Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar – Day 20 – Little Drummer Boy. Rum pum pum pum. This rum-based cocktail is delightfully adult.
That’s what I call it when a drink is spirit-forward. The ginger liqueur plays beautiful against the rum and sweet vermouth, the orange slice brings a welcome hit of acid.
I just love the rich amber hue of this drink, it just looks like something you want to sip on, the cut-crystal glass doesn’t hurt either. As you’ll notice throughout this week’s Let’s Get Blitzen posts, I’m using a lot of gifts as photo backdrops.
How do you feel about gift-wrapping? It’s something I take great pleasure in. Like my Christmas tree, I try to wrap all my presents in a coordinated colour theme that matches that of my tree, in my case, red, white and metallics. I would gladly wrap presents for friends who find the task tedious at best and endlessly frustrating at worst.
I love scrolling through Pinterest or December issues of magazines for some serious wrap inspiration. From simple craft paper upgraded with Christmas themed ink stamps, to single sheets of quality paper from The Papery or Paper Papier embellished with ribbons, bows or beautiful washi tape, I love it all.
I’m always impressed when someone goes the extra mile by adoring their presents with an ornament, a sprig of holly, or something seasonal and stunning.
Another great option is chalkboard paper or even chalkboard gift tags that you can decorate with your own design. I’ve even seen newsprint elevated to high design with the right ribbons/bows/accessories. I guess, in a way, it could be considered a bit short-sighted to spend 20 minutes wrapping something that the recipient is going to tear open in less than 20 seconds.
Unless of course, the recipient is the fastidious kind that delicately removes all the tape and unwraps the present one fold at a time, reserving the paper for future gifting. Personally, I’m usually to anxious to see what’s underneath it all to pursue the latter approach, unless of course the wrapping paper is to-die-for. Usually, on Christmas morning, you’ll find me surrounded by a mound of shredded wrapping paper, wearing golden bows in my hair and festooned in ribbon necklaces.
Whether you’re the patient type or the rip-and-tear kind, I hope Santa brings you everything you wished for this year.
Cheers!
Little Drummer Boy
- 1 oz Appleton Estate rum
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- ½ oz Canton ginger liqueur
- 1 orange slice
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In a rocks glass filled with ice, combine 1 oz Appleton Estate rum, 1 oz sweet vermouth, ½ oz Canton Ginger Liqueur and an orange slice. Stir to combine.
Recipe from: St. Onge, Christopher. “Havana Spice.” Food & Drink. Holiday 2018.
