It is Christmas! The house is a mess, the kids are happy and Chris and I are enjoying a day spent in pajamas. We had a big breakfast of homemade waffles, eggs, sausage, toast, hot chocolate and Irish tea. No lunch for us as we cruise towards our dinner of prime rib, twice baked potatoes, creamed spinach, homemade bread and salad. This is my favorite day of the year.

Chris just mixed up a batch of our current favorite cocktail, an Old Cuban. We first discovered this drink at the oh-so-trendy bar, Sparrow, in Chicago’s Gold Coast. The drink feels special and festive – a perfect Christmas afternoon drink for two tired parents!

This is a quick post as Chris just turned on a DVR’d episode of Top Chef so we can drink and relax on the sofa together. Gotta go!

Old Cuban Cocktail (makes 2)

4 parts dark rum

1 part simple syrup (here’s a recipe for homemade simple syrup)

1 part fresh lime juice

12 fresh mint leaves

Prosecco

3 manly dashes of bitters (Chris stresses the “manly” part because he used to do a dainty dash until he observed local bartenders’ generous dashes)

1. Chill two cocktail glasses by filling with ice and water. Set aside.

2. Into a cocktail shaker add rum, syrup, lime juice and bitters. Quickly twist and then tear the mint leaves and drop into the mixer. Stir gently.

3. Empty cocktail glasses and pour in the cocktail. Top with prosecco. Garnish with lime wedge and a mint leaf.