20 Holiday Cocktails To Get You Into The Festive Spirit

Holiday cocktails are a great way to get into the festive spirit and wow everyone with your exceptional bartending skills!

This article is the ultimate holiday and Christmas cocktail list to try all season long.

5 Exotic Wine Cocktails

Take your wine drinking experience to new heights with these flavorful cocktails:

• Mulled Wine
• Hot Spiced Sangria
• Celebrated Sagamore
• Candy Cane Mimosa
• Rose Lemon Champagne Punch

1. Mulled Wine

This classic cocktail is a crowd favorite and a holiday staple you must make!

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 standard bottle of red wine
• ½ cup brandy
• 1 large orange, thinly sliced (and extra for garnish)
• 3 pieces star anise
• 3 cinnamon sticks (and extra for garnish)
• 6 cloves
• ¼ cup honey

Directions:

1. Over medium heat, place a medium-sized saucepan and add all the ingredients. Bring it to a simmer.
2. Next, lower the heat to medium-low and continue simmering for about 10 minutes.
3. While this traditional Christmas cocktail is still warm, strain it into wine glasses. 
4. Add the extra cinnamon sticks and orange slices as a garnish.

Notes:

Opt for a red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Malbec. Here are some suggestions if you’re stuck:

• 2014 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA ($51)
• 2005 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, USA ($59)
• 2008 Catena Zapata 'Angelica Zapata Alta' Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ($36)

2. Hot Spiced Sangria

This holiday cocktail recipe puts a warm spin on the classic Sangria — ideal for cold nights.

Yields: 12 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of red wine
• 1 bottle of white wine
• 1 cup brandy
• 1 cup simple syrup
• 1 orange, sliced
• 2 cups frozen cherries and peaches
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Directions:

1. In a slow cooker, pop all the ingredients in. Then, set it on high heat and cook for one hour.
2. When done, switch to a low heat setting and keep the Sangria warm for another hour before serving. This will allow the flavor to intensify.
3. Pour the drink into glasses when you’re ready to serve.

Notes:

Try a delicious red wine like Pinot Noir or Grenache. For example:

• 2013 Joseph Drouhin Clos des Mouches, Beaune Premier Cru, France ($97)
• 2014 Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chaupin, Rhone, France ($54)

Try a white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling. For example:

• 2005 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($36)
• 2014 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany ($88)

3. Celebrated Sagamore

This Champagne whiskey cocktail has the perfect amounts of hard liquor and fizz to keep you feeling merry all evening long.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

For the cranberry syrup:

• 1 cup cranberries, fresh
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 rosemary sprig
• 1 cinnamon stick

For the cocktail:

• 90ml sparkling wine
• 45ml Sagamore rye whiskey
• 15ml lime juice
• 25ml cranberry syrup

Directions:

For the cranberry syrup:

1. In a pot, add fresh cranberries, sugar, water, rosemary, and cinnamon.
2. Bring the concoction to a boil and lower the heat. Simmer for 15 minutes. 
3. Cool it overnight in the fridge and strain before adding the concoction to the cocktail.

The cocktail recipe:

1. Grab a champagne glass and add the rye whiskey, spiced cranberry syrup, and lime juice. Stir to mix.
2. Tilt the glass and pour your sparkling wine to fill. Garnish the Champagne cocktail with cranberry fruit and a slice of lime. 

Notes:

Options for sparkling wine:

• 2007 Agusti Torello Mata Kripta Gran Reserva Cava, Catalonia, Spain ($47)
• 2010 Gramona 'Celler Batlle' Gran Reserva Brut, Catalonia, Spain ($60)

4. Candy Cane Mimosa

This unique cocktail with a minty flavor, chocolate, candy canes, and bubbles will give you all the holiday feels.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 25ml white creme de menthe, chilled
• Sparkling wine
• 1 drop chocolate bitters
• 1 candy cane, crushed (glass rim)
• Chocolate chips, melted (glass rim)
• 1 whole candy cane (garnish)

Directions:

1. Put the melted chocolate chips and crushed candy cane in two separate shallow bowls.
2. Grab a Champagne flute and rim it first with the melted chocolate and then the crushed candy.
3. In the flute, add the white creme de menthe and chocolate bitters. Tilt the flute and top the drink with sparkling wine.
4. Garnish this festive drink with a whole candy cane. This will give your Christmas cocktail a red hue and minty flavor, which will deepen the longer it stays in the drink

Notes:

Try these sparkling wines:

• 2013 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut, Champagne, France ($65)
• NV Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut, Champagne, France ($59)

5. Rose Lemon Champagne Punch

This light, holiday drink is a great way to commemorate any holiday. 

