Fun & Festive Christmas Cocktails

Embrace the Christmas spirit with some cheerful new seasonal drinks! Because let’s be honest, there’s no easier way to feel festive than to make yourself a Christmas cocktail. That’s why we’ve come up with some delicious cocktail recipes for you to pick and choose regardless of your tipple of choice.

Split into three categories, our festive winter drinks list contains 15 recipes of modern cocktails, classic Christmassy ideas and some non-alcoholic but delicious beverages for any non-drinkers or designated drivers. You don’t have to have any bartending skills (because we don’t either!) and you’ll only need an hourglass-shaped stainless steel measuring device called a “jigger” (that you’ve probably seen in most bars). Typically, the smaller side is for single measures (25 ml) and the other side is for doubles (50 ml).

Christmas Cocktails: Best Trending Recipes

1. White Mulled Wine with Elderflower – Serves 5

Try this red wine alternative – it’s totally worth it! This winter warmer uses a mix of white wine, cider and elderflower for a light pick me up/comfort drink.

Ingredients
1 bottle of cheap white wine
250ml bottle of light cider
75ml of elderflower cordial
1 lemon zest and strips
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla pod
3 tbsp brown sugar

Method
STEP 1 – Mix all the ingredients into a large pan and heat until simmering (not boiling).
STEP 2 – Pour in five normal size mugs, and enjoy.

2. Zingy Bourbon – Serves 1

Perfect for Bonfire Night, or a spicy and flavourful drink by the fireplace. Serve this cocktail, with crème de cacao and grenadine, with a twist of pared orange zest for a stylish party drink.

Ingredients
25ml of bourbon
25ml crème de cacao
25ml lemon juice
½ tsp of grenadine
2 tsp golden caster sugar
2 twists of orange zest

Method
STEP 1 – Mix all the ingredients in a shaker with ice.
STEP 2 – Pour into martini glasses and add an orange zest to decorate.

3. Blood Orange Campari – Serves 3

Campari is an Italian herbal liquor, most famous for its bitter taste, beautiful red colour, and the role it plays in the well-known Italian Negroni cocktail. The sweet orange juice in this cocktail balances the slightly bitter taste of Campari to make a refreshing drink to have at any time.

Ingredients
100ml Campari
350ml blood orange or orange juice
350ml soda water
3 twists of orange zest

Method
STEP 1 – Fill 3 highball glasses with ice cubes.
STEP 2 – Pour over the Campari, blood orange juice, and soda water in that order.
STEP 3 – Decorate with the orange zest on top.

4. Chai White Russian – Serves 2

Colder autumn months call for the warming spices of chai. This recipe offers a twist on the classic White Russian to please all the coffee lovers.

Ingredients
75ml chai tea-infused milk
50ml vodka
25ml coffee liqueur
Ice

Method
STEP 1 – Pour the coffee liqueur into a glass and fill it with ice.
STEP 2 – Mix the vodka with the chai tea and pour it over the top.

5. Marmalade & Mandarin Mojito – Serves 1

Marmalade mojitos make a deliciously jammy cocktail, which only takes five minutes to put together – an easy refresher!

Ingredients
1 tsp marmalade
25 ml dark rum
1 mandarin
1-star anise
Chilled tonic water
Ice

Method
STEP 1 – Mix together the marmalade, dark rum, mandarin juice, and star anise in a shaker.
STEP 2 – Pour over ice and add some tonic.

6. Bitter Orange Martinis with Cardamom – Serves 1

Whether shaken or stirred, martinis are so light and easy to drink. Especially when you throw in a cold winters night and turn that martini into a bitter orange one with cardamom.

Ingredients
2 cardamom pods
1 tbsp marmalade
50ml martini
25ml Cointreau
1 tsp lemon juice

Method
STEP 1 – Add a crushed cardamom pod to 1 tbsp of marmalade in a pan, then whisk in 50ml of martini. Take off the heat and let it infuse for 20 minutes.
STEP 2 – Add 25ml of Cointreau and 1 tsp of lemon juice then chill.
STEP 3 – Serve in a martini glass with some marmalade at the bottom, ice and the cardamom pod floating on top.

7. Vodka & Cranberry Blush – Serves 1

Serve these fruity cocktails in a martini glass or over crushed ice for a sophisticated feel with a defined crisp cranberry kick.

