Well-Dressed Libations

Whether hosting a huge party of friends or enjoying a quiet evening at home, it’s fun to offer more than just the traditional Champagne, wine or eggnog during the holidays. After all, festive occasions call for festive drinks.

There are many ways to dress up a drink, but one favorite technique is to decorate the glasses themselves. Coating the rims with colored salt or sugar or even chocolate adds vibrancy and texture. Plus it looks cool.

To make colored salt or sugar, just add a few drops of food coloring to coarse salt or sugar and mix well. Dip the rim of the glass in lemon or lime juice, then in the colored crystals. A lemon or lime wedge also works but often leaves a pulp trail, causing the crystals to adhere unevenly.

You can even do it with chocolate, for drinks made with Kahlua or creme de cacao. Simply melt the chocolate in a shallow dish in the microwave, dip the glass rims in the chocolate and then chill the glasses until the chocolate is set, about 10 minutes.

Fanciful garnishes are another way to spruce up your cocktails. Though I wouldn’t dare bedeck a classic martini with anything other than an olive or pickled onion, other drinks frequently allow me to veer from the traditional orange, lime or pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry or mint leaf. I use edible flowers or delicate herbs such as tarragon to add originality, color and fragrance.

Citrus twists are also fun. Place long, thin strips of zest in ice water to curl them, then drape one twist over the rim of the glass so that it cascades down the outside of the glass.

Whatever you use, just remember that the garnish should complement the drink. It should make sense.

A word about tools: Though a cocktail shaker or mixing glass set with strainer is preferable, I’ve used a Mason jar and small kitchen strainer in a pinch. The point is simply to mix and chill the liquors.

Likewise, if you don’t have a jigger--a measuring cup of sorts that holds 1 1/2 ounces (some also measure 3/4 ounce on the opposite end)--measuring spoons will work (1 tablespoon equals half an ounce).

Thinking in terms of proportions rather than exact measurements also helps, especially when mixing large quantities.

Midnight Kiss

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 10 minutes plus 8 hours chilling

In this twist on the classic Kir Royale, sparkling wine is flavored with vibrant, sweetened cranberries. A splash of orange liqueur makes a nice addition as well.

CRANBERRY SYRUP

1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries

2 cups sugar

* Grind cranberries in food processor, then add sugar and pulse to combine. Pour sweetened berries into sieve set over empty bowl in refrigerator and drain overnight. Next day, pour syrup through fine sieve to remove any bits of fruit; reserve cranberries for another use. Makes 1 1/2 cups.

ASSEMBLY

4 teaspoons orange-flavored liqueur, optional

2 cups sparkling wine

Whole cranberries, for garnish

* Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons Cranberry Syrup and 1/4 teaspoon liqueur, if desired, in Champagne flute. Fill with about 2 tablespoons sparkling wine and stir gently to incorporate (if you omit this step, syrup will remain in bottom of glass instead of mixing in with sparkling wine). Top with more sparkling wine. Garnish with whole fresh cranberries. Repeat with remaining glasses.

16 servings. Each serving: 114 calories; 1 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 0 fat; 29 grams carbohydrates; 0 protein; 0.26 gram fiber.

Glogg

Active Work Time: 5 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Glogg is a Scandinavian spiced wine traditionally served during Advent. This recipe was passed down from my Finnish grandfather, who doubled the amount of vodka for a more potent brew. My family served glogg every New Year’s Eve, igniting it right before midnight.

1 (1 1/2 liters) bottle hearty red wine

10 cardamom pods

5 cloves

1 1/2 cinnamon sticks

1 cup blanched almonds

1 cup raisins

3/4 cup sugar

1 (750 milliliter) bottle vodka

* Combine wine, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon, almonds, raisins and sugar in large, heavy-bottomed pot. Cover and bring to slow boil over medium-low heat, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and add vodka. Carefully put long-handled lighted match to drink, then stir with ladle for 1 to 2 minutes to burn off alcohol. Cover pot to extinguish flame.

* Keep warm on stove. Ladle into mugs or glasses with spoons, being sure to put some almonds and raisins in each glass.

10 (6-ounce) servings. Each serving: 406 calories; 10 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 8 grams fat; 32 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams protein; 0.57 gram fiber.

Tangerine-Infused Vodka

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 10 minutes plus 1 week standing

Vodka infusions are fun and versatile. For this version, adapted from Smirnoff’s “Holiday Cocktail Guide,” I took my cues from the local farmers market. Sweet, seedless tangerines (oranges make a nice substitute) blend beautifully with a touch of lemon and lime; fresh ginger root or cranberries would add tang. A jar of infused vodka would also make a lovely gift.

