5 Must-Have Alcohols For The Most Festive Season

A festive season in Trinidad and Tobago usually means one filled with joy, good food and…booze. Though you can find almost any type of alcohol during this time, there are a few that are absolute must-haves and some, that add that extra magic touch of festivity to your season.

We’ve narrowed our must-haves down to five alcohols so, if you plan on asking for duty free purchases for any loved ones, definitely ensure that these are on your list.

1. Cherry Brandy

You know it’s Christmas time when you see cherry brandy bottles lining the shelves of every grocery store. Therefore, it’s no surprise that cherry brandy is number 1 on our list. It is essential to soak you fruits in cherry brand to make the signature cake of the season, black cake. Apart from that however, cherry brandy is great for making another Christmas classic, black forest cake. You can also get creative by making cocktails with cherry brandy (we heard that mixing it with orange juice and club soda is delicious!).

2. Red Wine

Red wine is famous for its double-duty performances. It adds great depth of flavour to red meats and of course, is delicious with your Christmas dinner. Try deglazing your pans with red wine for a delicious sauce or marinating your lamb or beef. It’s best to use a dry red wine so pick a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Shiraz/Syrah, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc. If you rather a sauce or meat with more carmelisation and sweeter undertones of course, pick a sweeter, more full-bodied wine like port or Moscato. However, always stick to the golden rule of cooking: cook with a wine you’d drink.

3. Puncheon

Puncheon is the classic alcohol for everyone’s favourite drink at this time of the year, ponche de crème. Others who prefer a less intoxicated effect and smoother taste choose to make it with white rum or whisky however, the original was made with Puncheon. So, apart from the obvious benefits or to some, disadvantages of Puncheon, it’s actually great for marinating meat. Puncheon has almost no flavour, especially when mixed with other drinks or in this case, seasonings and is perfect for tenderising meat due to its high alcohol content.

4. Prosecco

Prosecco is basically the Italian cousin of champagne but without the very high price tag. You get all the fizzy goodness and luxury without having to squirm at how much you’re spending. Prosecco is a great festive alternative to the usuals around Christmas and is perfect for toasting the new year with. You can easily jazz it up with fruit juices, frozen fruits like mangoes and berries or fruit sorbets (we love lemon sorbet with chopped mint and basil!).

5. Homemade Wine

Scrunter had the right idea, homemade wine is essential for a proper local Trini Christmas. Served over ice, homemade wine is refreshing, fruity and extremely potent. You can find balata, cashew, sorrel, five-finger and guava wines at many local markets throughout the country. The process of making the homemade wine is an art within itself, so support your local small business and buy a few for Christmas. It’s a great, refreshing alternative.