It’s that time of year already: Time to help your guests get into the holiday spirit with some holiday spirits and festive cocktails. Mixologists tend to get exceptionally creative this season, and there are always so many great recipes to choose from. Here are nine that we like for this year. (And here’s the 2021 holiday drink roundup for a look back.)
Alpine Holiday
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ oz. El Bandido reposado tequila
- ¾ oz. Zirbenz stone pine liqueur
- ¼ oz. Braulio amaro
- ½ oz. Lemon juice
- ½ oz. Cranberry apple spice syrup Root 23
- Egg white
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a mixing tin and shake.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with fresh pine sprig.
Notes
The mixologists at El Bandido created this recipe.
Grinch On Vacation
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Iichiko saiten shochu
- ¾ oz. Midori melon liqueur
- ¾ oz. Yuzu juice
- ¾ oz. Simple syrup
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker.
- Shake and pour over ice in Collins glass.
- Top with sparkling cider.
- Garnish with cinnamon-dusted scalloped pear slices and cranberries.
Notes
Beverage consultant Natasha Velez created this recipe.
Jack Frost
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Jack Daniels
- ½ oz. Drambuie
- ½ oz. Southern Comfort
- ½ oz. Blue Curaçao
- 2 oz. Coconut cream
Instructions
- Rim large mixing glass with coconut flakes.
- Blend with ice and pour into glass.
- Add a dash of Blue Curaçao
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Notes
The mixologists at Admiral Nelson’s Bar, in the Victoria House Resort & Spa in Belize, created this recipe.
Holiday Cheer
Ingredients
- 2 parts D’Ussé VSOP Cognac
- 3 parts Cloudy apple cider
- 1 part Pomegranate juice
- ½ part Cinnamon simple syrup
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice.
- Shake until cold.
- Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass.
- Garnish with orange slice and cinnamon stick.
Notes
The mixologists at D’Ussé created this recipe.
Holiday Holly
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Cranberry cream*
- 1 oz. Godiva white chocolate liqueur
- ¼ oz. Chambord
- ¼ oz. Cointreau
- ½ oz. Fresh cranberry juice
Instructions
- Combine liquid ingredients in a mixing tin and shake.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Top with cranberry cream.
- Garnish with fresh orange peel.
Notes
*For Cranberry cream:
Combine 1 part Cranberry juice; ½ part White crème de cacao
1 part Heavy whipping cream and mix together well. Can refrigerate for up to a week. Executive mixologist Peter Kalleward created this recipe for the Winery Bar at Destination Kohler in Kohler, WI.
Combine 1 part Cranberry juice; ½ part White crème de cacao
1 part Heavy whipping cream and mix together well. Can refrigerate for up to a week. Executive mixologist Peter Kalleward created this recipe for the Winery Bar at Destination Kohler in Kohler, WI.
Mistletoe Martini
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Bombay Sapphire gin
- 1 ½ oz. Manzanilla sherry
- ½ oz. St. Germain elderflower liqueur
- ¼ oz. Port wine
- ¼ oz. Cognac
Instructions
- Combine ingredients and stir.
- Strain into chilled Martini glass.
- Garnish with a grape.
Notes
The mixologists at Bombay created this recipe.
White Christmas Margarita
Ingredients
- 6 oz. Tanteo Blanco tequila
- 2 oz. Combier orange liqueur
- 2 oz. Orange juice
- 2 oz. Lime juice
- ⅓ cup Agave nectar or preferred sweetener
- 1 14- oz. can Unsweetened coconut milk
Instructions
- Rim 5-6 glasses with lime wedge and dip in pomegranate sugar, fill with ice.
- Combine ingredients and shake (or stir in pitcher for larger batches).
- Pour into rimmed glasses.
- Garnish with lime and cranberries.
Notes
The mixologists at ECHO and The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on Georgia’s St. Simons Island created this recipe.
Xmas Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Mezcal
- 1 oz. Kahlua
- 1 oz. nitro cold-brew coffee
- Candy cane rim
Instructions
- Garnish the rim of a Martini glass with crushed candy canes.
- Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake.
- Strain contents into Martini glass.
Notes
The mixologists at Codigo 1530 created this recipe.
Swedish Snow
Ingredients
- ¾ oz. Absolut vodka
- ¾ oz. Absolut grapefruit vodka
- ¼ oz. Cinnamon syrup
- ¼ oz. Ginger syrup
- ¼ oz. Coco Lopez
- ¾ oz. Lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker.
- Shake briefly and pour into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice.
- Swizzle the cocktail inside the Collins glass.
- Garnish with grated nutmeg and a sprinkle of gold stars.
- Serve with a straw.
Notes
The mixologists at Airmail Miami created this recipe.