2 pounds seedless tangerines, sliced 1/4-inch thick

1/2 lemon, sliced 1/4-inch thick

1/2 lime, sliced 1/4-inch thick

1 cup sugar

1 (750-milliliter) bottle good-quality vodka

* In clean, 2-quart glass jar, add half of tangerines, half of lemon and lime slices and half of sugar; repeat with remaining fruit and sugar. Pour vodka over fruit and let rest for at least 1 week, stirring gently every other day to incorporate sugar. (Can be stored at room temperature up to 1 month, then strain vodka back into bottle and store in refrigerator or freezer.)

Approximately 3 cups. Each 1/4 cup serving: 236 calories; 2 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 0 fat; 26 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram protein; 0.26 gram fiber.

Infusion Confusion

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 1 minute

Use the Infused Vodka for this refreshing and light cooler, a great sipping drink any time of year.

1/4 cup Tangerine-Infused Vodka

1/2 cup club soda

Infused fruit, for garnish

Mint sprigs, for garnish

* Fill highball glass with ice. Add a couple slices infused fruit, then vodka and club soda. Stir. Top with sprig of mint.

1 (6-ounce) serving. Each serving: 128 calories; 12 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 0 fat; 0 carbohydrates; 0 protein; 0 fiber.

Tangerine Martini

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 2 minutes

This may sound like a lot of vermouth, but it balances the sweetened vodka perfectly. The result is smooth and citrusy without being cloying.

3 tablespoons dry vermouth

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon Tangerine-Infused Vodka

Tangerine peel twist, for garnish

* Fill cocktail shaker with ice cubes, vermouth and vodka. Shake gently or stir with long spoon, then strain into chilled stemmed martini or cocktail glass. Garnish with tangerine twist.

1 (6-ounce) serving. Each serving: 317 calories; 1 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 0 fat; 0 carbohydrates; 0 protein; 0 fiber.

Millennium Margaritas

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 10 minutes

My brother, Chris Sexton, developed this frozen margarita, a hit among even the most die-hard on-the-rocks fans. It has become legendary in our family, suitable for any occasion. The frozen limeade adds the necessary tartness while creating a smooth, even consistency. When pouring several glasses at once, fill each glass halfway, then go back and top each one off. This helps evenly distribute the alcohol, which tends to settle to the bottom. We like to serve these in frosted margarita, martini or even rocks glasses. To make “adobe salt”: add a few drops of red food coloring to coarse salt in shallow bowl until the crystals turn a rich adobe red. You can use coarse salt in place of adobe salt.

Lime wedge or juice to coat rim, optional

Adobe salt to coat rim, optional

3/4 cup frozen limeade concentrate

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon good-quality tequila

2 ounces orange-flavored liqueur

1 ounce triple sec

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

* Dip glass rims into shallow dish of lime juice or rub with wedge of lime, then dip into adobe salt. Refrigerate or freeze glasses.

* In blender, combine frozen limeade, tequila, liqueur, triple sec and salt. Process a few seconds. Add ice to fill canister and blend until ice is fully broken up and incorporated and margaritas are slushy. Pour into prepared glasses.

4 to 6 servings. Each of 6 servings: 179 calories; 2 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 14 grams fat; 8 grams carbohydrates; 0 protein; 0 fiber.

Blue Barfly

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 2 minutes

This drink is the color of clear Caribbean waters and is tropical without being too sweet. As curacao is an orange-flavored liqueur, the orange wedge makes an appropriate and stunning garnish. A pineapple wedge could also be used. I prefer Parrot Bay coconut rum.

3 tablespoons coconut rum

Scant tablespoons blue curacao

1/4 cup pineapple juice

Orange wedge, for garnish

* Pour rum, blue curacao and pineapple juice into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake briefly and strain into ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with orange wedge.

1 serving. Each serving: 190 calories; 3 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 0 fat; 17 grams carbohydrates; 0 protein; 0.06 gram fiber.

Pisco Sour

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Although Chile is famous for its wines, Guillermo Bert, a Times editorial art director, insists that the official drink for any celebration is the Pisco Sour. Pisco is a high-proof liquor made from grapes. The best are also drunk straight, but any Pisco is appropriate for this mixed drink. Look for Pisco in markets catering to Chilean clientele, such as Rincon Chileno in Los Angeles.

1/2 cup Pisco

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

5 tablespoons sugar

1 egg white

2 cups crushed ice

* Mix Pisco, lime juice, sugar and egg white in blender, then add ice and blend until smooth.

8 servings. Each serving: 69 calories; 7 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 0 fat; 9 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram protein; 0 fiber.

Note: Although many recipes call for uncooked eggs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has found them to be a potential carrier of food-borne illness and recommends avoiding raw eggs.

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Infusion Confusion glass from Bristol Kitchens, South Pasadena. All other glasses from Crate & Barrel Stores.