Cocktails for these Political Times: Mississippi Edition

I'm in Mississippi this week (stop by if you're in Starkville, Oxford, or Columbus!) giving some concerts and master classes across the Northern expanse of the state, and I'm enjoying learning about local political woes here (well, enjoy might be the wrong word).  Like Coloradans, they had to just go ahead and have a town hall meeting last weekend without their Representative, Steve Palazzo.  But the ugly bill to kill funding for the Mississippi Arts Commission has been killed (yay), and if you're in the area, you can join the good people of this state at the March 4 March on Mississippi to end voter suppression AND their Women's March for Progress April 22. Like so many places these days, it seems the citizenry is far superior to their elected representatives. You guys deserve some punch!

Mississippi Riverboat Milk Punch

Serves between 1 & 6

6 cups any kind of milk you want
1-1/2 cups bourbon
1-1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon vanilla
Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish

In a pitcher, whisk together milk, bourbon, sugar, and vanilla. Freeze until slushy, 3 to 4 hours. Stir before serving in glasses, finished with a few gratings of fresh nutmeg.

(Urgent PS--you know that little victory for the arts Mississippi just enjoyed? It's meaningless if the NEA, which funds large portions of each state's arts budget, is done away with.  You can sign this fun and easy petition to help see that it isn't!)

Winter cocktails, part 1

I hope things are starting to wind down for you all at work, or at least that you're making some time to party with friends.  I am doing just that, and I'm thrilled to be hosting a cocktail hour tonight, the first opportunity I've had to do so in months.  I'll have some red wine and a Chardonnay around, and these...

Rudolph's Nose Punch

Makes one-ass big bowl of punch.

3 cups chilled vodka
3 cups chilled orange juice
3 cups chilled freshly squeezed lime juice
3 cups chilled grenadine
3 cups chilled club soda

Mix all ingredients together in a punch bowl. Add an ice ring if you want to be fancy (or have ice on hand).

Santa's Nightcap

Makes one drink.

2 1/2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce walnut liqueur
1 teaspoon real maple syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters*

Ophelia, which I shamelessly stole from Denver's fabulous Olivéa

Makes one drink. 

For the Rosemary Simple Syrup:
¼ cup minced rosemary
½ cup water
½ cup of sugar

For the Cocktail:
1 and ½ oz Gin
¾ oz rosemary syrup
¾ oz fresh lemon juice (about ½ of a lemon, squeezed)
Club Soda

To Garnish:
Sprig of rosemary
Lemon wedges

To Make the Rosemary Simple Syrup:
Bring the water to a boil, add the sugar and rosemary and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and steep the mixture off heat for 45 minutes.
Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a container. 

To Make the Cocktail:
Fill glasses with ice.
Add gin, lemon and rosemary simple syrup and stir.
Top with club soda, stir briefly and garnish with a rosemary sprig and lemon wedge.