Again, Tequila

 

If the thought of tequila makes your

stomach turn, you've probably only

had it frat boy style. (You know, after

6 cheap beers and 3 rum and cokes,

some genius talks everyone into tequila shots.)

Please do not blame this fine liquor for your upset guts that night - it was the mixing, and that was the last thing you had. Do Not Mix Boozes! Time to drink it properly.

 

Jose Cuervo and Sauza are barely adequate tequilas. Try El Jimador or Olmeca for your cheaper but acceptable tequilas,  Cazadores Reposado, 1800, or Herradura if you have a little money to spend. Note - you don't need lime in the higher end liquors - try it with and without to see which you prefer. Los Arango is interesting, and a bit spicy - it goes well with food. Plus it comes in a sassy blue square bottle, so it looks neat on your shelf.

 

INGREDIENTS:

Good Tequila

Ice

Fresh Lime

 

METHOD:

Place 3 ice cubes in your glass, then pour in a shot and a half of tequila. Squeeze in the juice of about a quarter of a big lime, half if it's one of the teensy sad little winter fruits. Swish it around for a moment. Like whiskey, a little water opens up the flavour. Sip it slowly, elegantly. Tequila is luscious.

 

NOTES:

1800 Reposado is deep and smoky like a whisky. Herradura is absolute heaven, but out of my price range. If you have some, please invite me over for a drink!

 

On the seventh day of Drinkmas,

Doug made for me...

 

Doug's Classic Caesar

 

We don't really know who invented the

Caesar, but we know it's a Canadian thing.

Where else would you find tomato juice

with the ever pleasant taste of clams?

 

Not all Caesars are the same. Some prefer mild, some prefer spicy, some with vodka, some with tequila, some with gin.

I have been told that mine are the best Caesars, thank you.

 

It's all about the ingredients and in the certain order in which they're prepared. The secret is the Caesar must be prepared and served in a mason jar, shaken not stirred.

 

INGREDIENTS:

2 ounces of vodka, preferably over proofed. I like to use good old Canadian made Prince Igor - it's a 50 percent vodka and since you're stirring it in a cocktail anyway taste is not the focal point here.

Clamato juice. (The fine taste of tomatoes with clams.) I prefer good old Motts Clamato of the extra spicy variety.

One lime

Worchester sauce.

Hot sauce - anything from Tabasco to "burn your ass the next day sauce". Personally I prefer something in the habanero to ghost pepper, just with extra kick.

Celery stalk

Extreme bean Caesar rimmer

Salt and Pepper

 

METHOD:

Now here's where the fun begins. This must be mixed in this specific order - if not just toss in the sink and start again.

Fill mason jar with ice. Add Worchester to taste. Squeeze in the juice of one lime, add Caesar rimmer into mason jar.

Next, pour in your 2 ounces of vodka or tequila or gin depending on what you feel like at the moment, but of course vodka is always the best in this case.

Fill jar with Clamato juice add your hot sauce of choice.

Salt-and-pepper to taste. I prefer a little shot of "shit is hot rocks" spicy salt available online everywhere.

Now cap that mother and shake fiercely like Pee-wee Herman other movie theatre from Hell.

 

Now garnish with anything - your choice. I prefer the extreme bean. You can use a pepperoni stick, good old celery stalk, some people like to overdo it and put everything they can find including sliders, bacon, cheese, olives - don't go overboard. You still want to taste the fine points of the Caesar, such as that tomato and clam.

 

NOTES:

I once went to a party and drank 20 Caesars - that was a full 40 ounces of Absolut vodka in a six hour time. I was totally coherent and I even got laid that night.

Hail Caesar!

 

 

 

On the fourth day of Drinkmas,

Cynthia made for me...

 

Barefoot Moscato - sweet white wine

 

I drank this while camping several times this

summer, and it's delicious. Fruity, light, and just

the right level of sweetness. Perfect for parties,

as most wine drinkers would enjoy it. Wonderful

with food, as the apricot and citrus is subtle, and blends with nearly everything.

 

INGREDIENTS:

One Bottle of Moscato (Only $11!)

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo/product/barefoot-moscato/234351

 

METHOD:

Chill slightly (take out of fridge half an hour before serving), pour into a wine glass, bottoms up.

 

Or, if you're camping, drink it straight out of the bottle, so that you can screw the lid on and keep bugs out. It also tastes almost as good warm, out of not-quite-clean coffee mugs, with pine needles floating in it. Nature is punk.

 

NOTES:

Warning! When drinking this in the summer heat, be sure to chug a glass of water every hour. If you drink wine to stay hydrated, you're doing it wrong. You don't want to feel icky on tomorrow's hike.