Bombay Sapphire joined forces with famed bartender Robin Kaufman to develop cocktail recipes that will help everyone create a perfect Christmas party and save time… our editor Nicki Laborie hosted a party and tried out the Bombay Sapphire Power Hour – even with a broken leg!

It’s that time of year when everyone is planning Christmas parties because, well, it’s a damn good excuse to get together with friends, eat good food and drink to your heart’s content (not that we ever need an excuse to do that…). But let’s just say that hosting, while fun at times, can be just as stressful. Cue in Bombay Sapphire’s “Power Hour” though and I can guarantee your hosting skills will impress your guests and have them drinking a delicious cocktail as soon as they walk in the door.

For me hosting is a passion. I am a social butterfly and generally out and about or hosting at least three to four times a week. So when I had had a terrible accident eight weeks ago where I broke four bones, had surgery, was in the hospital for 10 days and then laid out for six weeks, my social nerves hit the roof. As a result, as soon as I felt I was presentable to friends, I decided to have a few people over for cocktails and snacks – even if this meant I was hosting from a wheelchair.

This is where the Bombay Sapphire “Power Hour” absolutely saved my life. Developed by Canada’s notable bartender Robin Kaufman, the Power Hour batch recipes were created in order to save you time and stress. Kaufman developed three big batch gourmet recipes that will not only impress your guests but also allow you to enjoy time with them instead of rushing around serving people drinks. As a “professional” hostess I know that on arrival it’s hard to ensure guests get comfortable with a cocktail right away so these recipes allow you to pour and serve (or in my case, direct guests to pour it themselves) and actually spend time with your guests. After all, isn’t this what Christmas is actually all about?

Wondering if these cocktails are any good? Not just good…. Simply divine! While Kaufman developed three different recipes, I of course chose to make the most difficult one: the Sapphire East Snowfall. WOW – the level of difficulty paid off because it was so delicious my guests wanted more even after we drank the whole thing. Seriously – if you’re looking to impress, make this cocktail for someone over the holidays because believe me, they will adore you. Sweet and tangy you would never know there is a whole bottle of gin in it!

So now you get the power hour recipes… and my secret is out! I suggest you bookmark this page. You can thank me later.

Happy Christmas cocktailing!

RECIPES:

Sapphire East Snowfall

1 bottle BOMBAY SAPPHIRE EAST
9.75oz Vanilla Syrup
9.75oz Lemon Juice
13oz    Pear Nectar
26 dashes Angostura Bitters
6oz Water (for dilution)

Vanilla Syrup:

1 cup Water
1 cup Sugar
1 Vanilla Bean (split)

Vanilla Syrup Directions:

Add all ingredients to saucepan to low at medium heat.
Bring to a very low simmer, but never boil for 10 minutes until sugar is dissolved.
Remove from heat as soon as sugar dissolves and let cool.
Strain syrup, and bottle.
Keep refrigerated up to 3 weeks.

Garnish: 3 pear slices (skewered)

Serve: In a rocks glass over ice