Finding the perfect drink for every holiday event

>>> this morning in "today's kitchen" we're talking about creative cocktails for holiday parties. a mixed drink or wine to fit almost any occasion. wine-maker and restauranteur has your holiday menu covered. joe, welcome back. good to see you.

>> talking drinks, new trend in drink, old-school drink from step years ago.

>> mad men.

>> this is mad men.

>> the now mod, smaller is better, and we'll make a negrone which is gin, compari and sweet vermouth . why a small cocktail, a large cocktail gets watered down and mini cocktails are the new way and mini glassware, like this beautiful --

>> so cute. did you say what was in that?

>> it's gin, sweet vermouth and compari. drink solo ones. have your guest come and give them mini ones to start.

>> can i take the pick one.

>> this is a wine you like, matt. mixed grape from the vine. delicious wine for your dinner party . this is like from a producer with a 500-year lineage, $20 a bottle, great value.

>> serving with what, what's the best thing to serve that with?

>> the nagroni.

>> no, the wine.

>> roasted lamb.

>> the next scenario, a drink i invented so when i started running i started a drink that no too alcoholic called the martindale.

>> so you drink when you run?

>> this is not a dry vermouth but a semi- sweet vermouth and green tea because people who like wine and booze like tannic things and tea has that so this satisfies our need to s something on our palate to give us that little bit of oomph, called a martindale, very light and not too alcoholic and delicious.

>> makes you wink.

>> in the team of small cocktails we have wines also, wines, less alcohol. this is from the basque chocked chocoli, the bar tender will pour it from two feet, look at it air ate, that objection dates it and makes the wine delicious with any beautiful salty anchovy you'd be eating in the north of space.

>> that's nice.

>> as evening wears on.

>> 11.5% alcohol.

>> justed yourself just to his right.

>> working for me.

>> got something working for you. matt, i know you like to party like the brits so this sherry for you, fortified wine , very light and acidic, great, and this is my favorite drink because it's called the bloody maria , and really, it's a bloody mary but like making a bowl of pasta, vodka, an instead of tomato juice we'll add tomato puree and it's like cooking, making drinks is sometimes like cooking, a little oregano and celery salt and garlic salt and a little salt salt, and a little pepper and maybe more puree so this is like a bowl of spaghetti in your cocktail really.

>> without the pasta.

>> and who doesn't want to drink spaghetti?

>> you're a blender- free zone .

>> no blenders allowed.

>> and pour it into the beautiful glass with the incredible garnish. voila.