7 Creative Cocktails for Your Holiday Cheers

Various autumn winter seasonal alcohol cocktail Apple Rosemary, Cranberry vodka, Ginger lemon ale, Almande Horchata, Kahlua Cacao, dark blue background copy space top view
December 11, 2018

The most popular cocktails on the internet this year come with a splash of holiday cheer! For the best Christmas party or memorable holiday event, nothing beats these amazing libations.

1. Peppermint Bark Mimosas

Filled champagne flutes with candy canes in them and rimmed with chocolate and crushed candy canes.

These Peppermint Bark Mimosas are a festive favorite and feature chocolate and candy-cane-rimmed champagne flutes.

Ingredients (Makes 6):

  • 1/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips, melted
  • 3 whole candy canes, crushed
  • 6 oz. peppermint schnapps, divided
  • 1 bottle champagne or prosecco
  • 6 whole candy canes

Directions:

Simply melt some chocolate, swirl the rim of the glasses in its gooey goodness, smash up some candy canes, and dip. It’s that easy. Then all you got to do is add an ounce of peppermint schnapps to each glass and top with champagne. Garnish with a candy cane inside the glass – and you’re done!

2. Rummy Hot Cider

Hot cider with addition of cinnamon sticks, anise stars, cloves and citrus fruitsA warm and boozy drink is just what Santa ordered on a cold winter’s night. And this easy recipe only requires three ingredients for a delicious and undeniably hot holiday beverage.

Ingredients (Makes 1):

  • 5 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
  • 3 oz. apple cider
  • 5 oz. cinnamon syrup

Directions:

Combine and heat the ingredients. Apple slice and cinnamon stick garnishes optional – but highly recommended! For more of these wonderful winter spirits, take a look at this guide from Cosmopolitan.

3. Low-Cal Rosemary Gin Fizz

Glasses filled with gin, rosemary sprigs, lemon, and other ingredients.For a low-calorie holiday drink that light and refreshing, try this Rosemary Gin Fizz from Cookie and Kate.

Ingredients (Makes 1):

  • 3 one-inch sprigs of fresh rosemary
  • 1 small lemon, juiced
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • 1 ½ oz. gin
  • 3 oz. club soda

Directions:

Muddle the fresh rosemary, honey, and lemon juice in a glass and then fill it with ice. Add your club soda and 1 ½ ounces of gin. Enjoy!

4. Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Pouring homemade hot chocolate from a pot into a white mug in front of a bottle of red wine.

What holiday would be complete without red wine, decadent chocolate, and a cup of hot cocoa – well how about combining them? This recipe for red wine hot chocolate from IMMA eat THAT is sure to get everyone’s mouth watering, and will be your new comfort drink this year.

Ingredients (Makes 2 mugs):

  • 1 ½ cup milk
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chunks

Directions:

Grab a saucepan and turn your stove up to medium heat. In the pan, combine your milk and chocolate. Whisk continuously until you have creamy chocolate goodness. And then add your red wine. Stir into all ingredients are hot, pour, and indulge. The recipe should fill about two mugs or 6-8 smaller cups. It’s definitely rich, so smaller mugs or heat-safe glasses will likely work best.

5. Chamomile Collins

Tall glass of Tom Collins with lemon garnish on a bar counter.

For a relaxing holiday beverage, try this chamomile Collins from Livestrong Recipes.

Ingredients (Makes 1):

  • 2 oz. vodka
  • 1 oz. apple cider
  • ¾ oz. lemon juice
  • 1 cup of brewed chamomile tea

Directions:

This drink is all about letting things steep and requires some pre-planning. Empty out enough vodka from a 750 ml. bottle so that you can fit a cup of chamomile tea into it. Add the tea to the bottle, close, shake, and let sit for approximately one week. When ready, combine 2 oz. of your mixture with the rest of the ingredients in a martini shaker, shake briskly, and strain over ice. Garnish with a lemon. Unwind.

6. Maple Bourbon Sour

Two glasses with rosemary springs on a bar top, and one is filled with ice, light brown liquid and orange.

A new take on an old favorite this Maple Bourbon Sour from and the right amount of sweet and spicy perfect for the holidays. The directions below are for a single drink. Feel free to repeat!

Ingredients (Makes 1):

  • 2 oz. bourbon
  • 1 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz. maple syrup
  • Rosemary sprigs
  • Orange peels

Directions:

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add the first three ingredients (2 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and 1 oz. maple syrup), shake, and pour over ice. Use the last two ingredients and garnishments (rosemary springs and orange peels). For more great recipes like these, check out One Kings Lane.

7. 5-Minute Blender Eggnog

Boozy Warm Eggnog Punch with Cinnamon for Christmas

Delicious homemade eggnog – done quick and easy in your blender! Take a look at this recipe from The Chunky Chef.

Ingredients:

  • 4 large eggs
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp. dried nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 3 oz. cognac
  • 3 oz. bourbon
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Instructions:

Blend the four large eggs on medium in your blender for 30 seconds. Add your sugar and blend for another 20 seconds. Add the rest of your ingredients to the blender (nutmeg, cinnamon, bourbon, milk, and heavy cream) and blend for another 10 to 15 seconds. Let sit for 24 hours. Shake and serve in glasses with nutmeg on top and a cinnamon stick garnish.

Happy holidays!