Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes Candy Cane Cocktail 4.0 (418) It's the ultimate holiday libation! Servings: 1 cocktail Jump to recipe Refreshingly unique and totally festive, this candy cane cocktail will be the toast of your Christmas party. Far from being a sticky-sweet peppermint bomb, this bright and fruity martini variation is a beautifully balanced blend of strawberry vodka, cranberry juice, and a just a few drops of crème de menthe to provide a light peppermint breeze. Crushed candy canes around the rim of the glass enhance the refreshing minty notes. Originally served at famed Four Seasons restaurant in New York, you can be sure this candy cane cocktail recipe will add the right touch of sophistication and whimsy to any holiday gathering. The method for preparing this drink is to measure the ingredients for each serving into an ice-filled shaker, then shake vigorously to simultaneously chill, aerate, and perfectly dilute the cocktail. If you’re planning to serve candy can cocktails to a crowd, it’s a good idea to designate someone as a bartender at a well-organized cocktail station. And don’t forget: you’ll need plenty of ice! 10 Creative Cocktail Garnishes That Add a Festive Touch to Your Holiday Drink Use a cocktail muddler to crush the candy canes for rimming the cocktail glasses. Crushing the candy finely allows you to build up a thick coating around the rim of the glass. Directions Credit: Brie Goldman Rim glasses: Place crushed candy canes on a small plate or saucer. Wet the outside rim of a chilled martini glass with water. Holding the glass by the stem, rotate the rim to coat with candy. Credit: Brie Goldman Shake cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, creme de menthe, cranberry juice, and ice; shake until well combined. Credit: Brie Goldman Strain into glass: Strain into prepared glass; serve immediately. Credit: Brie Goldman The original version of this cocktail uses strawberry vodka, however, Four Seasons bartender Charles Corpion invites at-home mixologists to have fun with other vodka flavors of their choice. Mr. Corpion also likes to prepare his candy cane cocktails with blueberry or orange flavored vodka. Choosing the Right Glassware for Your Cocktail This recipe calls for serving the candy cane cocktail in a martini glass, but this isn’t your only glassware option. When choosing glassware you need to consider the drink’s characteristics and decide which vessels will complement it best. This cocktail is served up with a candy-coated rim, so you’ll need something with the appropriate volume to fill the glass by at least two-thirds without it overflowing. You also need a glass with a fairly thin rim that has enough circumference to hold a generous amount of the candy coating. Besides a martini glass, you could serve this candy cane cocktail in a coupe, a Nick and Nora, or a small rocks glass. More Holiday Drink Recipes to Try: Champagne Fizz Poinsettia Cocktail Christmas Punch Martha's Eggnog Mulled Wine