‘Tis the season to be jolly, and nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like these festive Christmas cocktails.
This list of 26 colorful options has a little something for everyone this Christmas.
There’s sugar, spice, and everything nice. I’ve even thrown a few warm, comforting, dry, and sour cocktails into the mix.
Whether you’re looking for classic Christmas cocktail recipes or something new, I’ve got you, Boo!
So, channel your inner bartender and mix up these spirits to lift yours. And be sure to check out the Christmas Margarita recipe at the end before you go!
1. Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail
This tangy mix of vodka and citrus will make your Christmas both holly and jolly.
Zesty and sharp, it’s made from vodka, elderflower liqueur, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Add a splash of ginger beer to top it up and garnish with pomegranate seeds and a sprig of fresh mint.
This sophisticated drink is destined to be the highlight of your next Christmas Eve soiree.
2. Holiday Mai Tai
Fruity and refreshing, Mai Tais are generally enjoyed on a tropical beach while bathing in sunshine.
This recipe adds a little summer fun to your Christmas party with a holiday-themed version.
With just four ingredients, it’s effortless to toss together. Knock back a couple to keep you warm on frosty December nights.
3. Mulled Wine
Classic mulled wine is one of the best things about the holiday season. It’s a very traditional beverage.
In the Middle Ages, mulled wine was more popular than water. Thrifty households enjoyed it as a way to extend the lifespan of stale wine.
This recipe doesn’t mess with success.
It’s beginner-friendly and includes festive spices like nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. It’s sweet, warm, comforting, and delicious.
4. Eggnog Cocktail
Another yuletide must-have, eggnog is a rich and creamy beverage typically served at Christmas or New Year.
You can use various liquors for the base, but this recipe goes with vodka and amaretto for a deep, nutty flavor.
Shake it up, pour it out, and garnish it with caramel sauce. This boozy milkshake is a dreamy delight.
5. The Grinch Cocktail
Holidays got you down? Soothe your inner Grinch with a glass of this fruity cocktail.
Refreshing and light, it’s a sweet blend of melon, citrus, and cherry.
Made with melon liqueur, clear rum, and fizzy lemon-lime soda, it perfectly balances the sweet with the citrusy.
There’s just one problem. It’s so delicious that you can easily lose track of whether you’re on drink number one or six.
6. Candy Cane Martini
Thanks to this recipe, you can enjoy all the delicious taste of candy canes in a winter-themed alcoholic beverage.
It requires a bit of organization as the process takes up to 3 days, but it’s worth it.
You’ll soak candy canes in vodka to infuse it with their sweet, minty flavor.
Then, you can enjoy it straight or use it as a base for a wide range of Christmas cocktails.
7. Mistletoe Martini Cranberry Christmas Cocktail
Martinis are elegant, sophisticated, and surprisingly easy to make, so class up your Christmas with this holiday version.
A fruity blend of elderflower and cranberry, the Mistletoe Martini is a vibrant, uplifting drink. It’ll keep the party going late into the night.
8. Christmas Sangria
If you like your booze full of beautiful, bright flavors, grab a sip of this spectacular sangria.
It’s basically mulled wine without the mulling. And you’ll serve it chilled.
Between the red wine, brandy, cinnamon, sweet syrup, and fruit, it’s a delightfully refreshing beverage full of depth and flavor.
9. Pomegranate Martini with Rosemary Honey Syrup
Not every Christmas cocktail needs a cute, holiday-themed name. They just need the right ingredients.
This ridiculously delicious Pomegranate Martini definitely has them.
The pomegranate juice lends itself to the drink’s gorgeous red hue. It also adds a bright, drool-worthy flavor.
Add the rosemary honey syrup, and you can hang it up. This drink is an instant Christmas classic.
10. Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
Also known as a ‘Blizzard,’ this bourbon cocktail is whiskey heaven.
It’s bright and tart, made with cranberry juice and lemon. So brace your taste buds for a zesty, mouth-watering treat.
11. Christmas Punch
This fruity, fizzy punch will add sparkle to any festive feast.
It’s a juicy blend of sparkling wine, dark rum, orange, cranberries, and ginger ale.
Load it up with plenty of ice, fresh cranberries, and orange slices for a colorful bowl that’ll keep everyone coming back for more.
12. Mrs. Claus Cocktail
Poor Mrs. Claus. Her husband gets all the press while she languishes in the background, mending his socks and sweeping the elf factory floor.
This cocktail isn’t just a delicious blend of peppermint schnapps and eggnog; it’s also a tribute to the woman behind the man.
Raise a glass to the festive feminist hero of our times. And keep that glass coming because this cocktail is crazy good.
13. Easy Hot Toddy
During my childhood, my mother would feed me Hot Toddies when I was sick.
So perhaps we should start with a disclaimer: This drink is not for children. But it will cure what ails you.
A warming mix of whiskey, honey, and lemon, it’s a classic for a reason. It’ll warm you from your head to your toes.
14. Winter Snowflake Cocktail
A dreamy, creamy cocktail made with Bailey’s Irish Cream and scented with cinnamon. If you plan to serve this at your Christmas party, you can skip dessert.
