By Jon Theiss

Holiday celebrations will soon be in full swing—so here’s a supply of recipes sure to calm your nerves and add some sparkle to your celebrations.

1 sugar cube

2 teaspoons apple brandy 

1/2 oz. cranberry juice

4 oz. brut champagne or sparkling wine

Garnish with 1 thin slice granny smith apple

Drop a sugar cube into a flute. Add the apple brandy and the cranberry juice. Slowly add the champagne and stir gently, trying not to disturb the sugar cube. Set the apple slice on the inner rim of the flute.

2 oz. Hennessey Cognac

½ oz. Gran Marnier

½ oz. Blackberry Brandy

Peppermint stick

Combine all ingredients with ice and shake. Strain and serve in a martini glass and garnish with peppermint stick.

Ginger Smash

12 whole cranberries

2 thin slices of ginger

1 teaspoon of sugar

1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 oz. gin

1 1/2 oz. apple liqueur

Muddle cranberries, ginger and sugar together. Add the remaining ingredients. Shake with ice. Strain and pour into an old fashioned glass.

Group recipes to warm up a crowd:

1 quart pomegranate juice

2 quarts fresh apple cider

8 cinnamon sticks

6 star anise

12 cloves

12 allspice berries, cracked

6 oz brandy

Splash of Tuaca liqueur

Place all ingredients in a dutch oven or slow cooker. Simmer slowly for 20 minutes and remove from heat and cover. Steep mixture for 2 hours. Strain and serve in a heat-proof glass. Add a splash of Tuaca to each glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Cranberry Hot Toddy

4 tangerines

1/4 cup whole cloves

3 quarts cranberry juice cocktail

3 cups amber rum

Cut tangerines into ¼ inch-thick round slices and remove seeds. Stud the rind of each tangerine round with 4-5 cloves. In a large Dutch oven or slow cooker, simmer cranberry juice, tangerine rounds and sugar for five minutes to combine flavors. Stir in rum and serve in a heat-proof glass. Garnish with additional tangerine or cinnamon stick.

2 bottles red wine (just choose your favorite)

3 cups ruby port

1 cup orange brandy

2 lemons

2 oranges

4 cinnamon sticks

12 whole cloves

Cut lemons and oranges into rounds making sure to remove all seeds. Heat all ingredients in a Dutch oven or slow cooker for 15-20 minutes. Serve in a heat-proof glass.

GIFT GUIDE EXTRA        

This winter, look local for some of the best spirits to give as gifts. Local distillery Middle West Spirits is Columbus’ only grain-to-bottle distillery, producing near-perfect ultra-premium vodka from Ohio wheat. www.middlewestspirits.com