Here are the best Christmas cocktails to make your holiday festive! These Christmas drinks offer something for everyone, from martinis to spiced cider.
There’s nothing better for getting into the holiday mood than Christmas cocktails! A signature drink is more than just a tasty treat: it’s all about setting the scene for your holiday festivities. After years of being home bartenders, we’ve found that cocktails are about flavor, artistry, and mood.
Here are all our best Christmas cocktails and Christmas drinks! There’s something for everyone in this list: alcoholic drinks (and some non!) that will please the whole family. There’s the brilliant Christmas martini made with cranberry juice, and spiced cider that will make your house smell like a holiday candle factory. Ready to get started?
Looking for a memorable signature Christmas cocktail? This Christmas martini is where it’s at: sweet tart, drinkable and beautifully festive! This martini is the perfect fit for entertaining. It’s easy to mix up and the color is beautifully brilliant from the cranberry juice. You can also make it as a pitcher for easy prep.
Also try: Pomegranate Martini
Meet our other favorite Christmas cocktail: the Christmas Margarita! This bright red drink is absolutely stunning to look at, and the sweet tart flavor is crisp and refreshing. It’s got all the character of the classic margarita, but a beautiful new look and nuance to the flavor! Serve it for any occasion that calls for a red drink (Christmas Eve? Valentine’s Day?).
Also try: Pomegranate Margarita
Ready for the most vibrant, bubbly Christmas cocktail? Enter the Poinsettia, a cranberry champagne drink! Its brilliant color and cozy vibe makes it the perfect for wintery weather. It makes any occasion more fun, from Thanksgiving to holiday parties to Christmas Eve. Of course, you can serve it any time of the year too! It uses only a few simple ingredients.
Here’s a drink that’s ideal for sipping by the fire on a chilly evening: hot buttered rum! Even just saying the name makes you warm inside. This historic drink has been around for centuries and is often enjoyed during the Christmas season. This version is subtly sweet, cozy-spiced with cinnamon and allspice, and spirit-forward with boozy dark rum. Oh: and there’s just enough butter to make it lightly creamy.
Here's a cozy Christmas cocktail that makes your kitchen smell like a holiday wonderland: spiked and spiced apple cider! It’s perfect for the transition to cooler weather. It's very easy to make, and the rum complements the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise perfectly. Not only will it lift your spirits, it makes your kitchen smell like a candle shop.
Want it non-alcoholic? Try Mulled Cider.
Here's a Christmas cocktail that looks like snow in a glass: milk punch! A cousin of eggnog, this tasty drink is one of the oldest cocktails there is, featuring brandy, bourbon, milk and sugar. It’s a popular brunch drink in New Orleans, and the concept sounds baffling until you try it. Then you realize the genius of it: the creamy, cool milk against the spice of the brandy and the nuance of vanilla extract. From first sip, we were sold.
There are creative spins on the classic Spanish drink so that you can drink it all year long. Try this vibrant Apple Cider Sangria! It pairs the cozy flavors of fall with dry red wine to make a Spanish-style autumnal spin on this drink. You’ll be amazed by how this Christmas cocktail is cozy and refreshing all at once.
Also try: Apple Sangria
Cider pairs perfectly with sweet and spicy bourbon in this sophisticated Christmas cocktail! It’s got a hint of lemon and a surprise ingredient that rounds out the flavors into a meld that’s intriguing, complex and highly drinkable! It's so good, you'll want to drink it all winter.
When it comes to festive cocktails…well, this one might take the cake. Try this Pomegranate Mimosa, aka the Pomegranate Prosecco Sparkler! The combination of sweet tart pomegranate, orange perfume and airy bubbles is one of the most satisfying in all our 200+ cocktail recipes. It's perfect for holiday brunch or an evening Christmas cocktail.
Last up in our Christmas cocktails...amaretto coffee! It's part drink, part dessert, and 100 percent irresistible! It’s one of those flavor combinations that’s years beyond the sum of its parts. The amaretto brings a nuttiness and spice to the coffee that’s hard to quantify in words. Topped with frothy whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, it’s truly to die for.
More Christmas drink ideas
Looking for non-alcoholic drinks or other Christmas cocktails? Here are a few more ideas:
- Mix up a cup of Homemade Hot Chocolate! Tip: spike it with peppermint schnapps.
- Try an easy and gingery Apple Cider Mule
- Sip on Hot Apple Cider from the stovetop or make it in a slow cooker
- Try Chambord and Champagne Cocktail, a mix of raspberry liqueur and bubbles
- Warm a batch of spiced Mulled Wine
Christmas Martini (& More Drinks!)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Here are the best Christmas cocktails to make your holiday festive! These drinks offer something for everyone, from martinis to spiced cider.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) vodka**
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) 100% cranberry juice (not sweetened*)
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Cointreau
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup or maple syrup*
- For the garnish: cranberries, rosemary sprig
Instructions
- Place the vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold.
- Strain the drink into a cocktail or martini glass. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary and serve.
Notes
*If all you can find is sweetened cranberry juice, use half the simple syrup quantity (or add it to taste).
**How to make 8 drinks for a crowd: In a pitcher, mix together 1 cup vodka, 1 cup 100% cranberry juice, 1/2 cup Cointreau, 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, and 5 tablespoons simple syrup. Add 3 handfuls of ice and stir until cold. Pour into glasses and serve.
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
Keywords: Christmas cocktails, Christmas cocktail recipes
More Christmas resources
Looking for more inspiration outside of these Christmas cocktails? Here are a few more holiday ideas:
- 25 Best Christmas Recipes from main dishes to sides to cookies
- Easy Christmas Desserts for a Crowd: like the traditional cranberry pudding!
- 25 Vegan Christmas Dinner Recipes All the delicious plant-based options
- 10 Best Healthy Christmas Cookies Get ready to bake!
- 12 Best Holiday Drinks Browse a few more holiday cocktails.
Last updated: December 2020
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