About Cocktails: New Contest, Repeal Day, & Gift Guide

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Cocktails Cocktails Popular Drinks Bar Basics Stories & Parties From Colleen Graham, your Guide to Cocktails It seems as if we are now in the midst of the holiday season and I hope that everyone is able to enjoy it to its fullest. This week's edition is filled with a little of everything, including news of our latest (and short run) cocktail contest and some things for getting you into the holiday spirit. The other matter of the day is that it is Repeal Day. Every December 5th, we celebrate the repeal of Prohibition in the U.S., so get out and enjoy the special occasion! Cocktail of the Week: English Christmas Punch This is a delightful warm punch that is perfect for the holiday season that mixes dark rum and red wine with tea and a bit of citrus and sweetness. It is a strong one, however, and I can see some office parties getting a little out of hand if someone has a little too much. That said, it is a great traditional punch and one that I would serve at any holiday occasion. Get the recipe... Search Related Topics:  tea drinks  party drinks  party punches December Cocktail Contest: New Year's A new month and a new contest, and I expect to have some fun with this month's theme. For December we are collecting New Year's drink recipes and because I want to announce the winner before the holiday, this one has a shorter deadline of Friday, December 20th. Champagne, New Year's Eve parties, hangover concoctions, and parade and game watching drink recipes are all acceptable. Share your New Year's drink recipe here... Happy New Year Cocktail (pictured) Fun & Stylish New Year's Cocktails Search Related Topics:  new year's eve parties  cocktail contest  champagne cocktails Happy Repeal Day! It was 80 years ago today that the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified and the 18th Amendment was out. It is a day to celebrate because this was the end of Prohibition and Americans could once again drink what they wanted. Today, we celebrate with a little history lesson on this failed experiment and a cocktail or two. Of course, it would only be appropriate that the drinks be from that era, and there are many classic cocktails to choose from. History of U.S. Prohibition - 1920-1933 Quick Trivia About Prohibition and Repeal Bee's Knees (pictured) Search Related Topics:  prohibition  liquor history  cocktail history Holiday Gift Guide Gift ideas are filling up the internet and there are probably more holiday gift guides than you can read before the season is over. I recently updated my suggestions for the bartenders in your life. My favorite updates are this year's designer cocktail shakers and the list of non-essential (but helpful) bartending tools. In a pinch, you can always get your favorite imbiber a magazine subscription or pick them up one of these bartending guides, which I find essential. Also, you can always make a trip to the liquor store and pick up a good bottle of their favorite spirit. The Full Holiday Gift Guide for Bartenders DIY Spirited Gift Basket Search Related Topics:  holiday gift guide  gift guide  bartending tools Related Searches Holiday Gift Ideas Cocktails Holiday Recipe Cocktails with Vodka Perfect Gift for Him Featured Articles Cocktail Recipes Distilled Spirits Mixology - Tips and Tricks Entertaining & Food History and Culture Professional Bartending   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. Read more...> This newsletter is written by: Colleen Graham Cocktails Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Cocktails newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2013 About.com   Holiday Hooch Merry Christmas Peach Pomegranate Holiday Martini Santa's Whiskers   Follow me on: Advertisement