10 Festive Holiday Cocktails to Delight Your Guests
1. Classic Eggnog with a Twist
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup bourbon
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions:
Heat milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil.
Whisk eggs and sugar in a bowl until pale. Slowly add the warm milk mixture to temper the eggs.
Return to the saucepan and heat gently until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in bourbon and cinnamon.
Serve warm or chilled with a sprinkle of nutmeg.
2. Cranberry Moscow Mule
Ingredients:
2 oz vodka
3 oz ginger beer
2 oz cranberry juice
1 lime wedge
Fresh cranberries and rosemary for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a copper mug with ice.
Add vodka and cranberry juice, then top with ginger beer.
Squeeze the lime wedge into the drink and stir gently.
Garnish with fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig.
3. Pomegranate Sparkler
Ingredients:
3 oz Prosecco
1 oz pomegranate juice
1/2 oz orange liqueur
Pomegranate seeds and orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
Pour pomegranate juice and orange liqueur into a champagne flute.
Top with chilled Prosecco.
Garnish with pomegranate seeds and an orange peel twist.
4. Peppermint White Russian
Ingredients:
1.5 oz vodka
1 oz coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa)
1 oz heavy cream
0.5 oz peppermint schnapps
Crushed candy canes for garnish
Instructions:
Rim a glass with crushed candy canes.
Fill the glass with ice and add vodka, coffee liqueur, and peppermint schnapps.
Gently pour in heavy cream and stir.
5. Gingerbread Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
2 oz bourbon
0.5 oz gingerbread syrup
2 dashes bitters
Cinnamon stick and orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
Stir bourbon, gingerbread syrup, and bitters with ice.
Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice.
6. Mulled Wine Sangria
Ingredients:
1 bottle red wine (this doesn’t have to be expensive, just tasty)
1/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup honey or sugar
1 orange (sliced)
1 apple (sliced)
4 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a pot or slow cooker.
Heat on low, stirring occasionally, until warm (do not boil).
Serve in heatproof glasses with a slice of fruit.
7. Frosty Cranberry Margarita
Ingredients:
2 oz tequila
1 oz triple sec
2 oz cranberry juice
1 oz lime juice
Sugar and lime wedge for rimming
Sugared cranberries for garnish
Instructions:
Rim a glass with lime juice and sugar.
Shake tequila, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice with ice.
Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with sugared cranberries.
8. Spiked Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
1 cup hot cocoa (store-bought or homemade)
1.5 oz Baileys, Kahlúa, or peppermint schnapps
Whipped cream, marshmallows, and chocolate syrup for garnish
Instructions:
Pour hot cocoa into a mug and stir in your chosen liqueur.
Top with whipped cream and marshmallows.
Drizzle chocolate syrup on top for extra decadence.
9. Holiday Aperol Spritz
Ingredients:
2 oz Aperol
3 oz Prosecco
1 oz cranberry juice
1 oz soda water
Rosemary sprig and orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a wine glass with ice.
Add Aperol, Prosecco, cranberry juice, and soda water.
Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and orange slice.
10. Figgy Bourbon Sour
Ingredients:
2 oz bourbon
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz fig jam
Thyme sprig or dried fig for garnish
Instructions:
Shake bourbon, lemon juice, and fig jam with ice.
Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
Garnish with a thyme sprig or dried fig.
Tips for Serving Holiday Cocktails
Presentation is Key: Use festive glassware, colorful garnishes, and creative rims (like sugar, crushed candy canes, or cinnamon) to elevate the visual appeal.
Batch Your Drinks: Prepare cocktails like Mulled Wine Sangria or Cranberry Moscow Mules in large batches to save time and make hosting easier.
Offer Non-Alcoholic Versions: Ensure all guests can enjoy the festivities by providing mocktail options.
Cheers to a joyful holiday season! Which of these cocktails will you be trying this year? Let us know in the comments!