Yields: 25 servings

Ingredients:

• 350ml pink lemonade concentrate
• 360ml cranberry juice concentrate
• 1 standard bottle sparkling white wine, chilled
• 1 standard bottle Rose Champagne, chilled
• 90ml fresh lime juice
• 1-liter club soda
• 2 cups of blueberries or cranberries, fresh or frozen (garnish)

Directions:

1. Get a big punch bowl and combine all the ingredients except for the fruit.
2. Stir the liquid together and allow to chill.
3. Pour the drink into chilled Champagne glasses. 
4. Garnish this holiday drink with a few berries.

Notes:

Try these white sparkling wine options:

• 2005 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Vintage Brut, Champagne, France ($47)
• NV Louis Roederer Brut Premier, Champagne, France ($51)

Try these Rose Champagne options:

• 2000 Louis Roederer Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne, France ($55)
• 2012 Charles Heidsieck Rose Millesime, Champagne, France ($49)

5 Easy Vodka Cocktails

From cult favorites to fresh drinks, there’s a vodka cocktail for everyone.

• White Russian
• Boozy Butterbeer Punch
• Fig and Rosemary Mule
• Winterberry Cocktail
• Fireside

1. White Russian

A classic cocktail like the White Russian is easy to whip up and ideal for winding down during chilly evenings.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 60ml vodka
• 60ml Kahlua
• 60ml heavy cream

Directions:

1. In a lowball glass filled with ice, pour the vodka and Kahlua.
2. Then, pour heavy cream on top and serve.

2. Boozy Butterbeer Punch

If you’re a Potter fan, this one’s for you!

Yields: 9 servings

Ingredients:

For the punch:

• 3.5 cups vanilla vodka
• 6 cans of cream soda
• 3 cans soda water

For the topping:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• Butterscotch syrup (garnish)
• Gold sanding sugar (garnish)

Directions:

1. For the topping, get a large bowl and add the cream, vanilla, and brown sugar. Whip it until soft peaks form and then fold in the melted butter. 
2. In a large punch bowl, mix the vodka, cream soda, and soda water. Top with the whipped cream concoction.
3. Shake some gold sanding powder on top.
4. Dribble the butterscotch syrup on the mug rim. 
5. Use a ladle to pour the festive cocktail into the mug
6. Garnish with additional sanding sugar and butterscotch syrup.

3. Fig and Rosemary Mule

If you love the Moscow Mule, you must try this festive spin on the classic drink.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 45ml vodka
• 90ml ginger beer
• 2 figs, fresh
• 2 sprigs rosemary, fresh
• 1 lime wedge

Directions:

1. In a cocktail shaker, add one fig and one rosemary sprig and muddle. Add ice, vodka, and the juice of the lime wedge. Shake the concoction vigorously.
2. In a copper tumbler or mug, add crushed ice. Strain the liquid from the cocktail shaker into the tumbler.
3. Top it with ginger beer.
4. Garnish the tumbler with slices of the remaining fig and rosemary sprig.

4. Winterberry Cocktail

Enjoy this fruity cocktail as-is, or for a non-alcoholic drink, make it without the vodka and liqueur. 

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 120ml Mandarin vodka
• 60ml elderflower liqueur
• 120ml cranberry juice
• 90ml ginger beer or ale
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar
• 2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
• Zest of a 3-inch orange peel strip
• Orange peel twist

Directions:

1. Get your cocktail shaker and pour in the vodka, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, cranberry juice, and orange zest.
2. Add 2 cups of ice and shake well.
3. Strain the mixture into martini glasses, top with ginger beer, and garnish with an orange twist.

