Our best ever cocktails to enjoy over this Christmas
Christmas cocktails are a sure fire way to get everyone into the festive spirit. Christmas drinks are the perfect excuse to get out the cocktail shaker, and serve canapes to friends and family but in a less formal manner than a dinner party.
We have plenty of Christmas cocktail recipes from classics to Christmas gin cocktails and even recommendations on where to buy the best pre-mixed cocktails.
First of all, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the snowball – an acquired taste maybe, but if mixed well, this drink which uses Advocaat, is a wonderfully refreshing long festive drink. Serve with a glace cherry of course.
Christmas gin cocktail fans will love our pomegranate gin fizz – it’s so simple to make and includes gin, pomegranate juice and prosecco.
Prosecco based Christmas cocktails are some of the easiest to make – a spiced orange fizz is like a Buck’s Fizz but infuse the juice with spices such as cinnamon, star anise and cloves then top with prosecco.
Christmas cocktails can also make a thoughtful homemade Christmas gifts. You can make your own espresso martini liqueur or even a gingerbread cream liqueur and, presented in a pretty bottle, will make a wonderful stocking filler.
If you would prefer to take the easy entertaining route then the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested and reviewed the 12 best bottled Christmas cocktails that can be purchased from the supermarket including the best non-alcoholic spirits or the best alcohol-free beer. Cheers.
Mulled Pomegranate Gin Punch
A fruity alternative to mulled wine. Pomegranate juices vary a lot in sweetness, look for one that is just labelled as ‘Pomegranate Juice’ rather than ‘Pomegranate Juice Drink’, which will contain extra sugar.
Recipe: Mulled Pomegranate Gin Punch
Cherry Bakewell Amaretto Sour
A sour is a very short, tartly flavoured drink, and this one is inspired by a classic British pudding.
Recipe: Cherry Bakewell Amaretto Sour
Poinsettia Cocktail
This elegant and festively flavoured tipple is as easy to make as it is to drink.
Recipe: Poinsettia Cocktail
Vanilla white Russian
Needing only three ingredients, this is the perfect post-dinner drink and has a lovely sweet coffee taste which you sip through the whipped squirty cream.
Recipe: Vanilla white Russian
Bramble
Pretty as a picture, this cocktail requires blackberry liqueur, such as Crème de Mûre, but you can use Cassis (blackcurrant) or Chambord (black raspberry) instead.
Recipe: Bramble
Kaffe Karlson
This Scandi version of an Irish coffee is rich, sweet and the perfect way to end a meal.
Recipe: Kaffe Karlson
Pomegranate and Rose Spritzer
This stunning mocktail with herbal notes tastes as good as it looks. For a boozy hit, you can add 25ml gin per cocktail.
Recipe: Pomegranate and Rose Spritzer
Sake-tini
Also known as a Sake Martini, dry sake takes the place of vermouth in this short but potent cocktail. For the perfect serve, chill your glasses for at least 30min before serving.
Recipe: Sake-tini
Spiced Apple Ginger
Also lovely as a mocktail, just leave out the vodka and make sure your ginger beer is booze-free too. The dipped crunchy rims make these extra special
Recipe: Spiced Apple Ginger
Italicus Spritz
This rosolio, or lighter Italian liqueur, is flavoured (amongst other things) with bergamot, chamomile, aromatic herbs and rose petals. It has a balance of honeyed sweetness with bitterness, a great new one to try in a spritz.
Recipe: Italicus Spritz
Champagne Cocktail
The classic Champagne cocktail has Grand Marnier and grenadine added, for a festive twist.
Recipe: Champagne Cocktail
Knickerbocker
Both refreshing and boozily warming!
Recipe: Knickerbocker
Negroni fizz
Mix on-trend Negroni with seasonal blood orange juice for a bitter-sweet take on the classic Buck’s Fizz. Make sure everything is well chilled .
Recipe: Negroni fizz
Winter Spiced Negroni
A wonderful Christmas cocktail to celebrate the season with! Try our spiced twist on a negroni.
Recipe: Winter Spiced Negroni
Mulled Cider Recipe
One for a cosy winter night. This traditional Mulled cider cocktail recipe is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Recipe: Mulled cider
Northern Lights Cocktail
Watch magic happen before your eyes as this tequila-based cocktail changes colour.
Recipe: Northern Lights Cocktail
Hot buttered rum
Try our rich and warminghot buttered rum Christmas cocktail. Butter, lemon and sugar are heated together and then finished off with a glug of rum. Delicious!
Recipe: Hot buttered rum
Pear and Ginger Spritz
Bring a refreshing zing to the festive season this year! This lighter cocktail is a delicious combination of pear, ginger beer, mint, and of course, everyone's favourite, gin!
Recipe: Pear and Ginger Spritz
Easy eggnog
This Christmas cocktail usually takes a lot of time and effort to make – try this quick-and-easy recipe for a deliciously festive drink.
