Can it really be December all over again? Are you overwhelmed at the thought of all that turkey and stuffing, Christmas pudding and mince pies, what to buy Granny as a present … or are you looking forward to fitting in as many Christmas parties as you can gatecrash? Maybe you are organising your own festive bash? Unless you are one of those really boring people who just wants to hibernate until the January sales until its all over – read on because here at in-the-spirit we are delighted to celebrate our second Christmas with you and hope that we can take out some of the stress and hassle of your Christmas plans – well for all the cocktail side of things anyway!!

So are all the relatives coming to you for Christmas or are you going to stay with them? Pysche yourself up for the inevitable Christmas telly fest of the Sound of Music or Mary Poppins and the unavoidable repeats of Morecambe & Wise and Fools and Horses. Depending on who you have coming its best to be prepared and have various essentials for the more mature Mum’s, elderly Aunts and Grannies! We would definitely recommend that you have the old favourites handy like Warninks Advocaat to make a Snowball for Granny (see last month’s feature on Winter Warmers) and also De Kuyper Cherry Brandy for Mum and Aunty Edith – but don’t forget that these are fantastic ingredients that can be used for a wide range of cocktails that maybe you – or they - didn’t realise. Combined with what we are sure you will already have in your drinks collection – how about trying these cocktail suggestions?