5. Fireside

This flavorful holiday cocktail recipe makes an excellent aperitif to enjoy right before the main meal.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 40ml vodka
• 10ml maple syrup
• 50ml pink grapefruit juice
• 1 pinch salt
• 1-2 sprigs of rosemary

Directions:

1. In a rocks glass, muddle some rosemary leaves with maple syrup and salt. 
2. Add the ice, vodka, and top with the pink grapefruit juice
3. Stir well and garnish with a rosemary sprig.

6 Popular Whiskey, Bourbon, and Brandy Cocktails

Trade your regular ‘on the rocks’ or ‘neat’ drinks in favor of these spirited cocktail recipes.

• Apple Cider Old Fashioned
• Baileys Coffee Slushies
• Adult Hot Chocolate
• Champagne Bourbon Cocktail
• Eggnog
• The Keats

1. Apple Cider Old Fashioned

The classic Old Fashioned gives way to this spicy cocktail recipe.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 60ml whiskey
• ⅔ cup apple cider
• ½ cup ice
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Cinnamon stick (garnish)
• Apple slices (garnish)

Directions:

1. In a tall glass, combine all the ingredients and stir.
2. Garnish with cinnamon and apple slices.

2. Baileys Coffee Slushies

In this cocktail recipe, you can use frozen coffee cubes instead of ice cubes to ensure your drink doesn’t lose any of its intensity.

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup Baileys Irish Cream
• ¼ cup vodka
• 2 cups cold-brew coffee, divided
• ½ cup milk
• Whipped cream (garnish)
• Caramel sauce (garnish)
• Chocolate sauce (garnish)

Directions:

1. Pour 2 ½ cups of the cold brew coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze for about 3 hours.
2. Add the milk, Baileys Irish Cream, vodka, coffee cubes, and the remaining ½ cup of cold brew in a blender. Blitz until smooth.
3. In a tall glass, dribble the caramel and chocolate sauces. Then, pour the Baileys concoction and top with whipped cream and more chocolate and caramel sauces.

3. Adult Hot Chocolate

A mug of hot chocolate is like a warm hug on a cold day. If you add in a bit of alcohol, it gets even better!

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 120ml bourbon
• 60ml hazelnut liqueur
• 60ml Baileys Irish Cream
• 4 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ½ vanilla bean (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
• 180ml dark chocolate
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• Marshmallows (garnish)

Directions:

1. Heat the milk, salt, sugar, and vanilla in a small pan over medium-low heat until the sugar and salt have melted. Ensure the milk doesn’t boil.
2. Next, add in the pieces of chocolate, and whisk until smooth. 
3. Take it off the heat and add the bourbon, hazelnut liqueur, and Baileys Irish Cream.
4. Pour into mugs, garnish with marshmallows, and serve right away.

4. Champagne Bourbon Cocktail

Manhattan and Champagne lovers will adore this 2-in-1 delicious cocktail. 

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

For the vanilla bean syrup:

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ a vanilla bean, split with the seeds scraped

For the cocktail:

• 45ml bourbon
• Sparkling wine
• 2 tablespoons vanilla bean syrup

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, bring water, sugar, vanilla bean, and vanilla seeds to a boil over medium heat. Cook it until the sugar has completely dissolved.
2. Allow it to cool completely and strain the mixture.
3. In a chilled Champagne glass, pour the bourbon and vanilla bean syrup. Top with sparkling wine and enjoy!

5. Eggnog

Not a fan of consuming raw egg yolks? Then this (mostly) cooked Eggnog version will help you enjoy this festive drink without the stress.

