Throwing an incredible holiday party that will have people talking for years is quite a feat, but certainly possible. Good food, a good crowd, and plenty to keep the guests entertained are essential. However, take your party up a notch by crafting a few holiday cocktail recipes (beyond spiked eggnog) that will amaze your guests.
Are you not throwing a party? No problem! These holiday cocktail recipes will make you warm and fuzzy with holiday feels, whether you’re in a swanky clubhouse or your PJ’s at home.
Holiday Cocktail Recipes
Photo courtesy of: howsweeteats.com
This drink is a wintery twist on the hottest cocktail of the summer. It takes the basics, Aperol, Prosecco, club soda, and an orange slice and adds more seasonal produce by including cranberry juice and a sprig of rosemary (for garnish). This drink is excellent for warmer climates since it isn’t so heavy.
Ingredients
- 3 oz Aperol
- 3 oz Prosecco
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 2 oz club soda
- One orange slice
- orange zest
- a sprig of fresh rosemary
Photo courtesy of: delish.com
Holiday parties were made for this sweet, decadent cocktail. The taste and aroma one experiences when drinking this cocktail make any setting feel like a winter wonderland. This drink is best served cold and shaken. We recommend making this in large batches ahead of time. It will be popular!
Ingredients
- 2 oz eggnog
- 2 oz vodka of choice
- 2 oz Kahlua
- One teaspoon molasses
- Pinch of ground ginger
- Rim glass with cinnamon sugar
- Top with whipped cream
While this may be served over ice, this cocktail is sure to warm you up. This simple holiday cocktail recipe can be prepared one at a time so that you can show off your bar skills for your guests. Muddle the clementine and sugar, then strain it over the ice and whiskey to bring the presentation to a beautiful finish.
Ingredients
- One and a half clementine oranges
- ½ teaspoon white sugar
- 2 oz whiskey of choice
- One cinnamon stick for garnish
This boozy holiday punch is an easy one to make ahead and set out for your party guests to serve themselves. It also looks beautiful. Serve this in your most massive punch bowl with giant ice cubes, so as not to dilute the punch.
Ingredients
- 1 cup high-proof rum (preferably Smith & Cross)
- 1 cup spiced rum (preferably Sailor Jerry)
- 1 cup fresh grapefruit juice, strained
- ¾ cup fresh orange juice, strained
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice, strained
- ⅓ cup Luxardo maraschino liqueur
- ¼ cup simple syrup
- Two teaspoons Peychaud’s bitters
- One grapefruit, sliced into rounds
- One blood orange, sliced into rounds
- One lime, sliced into rounds
- ¼ cup kumquats, sliced into rounds
Cinnamon and sweet are two hallmarks of winter holiday cocktail recipes. This cocktail combines both in a fun, unique way that will bring you and your party guests back to mornings of Christmases passed. Use a butter knife to spread the vanilla icing on the rim of the glasses and press the crumbled cereal into the frosting. This recipe makes six servings.
Ingredients
- 5 ½ cups Rumchata
- ½ cup Fireball Whiskey
- ¼ cup vanilla icing, for rim
- ½ cup crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, plus more for garnish
- Top with whipped cream
The Blizzard
There’s nothing quite like a good old fashioned. Highlight a quality bourbon with this twist on the classic cocktail recipe. Swap out the bitters for lemon juice, and make it seasonal by using lemon and cranberry instead of the traditional orange peel and cherry. For those that want a holiday spin on a time-honored cocktail, the Blizzard is a perfect match.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ oz bourbon of choice (Preferably Bulleit or Michter’s – Favorites of Park Place Finance)
- 1 ½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- Lemon slices and cranberries for garnish
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through this list of some of our favorite holiday cocktail recipes. They are sure to spice up any holiday party or a quiet evening by the fireplace. Let us know if you try any of these recipes out.
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