Festive Inexpensive Holiday Cocktail Recipes! Sobieski and VnC magic

By April MacIntyre Dec 8, 2011, 5:18 GMT

Two standout recommendations include Sobieski Vodka, a veritable bargain compared to Absolut and Grey Goose.

Holiday parties do not have to break the bank for quality mixed drink pours.

Two standout recommendations include Sobieski Vodka, a veritable bargain compared to Absolut and Grey Goose. Sobieski is a top shelf vodka imported from Poland. It has a classic glass bottle shape and is introduced this Christmas in a special Sobieski Vodka 1.75 L bottle gift package, which includes a brushed stainless steel 5 oz flask for just $19.99.

The other mention is an array of premixed drinks offered by VnC Cocktails. If you are a tad lazy or just not sure of your mixology skills, VnC Cocktails are low calorie cocktails offered in six ready made flavors - all less than 150 calories per serving.

VnC is an all-natural product made with 100% fruit juice. Lightweight, pre-mixed and ready-to-serve, VnC Cocktails are easy to pour and store at any occasion from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve.

VnC sent Monsters and Critics their pomegranate cosmopolitan to try, and we added a special holiday touvch to embellish the martini glass.

VnC was created by a New Zealander who consulted some of the world’s top mixologists for exciting recipes and flavor combinations. VnC Strawberry Daiquiri uses Camarosa Strawberries grown in New Zealand, famous far and wide for their size, at least six or seven – in every bottle. The VnC Margarita cocktail combines the finest Mexican tequila with the tartness of lime juice, balanced with a touch of orange triple sec liqueur. Like all authentic tequilas, their Blanco Tequila is sourced from the Jalisco region of Mexico; their limes come from the West Indies.

Pomegranates are full of antioxidants. Not that it really matters after your second or third pomegranate cosmopolitan. Pomegranate is one of the world’s super fruits. VnC mixed pomegranate, cranberry, vodka and triple sec liqueur for a winning combination.

The only ingredients in VnC Cocktails are premium vodka and 100% natural fruit juices, sourced from the best suppliers around the world. No artificial preservatives, additives or colorings.

Now, for both the VnC cocktails that are ready made, and for the cheerful Sobieski Holiday group, we recommend a decorative snow job:

The perfect snowy coconut rim:

3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
1 Teaspoon water
1/2 cup sweetened, flaked coconut (makes 4 or more decorative glass rims)

Combine the powdered sugar and water.

Place the mixture on a plate and roll the outside of the rim of the glass in the sugar mixture or brush it on fairly thick and about a half-inch wide on the outside rim of the cocktail glass. Take the sugar rimmed glass and press a handful of coconut to the rim. The flaked coconut gives a snowy texture but a finer textured coconut can also be used.

Sobieski has also sent us amazing mixed drink recipes for the holidays for you to try out.

YULETIDE
(Created by Francesco LaFranconi)
1.5 oz Sobieski Polish Vodka
2 oz iced Chai Tea (brewed from tea bag)
2 oz Clear Apple Juice
Juice of 1 Lemon Wedge
1 dash of Orange Bitters -optional

Method: fill up a 12 oz highball glass with ice and pour the tea and apple juice first, then add Sobieski and fresh lemon juice. Stir and serve.
Garnish: slice of orange and slice of red apple

Note: drink can be served cold over ice or hot. If served hot, heat up the apple juice and the Chai tea to about 180F, then add vodka and juice, stir and serve.

THE SOBIESKI EGGNOG
3 cups of Sobieski Vanilia Vodka
8 eggs
Separate eggs and yolks. Add 1 cup of sugar to yolks while mixing. Add 1/2 cup of sugar to whites after they have been mixed and are stiff.
1/4 cup of honey.
Mix egg whites and yolks together.
Stir in 1 1/2 pints of heavy cream and 1 pint of 2% milk.
Mix in a large bowl and chill. Top with cinnamon and nutmeg.

SOBIESKI SLEIGH
2 oz. Sobieski Vanilia Vodka
1/2 oz. Irish Cream
Splash of pomegranate juice
Serve over ice with a stick of cinnamon.

RED VELVET
1 ½ oz Sobieski Vanilla
½ oz Blackberry puree
½ oz Dark Chocolate Liqueur
1 scoop vanilla bean ice cream
3 slices of muddled ginger
Crushed biscotti garnish

CARAMEL APPLE MARTINI
1 ½ oz Sobieski Vanilia
¾ oz Apple Schnapps
½ oz Sweet and Sour
Splash Lemon/Lime soda
Caramel garnish

THE SNUGGIE
Muddle Cinnamon & Raw Sugar
Add in ½ oz Orange Juice
Marie Brizard Crème de Cacao
Sobieski Vanilia
Serve in a Martini glass
Garnish with cinnamon stick

YULETIDE PUNCH
(16 servings)
(Created by Francesco LaFranconi)
1 x 750 ml Sobieski Polish Vodka
4 cups Chai tea (sweetened according to taste)
4 cups Clear Apple Juice
2 whole orange cut in slices
2 whole red apple cut in slices
optional- 1-2 teaspoon Orange Bitters
Mix all ingredients in large bowl and garnish with seasonal fruit slices.