With the holiday season upon us, unwinding from a day of baking, shopping, and traveling is a necessity. So, what better way to relax than with a selection of holiday drinks by a nice and cozy fire? Creating signature cocktails can turn this dream into a reality, and fortunately, is an easy process. This means one can enjoy the excitement of holiday parties without playing bartender throughout.
Drinks for Holiday Celebrations
To prepare your holiday entertainment, you should restock your home bar. The holidays aren’t only the time to have fun with your family and friends but also to refine your bartending skills. These festive drinks are the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Its various flavors and ingredients can bring joy to your guests. Whether you’re hosting a party or just want to spend time alone with a special person, these cocktails will help to fill your holiday season with love, laughter, and delicious cocktails.
Partridge in a Pear Tree
The Partridge in a Pear Tree cocktail was inspired by the Christmas carol, the Twelve Days of Christmas, and has made the holiday season even more festive. Made of ground cinnamon, simmering honey, ginger, and a pinch of nutmeg with water, the spice honey syrup is a game-changer. Specifically, its flavor adds a rich sweetness to the cocktail. This drink is expertly crafted and combines warming bourbon and whiskey, a splash of bubbles, a punch of pear brandy, and spiced simple syrup. For holiday gatherings, these drinks are a must-have.
What’s more? These drinks can be made one month in advance and can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Next, the Christmas-themed spirits come into play with the bourbon and whiskey as their warming flavor fits well for the season. While the pear brandy adds a subtle fruitiness, these drinks aren’t complete without a touch of bubbly. Indeed, a splash of hard pear cider also makes these beverages lighter. Finally, the garnish adds an extra touch of holiday cheer.
White Cranberry Cosmo
Making an epic return to the cocktail scene, the Cosmopolitan is the perfect drink for the holiday season. Specifically, the White Cranberry Cosmo is a refreshing twist on the classic recipe that combines fresh rosemary and white cranberry juice with the original’s signature flavor. This revitalized cocktail boasts a crisp flavor profile that embodies the festive spirit. What’s more? Adding garnish with candied cranberry to make it a visually stunning cocktail. Overall, the White Cranberry Cosmo is sure to become a winter favorite.
Yule Mule
The Yule Mule is a Christmas cocktail that puts a festive spin on the original Moscow Mule. His cocktail swaps lime juice for a winter-inspired combination of cranberry and orange. To maintain the traditional recipe’s tartness, unsweetened cranberry juice is used instead of sweetened cranberry juice. Another key twist is the substitution of rosemary for mint, which adds a herbal aroma to the drink. As an unexpected cocktail, this ingredient works beautifully as it complements the vodka, rounding out the tart and spicy flavors. Releasing a fragrant whiff of holiday cheer in every sip, the rosemary garnish is the perfect finishing touch, creating a refreshing holiday cocktail.
Sugar Cookie Martinis
The festive sugar cookie martini is a rich and creamy holiday treat to try. Made with Baileys, whole milk, vanilla vodka, and Amaretto, this drink has a sweet sugar cookie flavor. The tiny candy cane-shaped sugar cookie garnish, known as the pièce de résistance, hangs from the rim. For sugar cookie fans, these sweet martinis offer a new way to indulge in holiday desserts. Alongside a holiday cookie, this winter cocktail with its frosting and sprinkle rim is the ideal companion. According to people who’ve tried it, this cocktail is a big hit at parties and, most importantly, delicious.
Rum Rum Rudolph
Inspired by Rudolph’s bright red nose, this cocktail known as Rum Rum Rudolph provides a Christmas twist to the classic rum and Coke. Tart cherry juice is added to the cock to achieve its vibrant color, which also brings a mild tartness to the soda to balance its sweetness. As a beloved mixed drink, the rum and Coke have smooth, rich notes of rum pairing with the flavor profile of cola. Although this drink can become boring, the Rum Rum Rudolph’s festive twist on the classic is perfect for holiday celebrations. Furthermore, a cherry and rosemary sprig garnish makes the cocktail even more festive, which is used to create an adorable Rudolph-inspired look.
Tiramisu White Russian
The Italian-influenced Tiramisu White Russian is an irresistible decadent drink that lies somewhere between a cocktail and dessert. Inspired by tiramisu, the drink combines rum, Kahlúa, homemade whipped cream, cocoa powder, and ladyfinger garnish. Although making the whip crip can be a bit of a workout, the result is well worth the minimum cleanup. Alternatively, store-bought whipped cream topping can be used for convenience. Furthermore, a dash of orange bitters, a pinch of ground cinnamon, or some fresh nutmeg shavings are great additions.
Mistletoe Margaritas
Be careful not to be caught underneath the mistletoe with the Christmas Margarita. For a different twist, this cocktail doesn’t require a blender, especially for those who prefer their margaritas on the rocks. This mistletoe margarita brings the classic frozen margarita into the holiday season. The transformation of the summer drink into a holiday cocktail classic, cranberry juice adds a bright color and seasonal spin. Try a couple of these drinks at a holiday party and potentially find yourself underneath a mistletoe by the end of the night. People have raved about this cocktail, believing it to be a great addition to the Christmas Eve party and is a definite keeper.
Jingle Juice
Holiday punches like the Jingle Juice simplify bartending duties and are incredibly easy to prepare, making them a favorite cocktail. With its festive blend of flavors, this big-batch, sweet-tart recipe is sure to get the Christmas party started. Called a Christmas miracle, this holiday punch serves a large crowd and makes a stunning presentation at any holiday party. What’s more? It’s endlessly versatile, allowing experimentation to create the ideal jingle juice. Be careful, though; guests are known to fall asleep by the night’s end due to too many drinks.
Spiked Chips Ahoy “Egg” Cream
The nostalgic dessert cocktail is known as the Spiked Chips Ahoy “Egg” Cream. Its creation is inspired by the classic flavor of Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies but in a sippable, retro format. Combining amaretto and rum, it provides a rich nuttiness that embodies the cookie’s signature taste. While the chocolate syrup and milk add a velvety smoothness to this drink, the fizzy seltzer gives it a playful twist. Similarly inspired by the classic egg cream, this dessert drink is great for those seeking a sweet treat. Paired with a Chip Ahoy cookie, top this drink with a cherry and give your taste buds a delicious Christmas gift.
Scrooge Sour
Even the Grinch wouldn’t be able to resist the charms of the Scrooge Sour cocktail. Inspired by the holiday classic, mulled wine, a special simple syrup elevates this sour cocktail to new heights. Evoking the flavors of mulled wine, this Scrooge Sour cocktail combines the warmth of ginger, cinnamon, clove, and star anise. Mainly, the cognac anchors the drink, red wine adds color and flavor, lime juice provides a bright and sour note, and the simple syrup rounds out the flavors. The best part? It can be stored in a fridge for up to one month, meaning you can enjoy a month-long celebration without worrying about this drink getting stale.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, these festive holiday cocktails are the perfect addition to any holiday gathering. Moreover, the creative twists on classic flavors offer something for everyone to enjoy. Whether sweet drinks or warming winter drinks, these various drinks capture the magic of the winter season. So, be sure to bring these cocktails to your holiday celebrations to keep your guests in a great mood.
