Hi Guys! We are hosting our annual (going on 9 years!) holiday party this weekend, better known as “Friend Feast”! It’s the kind of party where all the friends, old and new, come together and celebrate with a good old fashioned all night hang sesh. It’s like a big booze fueled potluck. All the friends are responsible for a cool snack and beverage, and then we just go nuts. Usually there is tons, and tons of beer at this party – it’s easy and portable, so it makes sense. This year, I wanted to contribute a friendly winter cocktail to switch it up a bit.

Supplying an entire party with a cocktail can be a hard task when you are trying to make cocktails for 30 people, but I came up with a pretty alright solution.

I thought ahead and decided I needed a recipe that was both seasonal and pre-makable (not a word but whatever). I needed something that could be served on ice and wasn’t carbonated. I give you, “The Friendly Winter Warm-up” A delicious combination of sweet and bitter, with herby notes and seasonally infused aromas. The perfect Friend Feast cocktail.

I pre-made the cocktails already, days in advance – pretty forward thinking of me, guys! I made a big batch and portioned it out in small 8oz jelly jars, allowing enough room for ice. The jelly jars work perfect for party cocktails because I can pile them up in a basin full of ice, and don’t have to worry about them spilling or making a mess. Prior to the party I will garnish them all with an orange twists studded with cloves. They’ll be totally delish by feasting time!