The holidays are the perfect time to indulge in warm spices and seasonal flavor combinations. This list of cocktails, warm and chilled, are sure to be a hit at any event you throw this year.
By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer
Cranberry Whiskey Sour
Whiskey sours are lightly sweet, well-balanced cocktails. The addition of cranberries might make this your new winter favorite! Ingredients are simple: whiskey, lemon juice, lime juice, egg whites, and simple syrup. This recipe substitutes regular simple syrup for a cranberry simple syrup, which is super simple to make.
Garnish this drink with a festive sprig of rosemary or sugared cranberries!
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Mulled Wine
This drink is made by gently simmering red wine with spices, citrus, and sweetener. The key is to avoid boiling (this would cook off the alcohol). Pro tip: make this one in the crock pot. It will make your house smell amazing.
The spices you’ll need are cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, ideally whole. This recipe uses dark brown sugar as the sweetener, which deepens the flavors.
Be sure to strain before serving and don’t be afraid to customize the citrus and spices to your taste. This can be garnished with a slice of citrus, a cinnamon stick, or nothing!
Peppermint Mocha Martini
If you like espresso martinis, this is the perfect Christmas version! Elevate by rimming the glass with crushed peppermint, make it stick with chocolate. When it hardens it will be like a peppermint bark treat with the cocktail.
Common ingredients are espresso, Baileys, Peppermint Schnapps, and chocolate liqueur. There are so many recipes online, but I like this fancy version.
Spiced Hot Buttered Rum
This cocktail contains dark rum, butter, and a spicy cinnamon syrup. Most recipes suggest you make your own syrup, which is quite simple. You’ll add sugar and your desired spices and simmer in a saucepan until well combined. Strain and cool the syrup before adding it to your cocktail!
Check out the recipe here. It’s rich, festive, and warms the belly. The butter adds a smooth velvety texture to the drink.
Partridge in a Pear Tree
This drink combines pear with ginger to create a warm winter cocktail. Make your own spiced honey syrup, use a pear brandy, and top with bubbles (bonus points for sparkling pear cider!) This drink, and its super festive name, will make a great addition to your holiday spread.
Garnish with candied ginger and thinly sliced pears!
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Bonus: Spiked Eggnog
If you’ve seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you’ll remember the scene with the eggnog. Everything that could have gone wrong at the Griswold family Christmas has indeed happened, and Clark dips his cup into the spiked eggnog, seeking comfort.
If you struggle with the holidays like Clark, you may need to whip up this cocktail.
And luckily, it’s the easiest of them all! Just combine eggnog and rum (or really any alcohol you like) and serve! Bonus points if you serve in a moose mug a la Christmas Vacation.
Keep in mind that you can make your own Christmas cocktail by using a standard cocktail recipe, like a martini or an old-fashioned, and swapping in a holiday-themed flavor. I hope you’ve found the perfect cocktail to compliment your menu if you are hosting this year!
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Author: Jayne Turner is a freelance writer from Orange, California. She has a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with an emphasis on language and cognition. She has ten years of musical theatre experience and a lifelong love of reading. Utterly excited by the brain, she brings a fresh Gen Z perspective to the topics that intrigue us most.
