We all know December is filled with parties, gatherings, Christmas, and birthday celebrations. Yes, you read that right—my two daughters have birthdays during December, just one week apart. So, there's lots of planning and scheduling to do.

Although it can sometimes feel overwhelming, I've made a conscious decision to not only enjoy the party once everything is ready, but also enjoy the process. To do so, I've discovered that finding new recipes and exploring new ingredients always makes it more enjoyable for me. Being excited to share a new cocktail recipe or a recently learned appetizer with my loved ones makes hosting a lot more enjoyable.

That's why I was thrilled when Responsibility.org invited me to a virtual gathering to meet Jessamine McLellan, co-founder and educational lead of Campari Academy. During the event, she shared lots of ideas and inspiration for holiday cocktails and mocktails, along with tips on how to celebrate responsibly.

Jessamine reminded me of one of my favorite fall ingredients: the fig! So, I decided to incorporate it into a cocktail, The Fig Holiday Cocktail—I'm sure it will become your holiday favorite too, enjoy!

Fig Holiday Cocktail

Tip: Always use fresh and high-quality ingredients. Every single one is important.

Ingredients:

For the syrup:

• 1 cup of water

• 1 cup of sugar

• 2 figs

• Rosemary

Dissolve the sugar in boiling water, then add the figs and rosemary. Let it cool and strain.

Cocktail:

• 1.5 oz of Gin

• 1.5 oz of fig syrup

• 1 lemon juice

• 8 oz of Tonic water

• Two drops of Angostura bitters

• Fresh fig and rosemary for garnish

Instructions:

1. Place a big ice cube in a cup.

2. Add the gin, syrup, a squeeze of a lemon, angostura bitters, and tonic water. Stir.

3. Decorate with slices of fresh fig and rosemary sprigs.

Make it a Mocktail:

Use the same ingredients, excluding the Gin. Tastes delicious as well!

Tips on how to holiday responsibly:

1. Always measure the amount of alcohol for each drink individually. Avoid preparing large batches of alcoholic drinks in advance.

2. When hosting, ensure non-alcoholic beverages are available for your guests. Thanks to Jessamine, I learned the importance of offering mocktails that are just as delightful and appealing as actual cocktails. This way, guests who prefer not to drink will have a festive and attractive option to enjoy during the holiday gathering.

3. Serve food alongside your cocktails and remember to eat yourself; sometimes, I forget when I’m hosting.

4. Remember, kids are watching and listening. Model responsible behavior and understand that if they're already exposed to it, it's time to talk to them about alcohol. I've shared several tips on initiating these conversations in my previews posts. Additionally, we have a podcast episode about it on Ciudad H Podcast.

5. Take a moment for deep reflection on your relationship with alcohol and why you choose to drink. Pre-reflecting and understanding your 'why' may help you be more mindful and maintain balance throughout the year.

6.- Never drink and drive. Use a rideshare service to get you home safely.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Enjoy every moment, stay present, and always remember the holidays are all about sharing love with the people we cherish. A big thanks to Responsibility.org for being a partner in this parenting journey. Follow for more tips on how to holiday responsibly and how to discuss it with your kids here: https://www.responsibility.org

I’m a #teamresponsibility ambassador and I was compensated for my post, but all opinions and photographs are my own.