6 holiday drinks with a CBC Calgary twist

'Tis the season to gather with family and friends for a glass of holiday cheer.

Hopefully those gatherings include some great conversations — which is something our CBC radio hosts strive to bring to the airwaves every day.

In honour of the holiday season, here are some drink recipes that pair well with the shows produced at CBC Calgary's broadcast centre.

Eyeopening mix

Looking for a fresh start to the morning? Well the Calgary Eyeopener is the place to go. It has a mix of hard news and in-depth interviews, and includes lots of personality. So here is a cocktail that offers a little bit of everything.

Holiday Mimosa Recipe (tasteofhome.com)

• 1 tablespoon red coarse sugar.
• ½ ounce raspberry liqueur.
• 2 ounces ruby red grapefruit juice.
• 2 ounces Champagne or sparkling wine.
• grapefruit twist.

Sprinkle sugar on a plate. Moisten the rim of a champagne flute with water. Hold the glass upside down and dip rim into sugar. Pour the raspberry liqueur and grapefruit juice into the glass and top with Champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with a grapefruit twist. Makes one serving.

Calgary Eyeopener (Weekdays 6-8:30 a.m. MT)

It's noon somewhere!

Alberta@Noon prides itself on being immediate, responsive and interactive. So get mixing and invite some friends for some Christmas cheer with a kick.

Christmas Punch (marthastewart.com)

• 2 cups chilled pomegranate juice.
• 1 cup chilled cranberry juice.
• 8 ounces (1 cup) vodka.
• 8 ounces (1 cup) Cointreau or other orange-flavoured liqueur.
• 1 cup chilled club soda.
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from six lemons).
• 1/2 cup simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar boiled until dissolved, then cooled).

Combine pomegranate and cranberry juice, vodka, Cointreau, club soda, lemon juice and simple syrup in a punch bowl. Fill glasses with cranberries frozen in ice cubes, and serve. Garnish with lemon slices if desired.

Alberta@Noon (Weekdays noon to 1 p.m. MT)

Something for after work

So you've survived the ride home on Calgary's congested roads with a little help from the Homestretch and now it's time to sit back and relax. Here is a Christmas take on the classic city slicker mix. 

Holiday Cosmopolitan (myrecipes.com)

• 3 tablespoons vodka.
• 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec).
• 1 tablespoon cranberry reduction*.
  • 2 cups cranberry juice.
  • ½ cup canned jellied cranberry sauce.
  • ¼ cup sugar.
  • 4 dashes Angostura bitters.
  • 1 (three-inch) rosemary sprig.
• 1½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice.
• ice cubes.
• Garnish: lemon rind twist.

Stir together vodka, orange liqueur, Cranberry Reduction, and fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Cover with lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 seconds). Strain mixture into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish, if desired.

*To make cranberry reduction:

Boil first four ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, four to five minutes or until smooth. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half and slightly thickened.

Add rosemary; cover and let stand five minutes. Discard rosemary. Cool mixture 30 minutes. Cover and chill one hour. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to one week.

The Homestretch (Weekdays 3-6 p.m. MT)

Daybreak drink

Chris dela Torre has been getting a lot of use out his French press — which he dearly calls Blackula, since taking over as the host of Daybreak Alberta. Here is a holiday drink that features strong coffee with a holiday twist — and what better way to start a weekend morning.

Eggnog Coffee Punch (allrecipes.com)

• 1½ cups coffee ice cream.
• 1½ cups eggnog.
• 1 cup hot strongly brewed coffee.
• 4 tablespoons frozen whipped topping, thawed.
• 4 pinches ground nutmeg.

Scoop the ice cream into a pan over low heat. Stir in the eggnog and coffee and heat until warm, about 3 minutes. Pour into four glass or ceramic mugs. Top each with a tablespoon of whipped topping and sprinkle with nutmeg. Serve immediately. Add a kick with some Bailey's or Ceili’s Cream.

Daybreak Alberta (Weekends 6-9 a.m. MT)

'A' for apple cider?

Alberta, artists — and apples. Well, maybe that last one doesn't mix. But in light of the diversity of music present on the Key of A each weekend, here is a recipe that really mixes it up. It also makes a lot, so it's perfect for entertaining.

• 1 gallon fresh apple cider
• 5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2½ teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 2½ teaspoons ground ginger
• 3 cups bourbon

In a stockpot, heat apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. When mixture is hot but not boiling, remove from heat and add bourbon. Stir to distribute spices and divide cider among 20 mugs.

Key of A (Saturdays 5-6 p.m. MT)

Tamashiro's Tonic

A little bit of jazz, soul and R&B floats over the airwaves when Tim Tamashiro gets into a groove. What better way to get into the mood than with a festive flair to the classic gin and tonic.

Orange-Cranberry Gin and Tonic (myrecipes.com)

• 1 (two-inch) orange rind strip.
• 1 tablespoon fresh cranberries.
• 1 teaspoon sugar.
• 1 cup ice cubes.
• 3 tablespoons gin.
• 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice.
• 1/4 cup tonic water.

Muddle orange rind strip, fresh cranberries and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Add ice cubes, gin and fresh orange juice. Cover with lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 seconds). Pour into an 8-oz. glass and top with tonic water. Serve immediately. Makes one serving.

Tonic (Radio 2 Monday to Sunday 8 p.m. MT)