With December in full swing, it’s time to load up on spirits from your local liquor store for festive holiday cocktails with friends and family. As the undisputed coziest time of year, the holiday season program is likely full of delicious homemade cocktails that are sweet, warming, and full of holiday colours and flavours.
In this article, we’re going to share 7 of our favourite holiday season cocktail recipes for your Christmas dinner, cocktails night with friends, or solo night in. If you aren’t already, these delicious creations will have you in the Christmas spirit in no time!
Cinnamon Maple Whisky Sour
Photo credit to Cookie and Kate
The Whisky Sour is a classic spirit-forward cocktail that usually includes a dash of egg whites, and is enjoyed all year round. But this Cinnamon Maple Whisky Sour recipe subs out the egg whites for some extra citrus, spice and sweetness.
Instructions:
- To start, fill a cocktail shaker two thirds full with ice.
- Add all your ingredients (bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup and cinnamon).
- Give it a shake.
- Add a couple cubes of ice to your glass, and strain the cold mixture into your glass.
Ingredients per cocktail:
- 1 ½ ounces of bourbon
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce of real maple syrup
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
Recipe author: Cookie and Kate
Peppermint Martini
Photo credit to The Pioneer Woman
Nothing says ‘Christmas spirit’ more than candy canes, and this holiday cocktail is full of sweet flavours of the creamy peppermint treat. Like any martini this cocktail has plenty of booze, but the sweetness of this Peppermint Martini will give dessert vibes. And with just 3 ingredients plus the rim, this cocktail is pretty simple.
Instructions:
- Drizzle a thin layer of grenadine on small plate #1, and a pile of sanding sugar on small plate #2 for the candy rim. Dip your glasses in #1 then #2, and refrigerate until you’re ready.
- Grab your cocktail shaker, and combine the combine the peppermint schnapps, vanilla vodka and half-and-half with ice.
- Give it a good shake and strain into your pre-rimmed martini glasses.
Ingredients per cocktail:
- 1 tbsp. grenadine
- 1 tbsp. red sanding candy
- 1 ½ ounce peppermint schnapps
- 1 ounce vanilla vodka
- 1 ounce half-and-half
Recipe author: The Pioneer Woman
Mulled Wine
Photo credit to Inspired by Charm
Mulled wine is a holiday favourite that works best once the temperatures and snow is falling. This warming wine-based cocktail provides an extra smell and flavours that are sweet, spicy and complex. Made with your favourite type of red wine, this recipe comes together pretty easily – it just needs some time!
Instructions:
- Find a large pot in your kitchen and add all the ingredients: cider, wine, brandy, honey, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cloves and peppercorns.
- On the stove, simmer over low heat for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Fish out the cloves and peppercorns.
- Serve in heatproof glassware or mugs and garnish!
Ingredients needed for a party-sized amount:
- 2 bottles of your favourite red wine
- 4 cups of apple cider
- ½ cup of brandy
- ¼ cup of honey
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 sliced oranges
- 8 whole cloves 12 black peppercorns
- Extra cinnamon sticks and orange slices for garnish
Recipe author: Inspired by Charm
Traditional Rum Eggnog
Photo credit to The Spruce Eats
If you’re one of the people that love eggnog, no holiday season is complete without it. Thick, sweet and boozy, this recipe is traditional as it gets. This recipe uses homemade eggnog for that extra level of authenticity, but you can use the premade stuff. And if you aren’t eating eggs, you can easily sub in oatnog or any nog alternative – it will still be delicious.
Instructions:
- Separate the egg yolk from the egg white in 2 different bowls.
- Beat the yolk until it’s creamy.
- Beat the egg white with 1 tsp. of sugar.
- Slowly fold the egg white and yolk together with a spoon.
- In a new bowl, beat the cream, vanilla, 1 tsp. of sugar and almond extract. The slow add the rum and stir gently.
- Slowly fold the cream mixture into the egg mixture using a spoon.
- Serve over ice, and garnish with nutmeg and cinnamon.
Ingredients per cocktail:
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp. superfine sugar
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp. almond extract
- 1 ½ ounces rum
- Grated nutmeg and cinnamon
Recipe author: The Spruce Eats
The Classic Champagne Cocktail
Photo credit to A Couple Cooks
The Champagne Cocktail is another timeless classic for the holiday season, plus it also works great for New Years Eve – so stock up on ingredients! The Champagne Cocktail recipe is simple, while it looks elegant in the glass, tastes sophisticated and refreshing, and is completely vegan/vegetarian friendly and gluten-free.
Instructions:
- Fashion a lemon peel into a lemon twist garnish.
- Add a sugar cube to the bottom of your champagne flute. Ice is optional.
- Squeeze a lemon peel to release the oils into the glass, along with the bitters.
- Fill the glass with your favourite champagne and watch the bubbles sparkle!
- Garnish with your lemon peel twist.
Ingredients per cocktail:
- 1 sugar cube
- 5 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Your favourite champagne
- 2 lemon peels
Recipe author: A Couple Cooks
Rosemary Gimlet
Photo credit to The Littlest Crumb
We can’t leave gin out of this list of holiday cocktail recipes, and there’s perhaps none simpler and more delicious than the gimlet. This gimlet recipe has a slight twist, which gives this standard cocktail some Christmas cheer. It’s light, refreshing, and fairly easy to throw together. It’s strongly recommended you make your own simple syrup with fresh rosemary, but a pre-bought mixture will do.
Instructions:
For the simple syrup:
- Heat granulated sugar, water and your fresh rosemary on a pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sugar has completely dissolved, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature before making your cocktails.
For the gimlet:
- Add your rosemary simple syrup, gin, lime juice and ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Shake well and strain over your chilled glassware.
Ingredients per cocktail:
For the simple syrup:
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 3 tbsp. fresh rosemary
For the gimlet:
- 1 ½ ounces gin
- 1 ½ ounces rosemary simple syrup
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- Ice
Recipe author: The Littlest Crumb
White Christmas Mojito
Photo credit to Delish
The Mojito is a traditional cocktail from Cuba that consists of white rum, sugar, lime and mint. It’s sweet, citrusy and flavourful, which makes it a popular sipping option for summer, but this White Christmas recipe is perfect for the holidays. The coconut cream and Christmas-themed garnishes help this holiday treat look and taste the part.
Instructions:
- Add cream and rum to a blender (or mixer) and blend until frothy.
- Muddle your mint leaves, lime juice and sugar in a glass.
- Fill the class with ice, pour in your cream/rum mixture, and top off with seltzer.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and pomegranate seeds.
Ingredients per cocktail:
- 1 ½ ounces white rum
- 2 ounces coconut cream
- 12 fresh mint leave sprigs +1 for garnish
- 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
- Ice
- Pomegranate seeds for garnish
- Soda water/seltzer for topping off
Recipe author: Alejandro Valdes Lora at Delish
Ready to stock up on ingredients for homemade holiday season cocktails. Visit one of Springs Group’s 14 liquor stores throughout the Lower Mainland and feel free to consult our friendly staff.