Recipe: Easy eggnog
Sloegasm cocktail
Christmas champagne cocktails are a great way to add a little festive magic to your celebrations, and a great way to treat your guests too.
Recipe: Sloegasm cocktail
Honey and Pear Brandy Old-Fashioned
A twist on a classic short and strong cocktail to marry with the flavours of our menu. Top up with more soda water if you prefer a longer drink.
Recipe: Honey and Pear Brandy Old-Fashioned
Churchill's Breakfast
Famed for his early morning tipple of whisky and soda, it’s well documented that Churchill liked a drink! A punchy warmer, with a cinnamon stick cigar – an homage to Winston’s legacy.
Recipe: Churchill's Breakfast
Winter Sangria
A sangria can be refreshing in the summer, yet warming and spiced in the winter. We've added cinnamon and pomegranate for a festive feel.
Recipe: Winter Sangria
Spiced Orange Fizz
The mulled orange syrup is quick to make – and even easier to drink. Use any fizz you like in this seasonal delight.
Recipe: Spiced Orange Fizz
Apple and Ginger Cocktail Recipe
This versatile apple and ginger tipple can be served chilled or as a Winter warmer.
Recipe: Apple and ginger cocktail
Merry Berry Liqueur Recipe
This simple berry liqueur only requires 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of your time.
Recipe: Merry Berry liqueur
Christmas Pudding Vodka Recipe
If you can’t get enough of Christmas pudding, why not try it in cocktail form?
Recipe: Christmas pudding vodka
Spiced Blackberry Gin Recipe
The combination of berry and cinnamon gives this gin cocktail a real taste of Christmas.
Recipe: Spiced blackberry gin
Spiced Apple Martini Recipe
This apple and cinnamon cocktail is a festive option for Martini lovers.
Recipe: Spiced apple Martini
Orange and Basil Sparkler Cocktail Recipe
Who doesn’t love a little sparkle during the Christmas festivities? This orange and basil cocktail is a refreshing treat for your guests.
Recipe: Orange and basil sparkler cocktail
Mulled Cranberry and Raspberry Punch Recipe
This Christmas cocktail is a delicious alternative to mulled wine.
Recipe: Mulled cranberry and raspberry punch
Orange Spiced Vodka Recipe
This tasty vodka cocktail is bursting with festive flavours.
Recipe: Orange spiced vodka
Mulled Gin Recipe
Pure gin meets mulled wine spices in this unique and incredibly festive Christmas drink.
Recipe: Mulled gin
Raspberry Orange Liqueur Recipe
This sparkling raspberry and orange drink makes a thoughtful handmade gift for liqueur lovers.
Recipe: Raspberry orange liqueur
Twinkle cocktail
Time to party with this simple Champagne cocktail recipe that's ideal for a New Year's Eve party. Let's celebrate!
Recipe: Twinkle cocktail
Pomegranate gin fizz
A sparkling gin cocktail that's perfect for a festive party.
Recipe: Pomegranate gin fizz
Pomegranate sparklers
A sparkling gin cocktail that's perfect for a festive party.
Recipe: Pomegranate sparklers
Apple blackberry gin
Make sure to mature and store this gin in a cupboard or dark place – light will turn its pretty ruby colour to a muddy brown.
Recipe: Apple and blackberry gin
Peach Bellini
Rich Hunt, previously Head Bartender at Milk & Honey, Mahiki and Hawksmoor, as well as former winner of Bartender of the Year, is here to tell us how to make the perfect Bellini...
Recipe: Peach Bellini
Blood orange meringue pie cocktail
A family-favourite dessert and seasonal blood oranges come together to create a festive delight!
Recipe: Blood orange meringue pie cocktail
Snowball
A Snowball is a classic Christmas cocktail and easy to make.
Recipe: Snowball
Espresso Martini Liqueur
Try drizzling over your favourite ice cream, stir a little into hot chocolate or simply serve over ice.
Recipe: Espresso Martini Liqueur
Gingerbread Cream Liqueur
This gingerbread cream liqueur is a smooth after-dinner tipple or add a dash to hot chocolate - it's a perfect homemade Christmas gift.
Recipe: Gingerbread Cream Liqueur
Winter Old Fashioned by El Dorado
Ingredients:
15ml Ruby Port
10ml Sugar Syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 dashed Orange Bitters
Method: Served on the rocks in an old fashioned glass, add all ingredients. Garnish with a slice of orange.
Rooibos & Rum by Rare Tea Company
Rooibos tea has a lovely sweet and nutty taste, with hints of honey, vanilla and caramel - which pair perfectly with the rum
Ingredients:
4g Wild Rooibos
100ml Boiling Water
25ml Rum
1 flake of Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Maple Syrup
Strip of Orange Peel
Ice
Method:
Using a teapot, infuse the Wild Rooibos in boiling water and leave to cool for at least 5 minutes.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the rum, salt & maple syrup.
Shake vigorously or until chilled and strain into your cocktail glass with a strip of orange peel.
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