 

Ingredients
25ml vodka
50ml cranberry juice
25ml orange juice
A twist of lime zest
Crushed ice

Method
STEP 1 – Mix the vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and orange juice together with ice.
STEP 2 – Strain and fill your glass with the cocktail mix. You can serve over ice for an extra cold sip.
STEP 3 – Finish by adding a strip of the lime peel on top.

8. Grapefruit Spritz – Serves 1

Spritz up your drink with a zesty grapefruit mix, topped off with a dash of Aperol and a splash of prosecco.

Ingredients
50ml grapefruit juice
25ml Aperol
50ml Prosecco
A twist of grapefruit zest
Crushed Ice

Method
STEP 1 – Pour the grapefruit juice and Aperol into a chilled balloon glass.
STEP 2 – Add ice and stir to combine.
STEP 3 – Top up with Prosecco
STEP 4 – Finish by adding a twist of grapefruit zest.

9. Bramble Gin Cocktail – Serves 1

This recipe for a classic bramble cocktail is a great one to have in your repertoire. Invented by Dick Bradsell in the 80s and is now a modern classic.

Ingredients
50ml London dry gin
25ml lemon juice
25ml sugar syrup
25ml blackberry liqueur
A few blackberries

Method
STEP 1 – Fill an old fashioned glass with crushed ice.
STEP 2 – Mix the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup together with the ice in a shaker.
STEP 3 – Drizzle blackberry liqueur through the iced mix to create a marbled effect.
STEP 4 – Garnish with blackberries on top.

Traditional Christmas Drinks

1. Red Mulled Wine – Serves 10

Probably one of the most popular drinks of the Christmas season – the classic red mulled wine. You’ll find it everywhere around you, from the local Christmas markets to any Tesco, Sainsbury or Lidl. But if you’d like to make your own big batch for a party without spending much, then follow this easy homemade recipe.

Ingredients
2 Bottles of cheap red wine
2 large cinnamon sticks
4-star anise
8 cloves
4 lemon zests
8 tbsp caster sugar

Method
STEP 1 – In a large pan, pour the red wine, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar, then cook on low heat for 10 mins.
STEP 2 – Take it off the heat, and let it infuse for about 30 mins.
STEP 3 – Just before serving, reheat, bring to simmer and pour into heatproof glasses.

2. Hot Toddy – Serves 2

A classic warm hot toddy – get yourself a flavourful blend of whisky, honey, lemon, cinnamon, and cloves in this ultra-seasonal punch.

Ingredients
50ml whisky
3 tsp honey
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon, half juiced, and half sliced
2 cloves

Method
STEP 1 – Blend the whisky and honey together and then pour into two heatproof mugs.
STEP 2 – Split the cinnamon stick in two and add half of it to each mug, then top up with boiling water
STEP 3 – Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to each mug with add a slice of lemon studded with a clove on top.

3. Mulled Cider – Serves 10

Ingredients
2L Dry cider
7 tbsp apple brandy
400ml apple juice
75g dark brown sugar
1 orange zests
4 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks

Method
STEP 1 – Mix the cider, apple brandy, apple juice and sugar together in a large pan, and bring to simmer.
STEP 2 – Add the orange zest, cinnamon sticks and cloves, and let it cook on very low heat for 20 mins.
STEP 3 – Serve hot in a good quality mug.

4. Eggnog – Serves 5

Make yourself a comforting and extra Christmassy eggnog festive tipple. It only uses five kitchen ingredients, which you’ll probably already have in the kitchen.

Ingredients
50g caster sugar
75ml Water
4 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla essence
400g condensed milk
100ml brandy

Method
STEP 1 – Mix together the sugar and water and bring it to simmer until sugar is dissolved.
STEP 2 – Beat the yolks with vanilla and condensed milk until smooth. Add the brandy to the mix.
STEP 3 – Add the cooled sugar syrup to the rest.
STEP 4 – Pour into a jug and leave it to chill for at least 2 hours. Serve over ice within 24 hours.

5. Old Fashioned – Serves 1

A traditional whisky cocktail with bitters, soda water and a simple orange garnish. Serve in a tumbler with plenty of ice.

Ingredients
1 tsp granulated sugar
A drop of water
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
60ml Scotch Whisky or Bourbon
Orange slice

Method
STEP 1 – Put the sugar, orange bitters and water in a tumbler, and mix until sugar dissolves.
STEP 2 – Fill your glass with ice and add the whisky.
STEP 3 – Garnish with an orange slice.

6. Irish Coffee – Serves 1

Who doesn’t like a warm and strong Irish coffee on a long winters day? Indulge with this old classic beverage made with Irish whiskey, cream and coffee – it can jazz up any coffee break, or be a brilliant dessert substitute.

