The best Christmas drinks parties start in style and degenerate into an unseemly mess. It's unavoidable and it means the guests are having a good time. But the 'starting in style' bit is key.

So how do you get this right? Well it's not about the guest list, although a few David Niven, Marlene Dietrich look-alikes will help raise the tone. Nor should you worry if you don't own a chateau. No one will care after the first hour. The style is in the drinks. No beer, no wine, just pure delicious, well-made cocktails - and you don't need to go to Havana to learn how to mix them. All along the Côte d'Azur this Christmas, courageous amateurs are practicing mixology, producing ingenious creations that are simple, doable, and strong. Here are three traditional recipes given a turbo-boost to get your guests, well... let's say 'in the Christmas mood'.

First, let's transform the traditional eggnog by giving it a bit o' Irish goodness. (This should have granny spinning in her boots.)

A. Irish Eggnog
1 oz Guinness Fine Irish Draft
1 oz Bacardi Golden Rum
Store bought Eggnog (to taste)

Next the Martini - with a hint of peppermint holiday pizzazz. They don't serve these at the Carlton!

B. Candy Cane Martini
1 ½ oz vanilla flavored vodka
½ oz peppermint schnapps
1 oz club soda/sparkling water
1 crushed up candy cane to garnish

Finally, with everyone by now singing bad Christmas carols (or is that badly singing Christmas carols?), soften them up and wind'em down with a concoction very loosley termed a hot toddy. Please keep them away from the pool.

C. Butterscotch Hot Cocoa (spiked)
2 oz Butterscotch schnapps
0.5 oz Amaretto
5 oz hot cocoa

So there you have it. If these aren't your thing, there are, of course, lots of other options - and you don't have to drink yourself under the tree! Get the Gordons, Johnnie Walker and Bacardi out, put on some chilled sounds and get mixing. Christmas is the season for Cocktail sorcery.

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