Original Article on The New York Times

My future in-laws always have a holiday cocktail contest. What are some sure-to-please recipes which are festive, and relatively easy to put together for a big group?For a pre-cornucopia cocktail to get the gathered into a convivial mood, the temptation is to go with something brown and warming. Its fall, theres a nip in the air, and a harvest-like scene awaits on the table. Something in the whiskey or port family seems in order. But youve got a heavy dinner ahead of you. The last thing you need is an equally heavy drink.With that in mind, here a few recommendations that split the difference. (All of the below are stirred drinks, and thus readily made in large batches.)Simplest solution first. Ive always found a batch of Negronis equal par...(read more)