Festive Holiday Cocktail Recipes
Is it wrong to say that fun and festive cocktails are one of my favorite parts of the Winter Holiday season?? Because if it is, I don’t want to be right! Seriously, Winter cocktails are the best! Read on to get some great winter holiday cocktail recipes to get you through the whole season long.
We originally shared this post on December 2, 2016. We have updated it with up-to-date recipes.
Table of contents
Our Favorite Holiday Cocktails
The colder weather makes it the perfect time to experiment with the smoky and rich bourbons and whiskeys that literally warm you up from the inside out.
Then there’s the decadently soothing warm toddies and mulled wines that will cure frostbite with the first sip.
Now that’s not to say I don’t crave a light and refreshing spritzer or cool and clean martini every once in a while, too.
If I had to choose one particular favorite, I would have to pick a Maple Myer Lemon Whiskey Sour. But don’t tell any of the other cocktails in this collection. Winter cocktails really are the absolute bomb because it’s freakin’ cold outside and you gotta do what you gotta do!
How To Estimate Quantities of Cocktails For Party
These are some basic guidelines for planning the number of drinks to serve at a typical 2 ½ hour cocktail party. Adjust up or down depending on the weather, age of guests, time of day, and amount of food being served.
- Cocktails- 2 ½ per person
- Champagne or sparkling wine- 1 bottle for every 2-3 guests
- Wine- 1 bottle for every 2-3 guests
- Liquor- 1 quart or liter for every 10-12 guests
Winter Cocktail Recipes
To help you get started on your Winter Cocktail Journey I’ve collected more than 15 awesome recipes. Many are from our archives here! And the others were generously contributed by other fabulous blogging friends! So get those cocktail shakers shaking and celebrate the season with these fun and festive cocktails featuring seasonal ingredients!!
Whisky and Bourbon Cocktails
Here is a recipe for a from-scratch whiskey sour cocktail with maple and Meyer lemon in time for this month’s healthy drinks theme for the Recipe Redux.
This Butterscotch Bourbon Eggnog is an exciting variation on the traditional holiday eggnog. It is perfect for holiday parties!
Maple Pumpkin Steamed Almond Milk with Bourbon {GF + Super Simple}
This maple pumpkin bourbon steamer is made of almond milk that is mixed with pumpkin puree, naturally sweetened with maple syrup and finished with bourbon. It’s an easy, cozy drink for the fall!
These warm cocktails are made with chai tea spiked with a good amount of bourbon, cinnamon, and ginger. Perfect for sitting fireside with the family this holiday season!
Rum Cocktails
Dark rum is one of our favorites, but light and spiced rum are also a great addition to winter cocktails.
The citrusy and minty rum cocktails are made with limeade and muddled mint mixed with dark rum. We love Gosling's Black Seal best!
Inspired by the Love Boat’s famous bartender, Isaac, this Pomegranate Rum Cocktail will instantly make you feel like you are on vacation! If you love pomegranate as much as I do, scroll down for a list of pomegranate cocktails to try!
A pomegranate mojito is festive enough for the holidays but delicious enough to drink all year long!
Holiday Vodka Cocktails
You may not think of vodka or gin for mixing into your Christmastime drinks, but they pair really well with citrus and pomegranate and other holiday flavors.
Maple, mint and seltzer water combine in these light and refreshing vodka spritzer cocktails. It is the perfect way to sit back, relax and celebrate the holiday season!
This Pomegranate Lemon Drop Martini is a festive cocktail for the holiday season. It only takes 5 minutes to whip up. If you like classic lemon drop cocktails, you’ll love this fun new ruby red pomegranate variation!
These Vanilla Pear Moscow Mules are super simple to stir together, and are a fun and festive cocktail for the holidays! Plus I have a handy cocktail calculator that will help you figure out how many drinks to plan to serve for your party.
If you haven't ever had one of these, you need to stop what you're doing right now to get the fixings together and mix one up! We love the way the eggnog blends with the flavors of Kahula and vodka. Delish!
This Cranberry Orange Moscow Mule is a refreshing twist on a traditional Mule. It’s the perfect drink all winter long
Wine and Champagne Cocktails
We've gone well beyond the standard Champagne mimosa, and have a few fun twists on wine and champaign based drinks.
This lightly sweet, tart and deliciously bitter Champagne cocktail has a splash of Campari in it! So for you fans of Negroni cocktails and amaro, you may love this one too!
This cherry red wine spritzer is made with tart cherry juice infused with rosemary. It’s an easy holiday drink or fun way to change up your normal glass of red.
Apple cider mimosas are the perfect fall twist on a classic drink. These are great for brunch or any occasion that calls for champagne!
Red Wine Hot Chocolate is rich, chocolatey, and gloriously boozy. It's the perfect snow day treat for adults!
This Cranberry Orange Sangria is a sure-fired way to get the party started. It’s full of cranberry flavor, perfect for the holidays.
QUESTION: Which of these winter cocktails is your favorite and which one are you going to try first?
Print
18 Festive Holiday Cocktail Recipes- Pomegranate Lemon Drops and More!
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
These Festive Pomegranate Lemon Drop Martinis are just one of our Holiday Cocktail Recipes we have collected.
Ingredients
- Ice
- 2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
- 1/3 cup citron vodka
- 1/4 cup pomegranate liquor
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons pure pomegranate juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or agave nectar
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate arils for garnish
Instructions
- Fill two large martini glasses with ice and water and set aside. Sprinkle sugar on a plate. Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, pomegranate liquor, lemon juice, pomegranate juice and maple (or agave.) Cover and shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds.
- Empty the ice water out of the martini glasses. Dip rims of the glasses into the plate of sugar, one at a time to coat the edges of the glass. Strain martini mixture into the glasses. Sprinkle pomegranate arils into the martinis to garnish. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: na
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 oz
- Calories: 317
Stephanie, your blog is amazing! I mean I don’t know where to begin with these cocktails! Probably the Pomegranate Mojito! Thanks a lot for sharing these!
Thank you, Charles! That is one of my favorites, too!
Such a great list of holiday cocktails. Adding a few to my Christmas beverage menu.
Omg all of these cocktails look so amazing, fun and festive! I want to make all of them for the holidays, especially the red wine hot chocolate – never had a cocktail like that before and can’t wait to try it!
What a tasty list of drinks! Can’t wait to try the eggnog russian! Thanks for sharing.
These flavor combinations are so genius! Now only if I was of age… 😛
Thanks Anne!! I’m sure there are a few of these that you could make non-alcoholic by just leaving it out or using sparkling apple cider instead!
Love the use of fresh ingredients! 🙂
Thanks Maria!! It is a really fresh and fun collection!
What a fabulous collection! I’ve got my eye on a couple of those drinks for my annual holiday party!
Thanks Cynthia! I hope you do try a couple for your party!! Happy Holidays!!
well now we just need a party to try them all! <3 it!
Yes!!! Now that would be one awesome party!!! Thanks so much Lindsay for your delicious contributions! I can’t wait to try them!