Ingredients
1 tbsp double cream
150ml of black coffee
50ml Irish Whisky
1 tsp brown sugar
Nutmeg

Method
STEP 1 – Whip the cream until it thickened.
STEP 2 – Pour hot coffee into a heatproof glass mug, then add the whiskey and sugar.
STEP 3 – Gently float the cream on the top and sprinkle some freshly grated nutmeg.

7. Bamboo – Serves 1

Created in the 1890s in Japan by German bartender Louis Eppinger. Made with equal parts sherry and vermouth, with just a couple dashes each of Angostura and orange bitters, it’s an easy to memorise recipe and even easier to stir together.

Ingredients
25ml sherry
25ml Rosso martini
25ml dry vermouth
1-2 dashes of Angostura orange bitters
Ice

Method
STEP 1 – Mix together all alcohol and pour on top of ice in a coupe glass.
STEP 2 – Decorate with an orange peel on the side of the glass.

Non-Alcoholic Christmas Drinks

1- Pomegranate & Ginger Beer Mule – Serves 10

Kick things off this Christmas with this spicy and refreshing drink! All you’ll need is a frothy egg white, sugar, chilled pomegranate juice, limes and ginger beer! You can even garnish with cranberries too if you wish.

Ingredients
1 egg white beaten
50g white granulated sugar
600ml pomegranate juice
2 squeezed limes
1L ginger beer

Method
STEP 1 – Tip the egg white and sugar in two separate bowls, and dip the rims of your glasses.
STEP 2 – Mix the pomegranate juice and lime juice in a jug with ice.
STEP 3 – Gently add ginger beer on top of each glass just before serving.

2- Orange & Cranberry Spritz – Serves 10

Gather everyone in the family for a refreshing and healthy spritzer – ideal to share at breakfast or brunch. Plus, it’s super easy to make, you only need to mix three juices equally.

Ingredients
1L orange juice
1L cranberry juice
1L sparkling elderflower

Method
STEP 1 – Mix orange and cranberry juice together in a large jug.
STEP 2 – Pour in the sparkling elderflower slowly on top, as it will fizz.
STEP 3 – Serve in highball glasses with ice.

3- Mock Mulled Wine – Serves 10

For any mulled wine lover who can’t drink alcohol, make a mock alternative by using pomegranate juice, blackberries and spices.

Ingredients
1L pomegranate juice
50g caster sugar
Handful of blackberries
500ml apple juice
2 cinnamon sticks
2 stars anise
8 cloves
6 black peppercorns
2 oranges, quartered

Method
STEP 1 – In a large pan mix together the pomegranate juice, sugar, blackberries and apple juice.
STEP 2 – Add the cinnamon, star anise, cloves, peppercorns and orange.
STEP 3 – Heat gently until it simmers and pour it into heatproof glasses.

4- Hot Apple Pie Punch – Serves 10

Warm-up with this booze-free drink! It tastes just like a good old pie thanks to the cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg spices. You can also add a splash of rum for the adults!

Ingredients
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
A pinch of ground cloves
½ grated nutmeg
2L apple juice
2 tsp vanilla extract
6 scoops of vanilla ice cream

Method
STEP 1 – Put the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, apple juice and vanilla in a large saucepan, and bring to simmer.
STEP 2 – When the apple juice has warmed through, add the vanilla ice cream and whisk vigorously until it completely melts.
STEP 3 – Serve in heatproof glasses or mugs.

5- Jasmine & Ginger Tea – Serves 10

Enjoy a warming pot of jasmine tea with chai spices including cinnamon, star anise, cloves and ginger. The addition of orange and berries adds a fruity tang.

Ingredients
1 tbsp loose-leaf jasmine tea
a handful of berries
2 small cinnamon stick
2 stars anise
4 cloves
two slices of ginger
2 orange wedges
1L water

Method
STEP 1 – Put the jasmine tea and berries in a large teapot.
STEP 2 – Add the cinnamon sticks, stars anise, cloves, ginger and orange.
STEP 3 – Fill the teapot with water.
We hope these few easy recipes will be easy enough for you to try and maybe find a new favourite for the winter season – which will hopefully set you in the Christmas spirit.

If you have a favourite recipe but are missing any specific glassware, or know someone who would love their own rum, gin, or whisky bottle to sip away, you can browse all our personalised glasses and Christmas alcohol ranges.