Our Christmas Cocktail Round-Up is sure to help you celebrate the holiday in good spirits! Join us for a look at the season’s best drinks.
Whether you’re looking for a light, refreshing cocktail to balance out the indulgent food of the season, or are looking to warm up with a hot chocolate (spiked of course!) after a day of outdoor house decorating and snowball fights, then our Christmas Cocktail Round-Up is sure to help you celebrate the holiday in good spirits!
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venturing across the pond
Christmas Cocktail Inspiration
There are so many ways to make the Christmas season merry. Indulging in a festive-themed cocktail with a loved one is one that always ranks pretty high on our list!
After all, there’s nothing like popping open a bottle of bubbly, or snuggling up with a hot toddy to get you in the holiday spirit.
We’ve ventured across the pond for a little festive inspiration – those Americans definitely know how to ensure all is merry and bright around the holidays!
Make sure you check out our imperial to metric measure converter at the bottom of the page to help with calculations!
Looking for more Christmas food inspiration? Click here to see our other recipes.
Of course no Christmas cocktail would be complete without the right glasses or accessories! Why not ensure everyone can easily spot their drink with these festive cocktail glass charms, never more important than this year! Or add a little seasonal silliness to everyone’s glass with these Santa hats and reindeer antlers from Ginger Ray.
And when it comes to glasses, we love these gold-rimmed gin goblets from The Forest & Co, while these tall-stemmed glasses from John Lewis remind us of a starry December night! And if you’re in the mood for complete bubbly indulgence, these Kate Spade saucers will make any cocktail sparkle!
So, ensure your liquor cabinet is well-stocked, put on some festive tunes, and have yourself a very merry Christmas!
which will you choose first?
20 Irresistible Christmas Cocktails
1. Mistletoe Manhattans
A fun twist on the whiskey classic, and a great way to warm the cockles on a wintery day!
Don’t forget the rosemary and frosted cranberries for extra festive flare!
More details at How Sweet Eats.
2. The Santa Clause Smash
This seasonal bourbon cocktail will have you feeling as jolly as the man himself!
Sweet and spicy all in one, this is perfect cocktail to be sipping as you wait for Santa to come to town!
More details at Half Baked Harvest.
3. Christmas Sangria
Prepare this fabulous yuletide mix in advance, ready to accompany your Christmas Day festivities – it seriously looks the part too!
More details at Cake n Knife.
4. Amaro Hot Toddy
Hot toddies and Christmas go hand-in-hand.
With a perfect balance of flavours, this will keep you warm on even the coldest of nights.
More details at Bon Appétit.
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5. North Pole Cocktail
Looking like it could have been made by elves, this north pole vodka-based cocktail combines everything we love about the season: richness, indulgence and candy canes!
More details at Half Baked Harvest.
6. Spiced Mexican Hot Chocolate
This will be calling your name after a long cold December day!
What better way to warm up and ensure you stay merry all night than with a mug of hot chocolate…with a generous splash of bourbon!
More details at Country Living.
7. Jingle Bell Cranberry Paloma
With a citrus tang, gorgeous bright red hues and frosted cranberries, there is no better cocktail than this tequila treat to help you kick off the festive season!
More details at Half Baked Harvest.
8. Winter Aperol Spritz
A summer favourite, the Aperol Spritz, gets a makeover for the season! Cranberry and orange work wonderfully here to ensure this refreshing cocktail is ready for the Christmas holidays!
More details at How Sweet Eats.
9. Cinnamon Bourbon Old Fashioned with Brûléed Oranges
Another festive take on a classic!
This cocktail will warm you from the inside out and have your house smelling just like Christmas!
More details at Half Baked Harvest.
Christmas Mocktail Round-Up
Looking for the festive cocktail fun without the twist? Our Christmas Mocktail round-up will keep you salivating right into next year!
10. Tree Trimming Punch
We can think of nothing better than a drink made specifically to be consumed while decorating the tree!
