10 Great Bourbon Christmas Cocktails

Looking for a signature bourbon Christmas cocktail? Try the Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail! It’s balanced, sweet tart, and complex, fruity with intriguing notes from sweet vermouth. Because it stars cranberry and bourbon it’s ideal for winter entertaining, like Christmas dinner. But it works for any season and occasion!

Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey. sweet vermouth, orange juice, 100% unsweetened cranberry juice. simple syrup

Here’s a creamy, cold cocktail that’s exceedingly delicious at Christmas: Bourbon Milk Punch! You might not expect it, but the combination of milk and bourbon is spot on. The richness of the milk perfectly compliments the oak and vanilla notes in the bourbon. Add a vanilla and nutmeg, and this historic cocktail is every bit as epic today as the day it was invented.

Ingredients: Whole milk, bourbon whiskey, simple syrup, vanilla

Here's a bourbon Christmas cocktail that’s been around for centuries: the Hot Toddy! This historic drink used to be a cure for the common cold, and with one sip you’ll know why. A burst of warm bourbon melds seamlessly into the lemon and honey. Even just the light steam on your face as you take in the aroma makes this drink worth making. 

Also try: Apple Cider Hot Toddy

Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey, honey, lemon, and hot water

Want a cozy bourbon Christmas cocktail that warms you from the inside out? There’s nothing better at taking the chill off than homemade Spiked Hot Chocolate! This mug of liquid cocoa is rich and creamy, with an intense depth in chocolate flavor. A hint of bourbon and it gives it a warming complexity with notes of vanilla and oak. Take one sip and we think you’ll agree: it’s truly stunning.

Ingredients: Bourbon, cocoa powder, 2% milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, dark chocolate chips

Here’s a classic bourbon drink that will warm you to the bone: Hot Spiked Apple Cider! There’s something about the combination of sweet cinnamon and cloves with the subtle spicy finish of bourbon that’s absolutely soul warming. The liquor melds seamlessly into the hot cider, making a smooth sip and a cozy finish. 

Ingredients: Apple cider, bourbon whiskey, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks

Here's a bourbon Christmas cocktail for those who love boozy drinks: the Maple Old Fashioned! This twist on the classic uses maple syrup instead of sugar, along with the classic whiskey and bitters. Give it a swirl and a taste, and it’s even smoother than the original! The maple syrup adds hints of caramel and vanilla that give even more nuance and sophistication to each sip.

Ingredients: Maple syrup, Angostura bitters, bourbon whiskey:

Here's another boozy bourbon Christmas cocktail: the Bourbon Sazerac! This slow sipper is traditionally made with rye whiskey and Cognac. But simplify it and make it with bourbon, and it’s just as good! (In our opinion) Adding absinthe, sugar and bitters to bourbon whiskey makes a sophisticated cocktail that’s both elevated and simple, all at once.

Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey. absinthe, sugar, Peychaud’s bitters

Want an easy cocktail for fall and winter? Try Apple Cider and Whiskey! These two ingredients go hand in hand, the spicy whiskey complimenting the sweet tart cider perfectly. The great part about this pairing? You can drink it hot or cold! Serve it up in a lowball glass with clear ice for an easy preparation.

Ingredients: Bourbon, apple cider, orange wheel

Another spirit-forward bourbon cocktail for the holidays? Try a Bourbon Manhattan! While a Manhattan is classically made with spicy rye whiskey, we prefer it made with bourbon. The notes of oak, vanilla and caramel oak in bourbon are the perfect match for sweet vermouth.

Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey. sweet red vermouth, Angostura bitters

Last up in our bourbon Christmas cocktails, the always-festive New York Sour! First you have the bourbon sour layer: sweet tart and perfectly balanced, sweetened with maple for some nuance. Then float a layer of red wine over the top and it adds intrigue, complexity and a fruity acidity. Not to mention it looks simply stunning with the bright two-toned layer.

Ingredients: Red wine, bourbon whiskey, lemon, simple syrup