Christmas cocktail concoctions

The Eastside represents with John Barleycorn’s which offers 80 different martinis, including one called “Santa’s Reindeer” made with Bailey’s Irish Cream, peppermint schnapps and hot cocoa. Happy hour is every Monday-Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. with $2 bottled beer and $4 appetizers.

A popular drinking destination for locals and visitors alike, downtown Detroit’s Centaur changes their martini menu seasonally with a varied selection of tasty temptations. In keeping with the theme, they currently offer a Gingerbread Martini made with vanilla vodka, white and dark crème de cocoa, gingerbread schnapps and Amaretto served with a graham cracker rim. There is also the Peppermint Martini, a blend of white rum, white crème de cacao, white crème de mint, and cream with a grenadine float. The Pumpkin Martini features white rum, pumpkin spice schnapps, Kahlua, and cream; the Fig Martini (Figs are Christmas-y!) is a simple mix of plum vodka, fig juice and soda. All specialty martinis are $5 from 4-7 p.m. seven days a week.

Downtown Plymouth’s swanky martini bar features an extensive cocktail list with more than 50 martinis, as well as live entertainment every Wednesday through Saturday. If you’re looking to get a little holly jolly, look no further than the Dirty Snowball -- vanilla vodka with Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur, crème de cacao and a dash of half-and-half, served in a martini glass rimmed with chocolate syrup. The best part is, all martinis are $1.50 off every Monday-Friday from 3-7 p.m.

Next door to Royal Oak’s Italian eatery D’Amato’s is martini lounge Goodnite Gracie. It has been a popular lounge for some time -- so popular it has opened additional locations in Ferndale and Ann Arbor. And with good reason: they mix up some killer cocktails. Try the special Sugar Plum Martini: Pearl Plum Vodka, Blue Curacao, and cranberry juice served with a sugared rim, guaranteed to leave visions of sugar plums dancing in your head. The Encore is mainstay popular during these cold winter months made with Stoli Vanil Vodka, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur and Bailey’s Irish Cream. Stop by during their happy hours Mondays-Saturdays when you will received half off its house wines, well drinks, beer, appetizers and their whole martini list. That’s like 2-for-1!

Detroit’s ultra-chic Pulse Lounge is holding its 10th Annual “The Damn Christmas Party” this Saturday at 8 p.m. You can expect a very special Egg Nog Martini, and also be sure to sample the Infusion Jar: a mix of vodka, apple cider, cinnamon sticks, finished with cranberry and served as a cocktail, martini or shot (think a Christmas version of a Stoli Doli). Admission to the Damn Christmas Party is $5, but if you call in advance you’ll be put on the guest list for free. Can’t make it out this Saturday? Never fear -- Mondays are half off martini night so you can still take part in the festivities!

This cigar-friendly martini lounge boasts a whopping 185 martinis on their vast menu, one of the largest martini menus in Michigan. The place exudes old-world elegance, perfectly befitting its Grosse Pointe location. African mahogany walls, granite counter-tops and a cigar humidor will make you feel like you’re living the high life, and so will this selection of delicious drinks. For martinis, choose from the Gingersnap, the Peppermint Patty, White Christmas (made with Amaretto, Vodka and cream) and the Yummy Pumpkin Pie; for coffee and cocoa drinks, sample the Ginger Coffee, Hot Pumpkin Coffee or Peppermint Kiss; shooters include the Snowman, a Gingerbread Cookie and a Christmas Tree (which is a layered shot of peppermint schnapps, melon liqueur and grenadine—a very merry white, green, and red!). Every Monday through Friday from 4:30-7 p.m. enjoy their happy hour specials when all the $9 martinis are only $5, house wine and well drinks are $5, and domestic beer is two for $5.

Birmingham’s Toast is as comfy-cozy as its name implies, and the unique cocktail menu is always a treat. (For kicks, ask the bartender to “Give Me Something Good” -- you won’t be disappointed! Also ask for “Your Number.” You have to love a drink with a sense of humor! Right now, you can sample a traditional Christmas beverage -- Mulled Spice Wine (wine with spices and honey, served warm), or you can go a little more contemporary with a Polar Bear Martini made with Stoli Vanil, Frangelico and Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur -- smooth, creamy and will make you feel all warm and fuzzy, just like a polar bear! Er, perhaps. Head to Toast for their Wine-Down Wednesdays when all glasses of wine under $10 are half-off. While you’re there, be sure to enjoy some breakfast, brunch or brinner?!!

Located above Kiernan’s Steak House in Dearborn, Silky’s offers a wide selection of creative martinis as well as a regular roster of live music. Sample a Dirty Snowball made with vanilla vodka, Frangelico, dark cocoa, cream, and chocolate syrup. Don’t want to get your hands dirty? Then try the pure-as-snow Polar Bear, made with vanilla vodka, Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur and white cocoa. Stop in on Wednesdays for $5 martinis, $3 mixed drinks, $5 bombs and $2 drafts all night.

Atlas Global Bistro is known as much for their inventive cocktails as for their innovative global cuisine. They make all of their syrups, mixers, infusions, bitters, grenadine and Maraschino cherries in-house for tastier cocktails. Try their traditional Tom & Jerry, a hot eggnog made by whipping egg whites with sugar and mixing with rum, brandy, bourbon and steamed milk with ground nutmeg on top, served hot. This ain’t your mama’s egg nog, that’s for certain. For those with even more traditional tastes, Atlas offers a seasonal spin one of the oldest cocktails in the world: a Winter Sazerac, made with Sazerac rye whiskey, winter spice syrup (a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, star anise, and cardamom), as well as orange and chocolate bitters. Their Espresso Martini is also very popular this time of year, made with Three Olives Triple Espresso Vodka and Amarula Cream Liqueur (an uncommon South African fruit cream liqueur). And to keep things simple, there is the aptly-named “Christmas,” made with Wild Turkey 101 and Amarula shaken and served with ground nutmeg. Join Atlas for Martini Mondays: anything in a martini glass is half off all day (at the bar only); Tasting Tuesdays offer half off all half bottles of wine all day in the dining room and bar.

Detroit’s hippest jazz lounge, a fully restored art deco night club which regularly features live jazz, electronic, and burlesque performances, is also one of Detroit’s preferred places for a before, during, and after-dinner drink. For something a little different, try the Hot Chocolate Martini. Absolut Peppar Vodka, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, crème de cacao, and cream make for a decadent chocolate martini with a little bit of heat. Every Tuesday-Friday 4-7 p.m. is happy hour, with $5 cocktails and a $5 build-your-own amuse bouche platter.