by Tiffany Maleshefski

If you’ve been keeping up, the folks here at SFist world headquarters know that the holidays can be more of a headache than a hoot. So, if we are going to endure a migraine of any sort, we want to make sure it’s on our terms and of our own making (thank you very much). Each day, we’re going to count you down to and through the holiday season with a different cocktail recipe that’ll help steel yourself against the typical familial drama, or simply make boring relatives seem funnier than a watching a re-run of stoned. Cheers!

COCKTAIL #2 (Courtesy of McCormick & Schmick’s)

Apple Cider Mojito

¾ oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice

¾ oz. apple mint brown sugar (*recipe below)

1 ½ oz. rum

Splash of club soda

Mint sprig

Add lime juice, apple mint brown sugar, and rum to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake 8 times and and strain into a pint glass filled with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

*Making your own apple mint brown sugar is way easier than you think. Plus, this recipe makes a big ol’ batch of the stuff so you can whip these things out with the greatest of ease once this task is out of the way.

Bring 3 quarts of unfiltered apple cider, 3 quarts of brown sugar, and 12 apples (cubed) to a simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, strain out apple chunks, and add roughly torn mint leaves (no stems) and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain mint, cool, and refrigerate.

Do: Curl up around the fire with loved (and in some cases not-so-loved ones) for a great twist on two traditional beverages that are sure to warm your innards and your tolerance.

Do Not: Become so enveloped in this newly discovered beverage that your forget to extinguish the fire, effectively ruining the holidays and life for everyone around you. WE KNEW YOUR SISTER WAS THE SMART ONE!!

The Cosby Show