Holiday season calls for sparkle, cheer, and something delicious in your glass. These cocktails bring the magic—whether you love cozy, creamy sips by the fire or fizzy drinks to toast with friends. Here are 23 stunning holiday cocktails to make your gatherings shine.
1. Cranberry Mistletoe Martini
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz triple sec
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- ½ oz lime juice
- Ice
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice.
- Add all ingredients and shake well.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass.
How to Serve It
Garnish with rosemary and sugared cranberries.
2. Peppermint White Russian
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- 1 oz peppermint schnapps
- 2 oz cream
- Crushed candy canes for rim
Instructions
- Rim glass with crushed candy cane.
- Add vodka, coffee liqueur, schnapps, and cream over ice.
- Stir gently.
How to Serve It
Top with mini candy cane for garnish.
3. Sparkling Pomegranate Prosecco
Ingredients
- 4 oz prosecco
- 1 oz pomegranate juice
- Pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Pour pomegranate juice into flute.
- Top with prosecco.
How to Serve It
Drop in pomegranate seeds for sparkle.
4. Gingerbread Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 1½ oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- 1 oz espresso
- ½ oz gingerbread syrup
Instructions
- Shake all ingredients with ice.
- Strain into martini glass.
How to Serve It
Top with nutmeg and a small cookie.
5. Spiced Apple Bourbon Fizz
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 3 oz apple cider
- 1 oz lemon juice
- Sparkling water
- Cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Mix bourbon, cider, and lemon juice over ice.
- Top with sparkling water.
How to Serve It
Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon.
6. Merry Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz triple sec
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz lime juice
- Ice
Instructions
- Shake ingredients with ice.
- Strain into salt-rimmed glass.
How to Serve It
Add a lime wedge and cranberries on top.
7. Eggnog Brandy Alexander
Ingredients
- 1½ oz brandy
- 1 oz crème de cacao
- 2 oz eggnog
Instructions
- Shake ingredients with ice.
- Strain into chilled glass.
How to Serve It
Dust with nutmeg before serving.
8. Winter Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine
- ½ cup brandy
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- ½ cup cranberries
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in pitcher.
- Chill for 2–4 hours.
How to Serve It
Serve with extra fruit in each glass.
9. Maple Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ oz maple syrup
- 2 dashes bitters
- Orange peel
Instructions
- Stir bourbon, syrup, and bitters over ice.
- Strain into glass.
How to Serve It
Add orange peel twist.
10. Holiday Mule
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 4 oz ginger beer
- ½ oz lime juice
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into a copper mug with ice.
- Stir gently.
How to Serve It
Add cranberries and mint.
11. Hot Buttered Rum
Ingredients
- 2 oz dark rum
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- Hot water
Instructions
- Combine butter, sugar, and cinnamon in mug.
- Add rum and hot water; stir well.
How to Serve It
Top with cinnamon stick.
12. Sugar Cookie Martini
Ingredients
- 2 oz vanilla vodka
- 1 oz amaretto
- 2 oz cream
- Sugar for rim
Instructions
- Shake ingredients with ice.
- Strain into sugar-rimmed glass.
How to Serve It
Top with cookie crumb sprinkle.
13. Rosemary Gin Fizz
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz lemon juice
- ¾ oz rosemary syrup
- Sparkling water
Instructions
- Shake gin, lemon, syrup with ice.
- Strain and top with sparkling water.
How to Serve It
Garnish with rosemary.
14. Chai-Spiced Hot Toddy
Ingredients
- 1 oz whiskey
- ½ cup hot chai tea
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in mug.
- Stir and enjoy warm.
How to Serve It
Top with lemon slice and star anise.
15. Sparkling Cranberry Rosé
Ingredients
- 3 oz rosé sparkling wine
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- Fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Pour cranberry juice into glass.
- Top with rosé.
How to Serve It
Add cranberries for color.
16. Irish Cream Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp cocoa
- 1 oz Irish cream liqueur
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Heat milk and cocoa.
- Stir in sugar and Irish cream.
How to Serve It
Top with whipped cream.
17. Candy Cane Martini
Ingredients
- 2 oz vanilla vodka
- 1 oz peppermint schnapps
- 1 oz cream
- Crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Rim glass with candy cane.
- Shake ingredients with ice.
- Strain into glass.
How to Serve It
Add candy cane garnish.
18. Caramel Apple Mule
Ingredients
- 2 oz caramel vodka
- 3 oz apple cider
- 4 oz ginger beer
- ½ oz lime juice
Instructions
- Pour over ice in a copper mug.
- Stir gently.
How to Serve It
Top with apple slice and caramel drizzle.
19. Cinnamon Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz cinnamon syrup
- ½ oz lemon juice
- Ice
Instructions
- Shake ingredients with ice.
- Strain into glass.
How to Serve It
Add orange peel garnish.
20. Pecan Pie Martini
Ingredients
- 1½ oz vanilla vodka
- 1 oz pecan liqueur
- 1 oz cream
- Crushed pecans for rim
Instructions
- Shake ingredients with ice.
- Strain into rimmed glass.
How to Serve It
Dust with cinnamon sugar.
21. Winter Wonderland Punch
Ingredients
- 4 cups white cranberry juice
- 2 cups ginger ale
- 1 cup vodka
- 1 lime, sliced
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in punch bowl.
- Chill before serving.
How to Serve It
Add floating cranberries and ice.
22. Hazelnut Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 1½ oz vodka
- 1 oz hazelnut liqueur
- 1 oz espresso
Instructions
- Shake with ice and strain.
How to Serve It
Top with 3 coffee beans.
23. Champagne Snowflake
Ingredients
- 4 oz champagne
- 1 oz elderflower liqueur
- White cranberry juice
Instructions
- Pour juice and liqueur into flute.
- Top with champagne.
How to Serve It
Add a sugared rim for sparkle.
Conclusion
These cocktails bring the sparkle and warmth every celebration deserves. Whether you’re hosting a party or relaxing by the fire, mix up your favorites and make every sip feel special. Cheers to a joyful, delicious holiday season!
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