Two Drink Minimum; The After 5 Cocktail Blog

We all know the holiday season can sometimes be a less then “joyful” occasion. Lines at your local shops and stores seem to begin to stretch into the next county, the feast you had prepared for the legion of family members preparing to descend upon your house like a swarm of locust has burnt, the children (which aren’t always all yours) are out of school and rocketing off the walls in boredom while your uncle Tom gets into with your aunt over which presidential candidate is going to best save the county from its impending doom. Ah yes…the holidays.

I am not sure if the good people East Anglia, England during the 18th century had their fair share of holiday strife to deal with when they decided to concoct the age old Eggnog, but I do know now-a-days, you cant have a holiday without it. And hey, we could all use a little stress relief during the holidays. Rich, frothy and laden with booze, eggnog — whether you love it or hate it — is an inevitable part of the holiday tradition.

Though there is a plethora of different ways to produce eggnog, the bottom line goes like this. You start with 4 egg yolks, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 pint whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream; 3-4 ounces of Whiskey, rum, brandy, or cognac, 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg and 4 egg whites. Then in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Add the milk, cream, bourbon and nutmeg and stir to combine.
Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat to soft peaks. With the mixer still running gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
Whisk the egg whites into the mixture. Chill and serve.

Now if this procedure just sounds like to much work, you can always make a trek to the store and pick your self up an already mixed, ready to serve version and just add the liquor of choice.

However, if the thought of fusing booze with milk and eggs doesn’t sit well in your stomach, one could always mix up a marry ole yultide cocktail. There are a million different ways to put together the infamous martini, and here are some with a lil’ “holiday flare”.

This one is one called the Nutcracker Sweet. (Don’t worry fella’s it’s just a name) Prepare a martini glass by first dipping it in chocolate and then in crushed almonds and coconut. Mix all the ingredients –1 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Amaretto, 3/4 oz White cream de cacao– in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice and strain into the prepared martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and you got your self one rockin’ cocktail to fit all of your holiday festivities.
Another quick holiday style martini is the Snowflake Martini. Here is the jist — 1 1/2 oz vodka, 1/4 oz lemon juice, 1 oz hpnotiq (hypnotic) liqueur, 1 oz white cranberry juice – you make like Santa’s belly and shake it all up and serve into a chilled martini glass rimmed with coconut shavings. It may look a little tropical, but just remind people that it’s a “Snowflake” martini and you should be all set.

Knowing that presentation means everything during the holidays, we here at After5 have come up with solution for those serving eggnog at holiday get-togethers. Our Holiday Flip-Flop Drink Coasters would look great under any number of our ceramic mugs, filled to the frosty top with eggnog and holiday cheer.

If you choose to take the martini route, you could really impress your guests with your very own personalized martini glasses. This set of two personalized martini glasses garnished with a retro flair can fit up to 14 letters of your choice.

And for those who find them selves in a holiday situation that calls for covert drinking operations, our handy cell phone, camera or binocular flasks could come in the clutch during those long drawn out holiday discussions where the only way to survive is to take back a swig or two.

So however you celebrate your holidays –whether with or without eggnog– make sure to keep your head up and remember, it’s only another 365 days until it starts all over again.

As the sun goes down and local shops and groceries stores begin to close there doors and the flicker of lights from houses begin to diminish as all the children are tucked into bed…this is when the night life begins. Stale yellow lights from lamp post soon begin to be replaced by an array of bright buzzing neon rainbows flashing signs for cocktails and beer, live nudes and the ‘party scene’.

Men and women alike get donned up in their best (or not so best) attire and hit the streets all across this beautiful brazen county of ours, all in search of the same thing…that spot with the best Night Life.
As Americans we love the night time party scene…Dim dance clubs blasting the latest and greatest chart toppers while all sorts of multi colored lights flash and spin as smoke begins to bellow from beneath the DJ booth…
Ahh yes, we have all been there…shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers trying against all odds not to spill your drink down the bare back of the nice lady dancing in front of you as you simultaneously attempt to scan the crowd in hopes of locating your friend who you last saw scampering off with a random stranger of the opposite sex. As we all know, most of these nights are hit or miss…either they are great…or you end up wishing you would have stayed home doing something more fun and constructive…such as lying on the couch and catching up on your favorite TV shows…A prospect which keeps some people from ever stepping foot outside their house in attempts to go to the club…
But wait…all you people out there who are disgusted by the idea of paying for over priced drinks in an over crowded bar to get your taste of the night life…I have a solution for you…bring the party to the place you know best…your home…now I know the initial idea of taking a club and plopping it down smack dab in the middle of your living room my not conjure the best of mental images…but give me a chance to explain…
Imagine this…you have your house set up with dim lights…neon signs posted on the walls…stylish light up glasses and straws line your make shift bar…all to accommodate only those people who YOU decide are fit to party in your humble abode.
If the picture just painted brings a smile to your face…you have come to the right place…
Lets start from the top…

You are going to want to make the general ambiance of your home as bar like as you can…and what better way to do it then with neon lights??Here at After5Catalog we have got you covered on just about ANY type of crazy neons you can think of…Everyone loves Beerpong…but can you find a bar anywhere with a beer pong table?? Well you can now…right at YOUR bar!! Martinis and cocktails…like I said, if you want a neon sign…we got it!

So now that we have the neons taken care of…what kinda classy bar would you have without some really kick ass cocktail glasses?? Dim the lights down low and let theses sets of light up “drinking untensils” make the mood nice and mellow…

Last but not least…if want to go full bore and really deck your place out…try one of our personalized signs…we have a PLETHORA of customizable signs to fit just about anyones needs….

So the next time you are out with the guys or gals and someone spills a drink down your back…just remember…we here at after5…”have got your back”