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Holiday Drink Recipes
Contributed by Hartson Dowd

Generally speaking, Irishmen do not sip, tipple, imbibe or quaff. They drink. They drink with friends, they drink with gusto and they occasionally guzzle. This is not to say, however, that an Irishman will drink just anything that's been placed in front of him. Irishmen do not, for example, drink warm milk, or drink anything in a fancy glass with an umbrella sticking out of it! In talking to Irish pub owner's, here are some recipes for your Yuletide parties:

The Irishman's Bloody Mary #1
Ingredients:
Vodka
Tomato juice
Tabasco
Worcestershire sauce
A-1 steak sauce
Salt, pepper
Celery

Method:
Fill a large tumbler with ice and vodka. Throw all the other ingredients away.

The Irishman O'Doul's Bloody Mary #2
Ingredients:
1 cup tomato juice
1-1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
2 to 3 turns of freshly ground black pepper
One dash of hot sauce
One-quarter cup of Irish whiskey
2 lemon slices

Method:
Combine the tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned and celery salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Stir well and chill.
Just before serving, add the whiskey and pour over ice.
Garnish each drink with a lemon slice
Serves 2. Increase the recipe depending on the number of guests at the party. I think this version, which features Irish whiskey instead of vodka, is ever so much better.

Irish Whiskey Punch
Ingredients:
3 lemons
1-1/2 pints of boiling water
8 ounces of sugar
1-1/2 pints of Irish whiskey

Method:
Peel the lemon rind very thinly, and then squeeze the lemon.
Add to the boiling water and sugar. Dissolve the sugar.
Then add the Irish whiskey, strain the punch, and serve.
It can be served hot or allowed to cool and bottled for picnics.

Apple Spiced Wassail
24 4-ounce servings

Ingredients:
6 small baking apples
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup brandy
12 inches of cinnamon sticks
1 tsp whole cloves
1 tsp whole allspice, crushed
2 fifths dry red wine
1 fifth dry sherry

Method:
Core apples; peel a strip around the top of each. Place in 10x6x2 baking dish. Combine sugar and brandy, bring to boil and pour over apples. Cover and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Drain, reserve syrup and combine with water.

Tie spices in cheesecloth and add to syrup mixture. Bring to boil, simmer 10 minutes. Stir in wine. Heat through. Remove spice bag, pour in punch bowl and float apples.

Festive Jello (Jelly in Eire) Shots
24 4-ounce servings

Ingredients:
1 small box of red jello, any flavor
1 small box of green jello, any flavor
2 cups of boiling water
2 cups of vodka

Method:
Make the red jello and green jello separately as follows. Dissolve jello with 1 cup boiling water; add 1-cup vodka and stir. Pour into 1 oz plastic cups found at party supply stores and chill (in freezer - vodka requires colder temperatures to set) until firm.

Place all the cups in a large bowl filled with ice to stay cold. Very festive!

An Irish Goodnight - This drink is definitely not for dieters!
Serves 2

Method:
1. Combine 2 cups milk, 2/3 cup of cocoa and 2/3 cup of granulated sugar in a saucepan over medium-low hear. Bring to a bubble, reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes. Skim off any skin that might form on top of the mixture.
2. Pour 1-3/4 ounces of Irish Mist into each of two 12-oz. mugs or glasses with handles. Pour half the hot cocoa mixture into each glass, and mix well.
3. Top with a dollop of whipped cream, and enjoy.

Hot Limerick Toddy
This is just what the doctor ordered for a cold winter night.
1. Squeeze half a lemon into each of two 8-oz. mugs or glasses with handles.
2. Stir 1 teaspoon of honey into each glass or mug.
3. Add 1-1/2 oz. of Irish Mist liqueur to each mug or glass, and fill with hot water.
4. Stir well, add a cinnamon stick to each drink and serve.
5. Serves 2

Cider Headache Remedy
This old timer from Ireland has got to work; it tastes awful. Besides a trip to the liquor store it requires a stop at the health-food shop.

Method:
1. Take a litre of hard cider, two tablespoons of burdock seeds, two tablespoons of whole white mustard seeds, and a smallish horseradish root, cut in little pieces.
2. Put everything in a large jar, cover tightly, and let stand overnight.
3. Apply sparingly, hot or cold. Like it matters.

An Irishman's Stone Fence
1. Into an 8 ounce highball glass, put a dash of bitters, and 1 teaspoon powdered sugar.
2. Muddle well and add 2 ice cubes and 1-1/2 ounces of Irish whiskey.
Fill the glass with soda water.

Ed. Note: In Ireland, it is customary to refer to an alcoholic potion as a "drink," Everything else, including tea, coffee, cocoa, and warm milk, is a beverage. Whatever you imbibe during the holidays, please do so responsibly - and do keep an eye on your guests. Friends don't let friends drink and drive. Sláinte!
Russ points out that the ‘drink and drive’ problem is more pronounced in the United States. He remembers that in his day in the UK they walked (horrors!).

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Images: Irish Whiskey Labels print from Bare Walls.