This is a milkshake/sundae/pudding kind of cocktail that’s sinfully scrumptious. Not to mention wonderfully filling.
15. Cranberry Mimosa
Mimosas are the ultimate fuss-free cocktail, and this holiday version continues the trend with a simple but flavorful recipe.
Tart cranberries and fizzy champagne — that’s all you’ll need to put some sparkle in your season!
16. Drunken Snowman Cocktail
Delicious enough to warm the heart of Frosty the Snowman, this fun cocktail is a decadent mix of ice cream, chocolate, and whipped cream.
Oh, and there’s a generous helping of Bailey’s Irish Cream in there, too! Because Christmas isn’t Christmas without a divinely creamy, boozy treat.
17. Jack Frost Cocktail
Much like Jack Frost, this cocktail is ultra-cool.
For a start, it’s icy blue, thanks to a generous serving of blue curacao. Add cream of coconut and pineapple juice, and you’ll have a seriously sweet crowd-pleaser.
Just don’t forget the ice! You can’t name something after Jack Frost and not have ice!
18. Spiced Hot Buttered Rum
Hot buttered rum sounds like something you’d serve at a Harry Potter-esque feast. (Although it’s definitely not for kids, magical or otherwise.)
It IS, however, lip-smacking, belly-warmingly good.
Serve it hot as your guests come in from the cold, and you’ll cement your reputation as the most incredible Christmas host of all time.
19. Jingle Juice Holiday Punch
This flavorful punch is just as fun as its name. Bright and breezy, it’s a fantastic way to celebrate the holidays.
You can pull it together in minutes with only three ingredients – cherry soda, vodka, and Champagne.
Then, you can spend the rest of your evening entertaining like a pro.
20. Pomegranate Gin Cocktail
This juicy cocktail is Christmas in a glass.
Made with gin, orange, pomegranate, honey, and fresh thyme, it’s a smooth and delicious drink that goes down easy. (Arguably too easy.)
21. Peppermintini
Appletini. Crantini. Mexitini. And now Peppermintini!
I’d argue that this ‘tini’ craze has gotten out of control — IF I didn’t enjoy them so much!
The Peppermintini is a delectable blend of white chocolate liqueur, peppermint schnapps, and half and half.
It’s rich, sweet, creamy, and full of invigorating minty flavor. It’s dessert in a glass, and I LOVE it.
22. Christmas Moscow Mule
I’m always a fan of Moscow Mules, and this Christmas version is no exception. It’s crisp and refreshing and full of pomegranate flavor.
And don’t let the jalapenos throw you off. That’s where all the spice comes from.
If you’ve never tried something similar, it’s hard to imagine. But I promise: adding jalapenos to cocktails is a genius idea.
23. Coquito
If you’ve never tried coquito, you’re in for a treat. It’s basically Puerto Rico’s answer to eggnog and will remind you a bit of horchata.
It’s rich and thick, delightfully creamy, and full of rich winter spices like cinnamon and cloves.
It also relies heavily on coconut for flavor, giving it a slightly tropical taste, as well.
24. Bourbon Spiked French Hot Chocolate
Whether topped with marshmallows or whipped cream, this hot chocolate will be a hit.
It’s real, from-scratch hot chocolate made with high-quality chocolate bars, brown sugar, and half and half.
It’s decadent and totally indulgent, and that’s BEFORE you add the bourbon and extra toppings!
Be sure to make some alcohol-free mugs for the littles to enjoy, too.
25. White Russian
I can never drink, see, or talk about a White Russian without thinking of The Dude.
I believe The Big Lebowski did more to popularize the White Russian than any bartender, magazine, or cookbook ever could.
So, if you’re a TBL fan, you know all about White Russians. If not, go watch it and whip one up for the viewing.
26. Negroni
Looking for something a bit crisper and drier this holiday season? Try the Negroni.
This classic Italian apéritif is a simple blend of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. It’s perfect for sipping near the fire after Christmas dinner.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!
26 Easy Christmas Cocktails
12
servings15
minutes105
kcalIn the mood for Christmas cocktails but don’t know where to start? Let this festive cranberry orange Margarita get you in the holiday spirit!
Ingredients
- For the cocktail
5 cups cranberry juice
4 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup silver tequila
1 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup orange liqueur
- For the glasses
sugar and orange zest (for the rims)
1 orange slice (for the rims)
ice
Instructions
- Pour all of the cocktail ingredients into a large pitcher. Stir to combine.
- Mix the sugar and orange zest in a wide, shallow bowl.
- Run an orange slice around the rims of the cocktail glasses. Then, dip the rims into a mixture of sugar and orange zest to coat them.
- Fill the glasses with ice.
- Pour the Margarita into each glass and garnish as desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Plain cranberry juice is best for this recipe. However, if cranberry cocktail juice is all that’s available, omit the added sugar in the recipe.
Nutrition
- Calories: 105kcal
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 0g
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 2mg
- Potassium: 68mg
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 13g
- Calcium: 11mg
- Iron: 0mg
