15 Days of Holiday Drinks (Day 4)

• Each year, I offer readers a lineup of cocktail creations for the holiday season, culled from combing through all sorts of sources -- my own archives, bar books, distillers' ideas, etc. -- even press releases from breathless PR people seeking to get their clients' products mentioned.

This cocktail will be the most difficult to prepare from the entire list of 15, but it will be well worth the effort. A suggestion: Try this several times before you try to amaze and amuse your guests with it.

Bear in mind that although you’re using small amounts of the liqueurs to build this drink, that there are seven of them, so it is a very potent concoction. And, be sure the drink is iced.  

STAR SPANGLED SPANNER

Technique is paramount to success in making this drink. Some mixologists suggest using a cocktail spoon, and very gently pouring the ingredients — all of them thoroughly chilled in advance — over the bottom of the bowl portion to guide their gradual entry.

½ measure green Chartreuse 

½ measure yellow Chartreuse 

½ measure cherry brandy 

½ measure creme violette 

½ measure Triple Sec 

½ measure blue Curacao 

½ measure brandy

Pour the green Chartreuse gently into a tall, chilled wine flute, then with a steady hand pour in the Triple Sec to create another layer. The cheery brandy is the third layer, followed by the creme violette, the yellow Chartreuse, the Curacao, and then gently float the brandy on top. Gently serve, and repeat as needed. There are variations on this recipe and, obviously, they create different looks.

Here are several, all smaller and with fewer layers:

STARS & STRIPES

Pour ¾ of a measure of chilled cherry brandy into a chilled shot glass, pousse cafe glass, or flute. Gently pour in 1 ½ measures of chilled half-and-half cream for the second layer, and then 3/4 measure of blue Curacao.  

UNION JACK

Pour one measure of chilled red maraschino liqueur into a chilled shot glass. Then, gently pour one measure of blue Curacao for the second layer, then one measure of chilled grenadine.  

TRICOLOR

Pour one measure chilled creme de menthe into a chilled shot glass. Then, gently add one measure of Bailey’s Irish Cream for a second layer, and finally one measure of chilled red maraschino liqueur.

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