So, make yourself a glass of this sparkling delight, pull out all the decorations and enjoy bringing Christmas to life!
More details at How Sweet Eats.
11. Swedish Polar Bear Cocktail
This is certainly one of the most vibrant drinks in our Christmas cocktail round-up.
But with complimentary fruity flavours of raspberry and lemon, this vodka-based cocktail is sure to brighten up those Christmas evenings in more ways than one.
More details at The Kitchen Magpie.
12. Baileys Candy Cane Cocktail
Nothing says Christmas like Baileys!
We love this peppermint take on the festive classic. And it’ll look super cute at your Christmas celebrations as well!
More details at Slow The Cook Down.
13. Christmas Mule
This rum-based drink is no traditional mule!
With warming ginger beer, hints of lime and a rosemary spring finish, we fear it may slip down far too easily!
More details at Lemon Baby.
14. Pear & Ginger Spritz
This refreshing gin-based cocktail, with its twist of mint, will be a great antidote to the rich foods of the season.
Elegant and simple, we imagine it could quickly become a firm festive favourite.
More details at Good Housekeeping.
Want More?
Looking for more festive food & drink inspiration? We’ve got everything from sweet treats and main events to delicious tipples and edible gifts guaranteed to wow your family & friends.
15. White Christmas Mojito
As white as snow, this simple recipe might just become your go-to Christmas cocktail!
Coconut milk adds a velvety richness; top with mint and pomegranate arils for that hit of seasonal colour!
More details at Half Baked Harvest.
16. Satsuma Fizz Cocktail
A seasonal take on Bucks Fizz, these Satsuma Fizz cocktails are the perfect accompaniment to a long lazy brunch, and fantastic for sipping during present opening!
More details at How Sweet Eats.
17. Poinsettia Spritz Punch
Looking for a cocktail that serves the whole family and can be made ahead? This is the way to go!
With its deep red colour and festive bubbles, this is truly the epitome of all things merry & bright!
More details at Half Baked Harvest.
18. Pomegranate Gin & Tonic
Pomegranate arils add an extra flavour dimension and look like jewels in this Christmas take on the most classic of classics – what more could you ask for?!
More details at How Sweet Eats.
Berry Candy Cane Gin
Our vibrant delicious berry candy cane gin homemade gift idea is so tasty you’ll struggle to give it away.
19. Mulled Wine
No Christmas Cocktail Round-Up would be complete without mulled wine!
We recommend making a vat big enough to keep you merry the whole way into the new year!
More details at Bon Appétit.
20. Christmas Ornament Cocktail
Here’s a showstopper of a cocktail if ever we saw one.
Of course the gorgeous gin and cranberry combination will be much enjoyed, but its the presentation that will be the real star.
Your guests will be wondering at your creativity all night long!
More details at Lemon Baby.
imperial, meet metric
Kitchen Conversions
As we said, the temptations above all hail from the other side of the Atlantic where imperial measurements still dominate.
So the table below should assist if you need to convert to European metric measurements for your Christmas cocktail extravaganza!
Which cocktails will you be sharing with friends and family this year? Let us know your favourites from the list above, and Christmas drinks that are a must-have in your household.
For more festive drinks to enjoy over the holidays, click here. And what about a little something to eat on the side? We’ve got all sorts of sweet and savoury snack suggestions for you to enjoy.
Share Your Creation!
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @jollyfestive.
And be sure to share a photo of your creation, tagging #jollyfestive. We love to see what you’ve been creating!
More Recipes
Nutella Peanut Butter Stars
This is the best kind of sandwich! Rich, creamy Nutella between crumbly peanut butter star biscuits and decorated with icing sugar.
Berry & Candy Cane Gin
Get ahead & use the last of the summer strawberries to make this Berry & Candy Cane Gin. Perfect for gifting as well as for a festive tipple!
Christmas Chocolate S’mores
Use up leftover Christmas chocolate with these Christmas Chocolate S’mores to bring the great outdoors into the warmth of your own home.