Yield: 6-7 servings

Ingredients:

• 90ml bourbon
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1-pint milk
• 4 eggs, yolks and whites separated
• ⅓ cup sugar, and an additional tablespoon
• 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Directions:

1. Using a stand mixer with a bowl, beat the egg yolks until they get lighter in color. 
2. Then, slowly add the ⅓ cup of sugar and beat until dissolved. Set it aside.
3. Place a pan over high heat and pour the nutmeg, milk, and heavy cream. Bring it to a roaring boil while stirring occasionally. 
4. Take it off the heat and slowly add it to the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly.
5. Next, pour everything back into the pan and cook until it starts to simmer.
6. Remove it from the heat and stir in the bourbon.
7. Pour it into a mixing bowl and refrigerate it until cold.
8. Grab another bowl and add the egg white. Beat until soft peaks form.
9. As you keep beating, gradually add the remaining tablespoon of sugar. Stop when stiff peaks form.
10. Pour this mixture into the chilled egg yolk and bourbon concoction and whisk until smooth.
11. Serve and enjoy!

6. The Keats

The DIY ginger syrup adds just the right hint of spice to this cocktail.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

For the ginger syrup:

• 1 2.5-inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup water

For the cocktail drink:

• 45ml apple brandy
• 15ml orange liqueur
• 22ml apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon ginger syrup
• 1 piece star anise (garnish)

Directions:

For the syrup:

1. Pour water and sugar into a saucepan on medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. 
2. Allow the liquid to cool a little, and pour the syrup into a blender. 
3. Add the ginger and blend until smooth. 
4. Stand the mixture for about 3 hours and strain to remove any solids.
5. Store unused syrup in the fridge.

For the cocktail:

1. Add ice brandy, orange liqueur, vinegar, honey, and ginger syrup to a cocktail shaker and shake well. 
2. Strain the cocktail into a lowball glass with ice and garnish with the star anise.

4 Exciting Rum, Gin, and Tequila Cocktails

These fan favorite and super fresh cocktails will have you coming back for more! 

• Negroni
• Candy Cane Cocktail
• Spiced Cappucini Cocktail
• White Christmas Margaritas

1. Negroni

The Negroni is yet another classic cocktail that is a must-have on your holiday menu.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 30ml gin
• 30ml sweet Vermouth
• 30ml Campari
• Orange twist (garnish)

Directions:

1. Fill a lowball glass with ice and mix gin, sweet Vermouth, and Campari.
2. Add the orange twist as garnish.

2. Candy Cane Cocktail 

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 45ml vanilla rum
• 45ml white chocolate liqueur
• 45ml peppermint schnapps
• Candy cane (garnish)

Directions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in all the ingredients.
2. Shake the mixture vigorously and strain it into a martini glass. 
3. Garnish with a candy cane and serve!

3. Spiced Cappucini Cocktail

The balance of the spice and coffee with the other ingredients makes this the perfect drink to enjoy with dessert.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 15ml Old Tom gin or dry gin
• 15ml Licor43 or vanilla liqueur
• 7.5ml Kahlua
• 150ml coffee, freshly brewed
• Fresh nutmeg, grated
• Whipped cream (topping)

Directions:

1. Pour the coffee into a hot toddy mug or glass.
2. Follow it with the liqueurs and gin, and add whipped cream on top.
3. Sprinkle the grated nutmeg over and serve the drink hot.

There are many ways to enjoy tequila aside from knocking it back as a shot. Cheers!

4. White Christmas Margaritas

This fun cocktail serves up both holiday vibes and tropical flavors. It’s the perfect cocktail recipe if you’re making a large batch.

 Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 360ml silver tequila
• 240ml triple sec
• 1 can coconut milk, unsweetened
• ¼ cup lime juice
• 4 cups ice
• Cranberries (garnish)
• Lime slices (garnish)
• Lime wedge (glass rim)
• Sanding sugar (glass rim)

Directions:

1. In a blender, add tequila, triple sec, coconut milk, lime juice, and ice. Blitz until smooth. 
2. Rim margarita glasses with the lime wedge and dip them in the sanding sugar. 
3. Pour the drink into the glasses and dress them up with cranberries and lime slices.

‘Tis The Season To Be Tipsy

The holiday season is sure to be a jolly one with these incredible Christmas cocktail recipes. All you need to do is choose your spirit of choice, prep your ingredient list, and get to shaking (or stirring!)

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