There are better things to do during the Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday than worrying about booze and making packy runs, so before we begin the solemn observance of the Paschal Mystery, here’s a quick checklist to make sure your table and bar are ready for the Easter Sunday celebration.

1. Do you have an aperitif or drink for before the meal? You may simply want to have

whatever it was you gave up for Lent. Your favorite beer? A martini? Or why not simply have champagne? Its rising bubbles can serve as a reminder of our Risen Lord.

 

2. Do you have the dinner wine? For ham, look for a dry rosé, a white wine with fruity notes (to complement the ham the way pineapple does), a sweet white like a Riesling or Gewürztraminer to balance out the meat’s saltiness, or a bold fruity red like a Zinfadel to balance out the sweetness of the glaze. For lamb, look for a red wine that is fruity and acidic. Cabernet Sauvignon usually tops the list, but Malbec, Merlot, or any Burgundy are also contenders.

 

3. Do you have the ingredients for an Easter Bunny cocktail for after dinner? This one is a real crowd pleaser, and because it is sweet, it works well as a postprandial drink.

Easter Bunny
From drinksmixer.com
1½ oz. dark crème de cacao
½ oz. vodka
1 tsp. chocolate syrup
1 tsp. cherry brandy (Kirschwasser)
Pour crème de cacao and vodka into a shaker filled with ice and shake forty times. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Float cherry brandy on top and drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Oh, and if you don’t have dark crème de cacao, don’t worry about it. The different colors of crème are there for aesthetic reasons only and do not affect the taste.

Lastly, this year the Foleys are going to tweak the Easter Bunny a little and experiment with an “Easter Bunny Deluxe.”

If you try it, let me know what you think.

Easter Bunny Deluxe
1½ oz. dark crème de cacao
½ oz. vodka
1 tsp. chocolate syrup
1 tsp. cherry brandy (Kirschwasser)
1 cherry
Drizzle the inside of a cocktail glass with chocolate syrup. Pour crème de cacao, vodka, and Kirschwasser into a shaker filled with ice and shake forty times. Pour into the cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry.

A blessed Triduum and a glorious Easter to you all!