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These holiday cocktail recipes will raise the bar at your next party

Gretchen McKay, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Dec 8, 2025
Dec 8, 2025 Updated Dec 12, 2025
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PITTSBURGH — Thiago Leite has a simple philosophy when it comes to making cocktails, and it applies whether you're hosting a fancy dinner party for friends or simply curling up on the couch for a quiet night with your partner and Netflix.

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Bartender Thiago Leite pours brown sugar in his Caipi Vodka as The Fairmont Hotel gives a demo class of how to make 3 holiday cocktails on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, at The Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. (Justin Guido/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

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A Aperol Spritz as The Fairmont Hotel gives a demo class of how to make 3 holiday cocktails on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, at The Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. (Justin Guido/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

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A Caipi Vodka gets mixed around as The Fairmont Hotel gives a demo class of how to make 3 holiday cocktails on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, at The Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. (Justin Guido/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS)
Justin Guido/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

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A Bashful Boulevardier as The Fairmont Hotel gives a demo class of how to make 3 holiday cocktails on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, at The Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. (Justin Guido/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS)
Justin Guido/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

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