45 Cozy Winter Cocktails to Serve at Your Next Holiday Gathering
The weather's getting cooler. Do you know where your beverage is?
There are two types of people in this world: those who can't get enough of the winter season, and those who approach it with extreme caution. No matter which category you fall under, since you clicked on this article, you might want a drink in your hand when the holidays roll around. (And that time is officially here. Ahhh!)
Sure, winter is wonderful. It's a time for festive fun, getting all cozy, and blowing $$$ on your loved ones (and, ahem, yourself during those sweet, sweet post-Christmas sales). But this is a safe space, so let's drop the niceties—holidays mean family time, and family time means drinks might be necessary.
Now, if you think hot toddies and egg nog are the only alcoholic bevvies suitable for a holiday extravaganza, I'm about to pull an Aladdin rn and show you a whole new world. There are so many yummy cold-weather cocktails you can make at home that are far from basic—you just need a recipe and a few bottles of the good stuff (which make great holiday presents, fwiw). And hey, wouldn't ya know, I've got a bunch of fab recipes—45, to be exact—for you, right here. Most are boozy, but I also added a few mocktails to the list too, in case you're not feeling the alc for whatever reason.
Place your bartender cap on top of your Santa hat and get ready to simmer some baked apple syrup, level up with mulled rosé, and garnish with some evergreen sprigs. Whatever recipe you choose, you certainly won't be stuck with boring winter cocktails this year. Promise.
Gingerbread Negroni
Over ice, add 1.75 oz. Spiced Butter Bacardi 8, 1 oz. Cardamero, 0.5 oz. Cocchi Torino, 0.5 oz. Antica, 0.5 oz. Campari, and 4 dashes Buck Spice Ginger Bitters. Garnish with an orange twist and grated nutmeg.
Recipe from Dante
Slow Cider
Place a large sphere of frozen apple cider into a rocks glass and pour 3 oz. of Solento Reposado Tequila on top. Garnish with a stick of cinnamon and a slice of fuji apple. Lightly sprinkle cinnamon on top.
Recipe from Solento Organic Tequila
Affogato (a Mocktail!)
Add 2 scoops of vanilla gelato (or your flavor of choice) into a chilled glass. Pour 1 shot of espresso or 2 tbsp. strong brewed coffee
in a slow stream over the gelato. Add a splash of amaretto and a sprinkle of biscotti and chocolate for topping, if desired. Serve immediately.
Recipe from Delish
The Sweet and Savory
Fill a rocks glass with ice. Pour 1 oz. Heimat Black Currant Liqueur over the ice. Slowly top with 5 oz. Sparkling Pointe Cuvée Carnaval Rouge. Garnish with rosemary and an olive.
Recipe from Sparkling Pointe
Espressoro Martini
Combine 2 oz. Cincoro Reposado tequila, 1 shot espresso (freshly pulled and slightly cooled), 0.75 oz. Mr. Black, and a dash of agave into a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until very cold. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a coffee bean.
Recipe from Cincoro
The Nutcracker
Combine 2 oz. Elijah Craig Bourbon and 0.5 oz. maple simple syrup and shake with ice. Strain into a whiskey glass with a big ice rock. Add a dash of orange and regular bitters and stir.
Recipe from The Westin Riverwalk
Christmas Royale
Shake 1 oz. tequila reposado, 0.5 oz. crème de cassis, and 0.5 oz. lime juice in a shaker. Fine strain into a flute. Top with 3 oz. of Lambrusco.
Recipe from Alba Huerta
Ornamentini
Shake together 1.5 oz. vodka, 0.75 oz. Cointreau, 0.5 oz. lime juice, and 0.5 oz. rosemary-infused simple syrup. Funnel into a food-safe ornament and place on top of cranberries in a martini glass. Pour into the glass when ready to enjoy, and garnish with a sprig of rosemary!
Recipe from The Spritz Effect
Tequila Sour
Add 2 oz. Flecha Azul Reposado, 1 oz. lemon juice, 0.5 oz. lime juice, 0.5 oz. agave, 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, and 1 egg white to a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake for 15 seconds. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake again for 30 seconds. Strain into a glass; the foam will collect at the top. Garnish with a lime wedge and cocktail cherries, and enjoy!
Recipe from Flecha Azul
Negroni...Sbagliato...With Prosecco in It
Stir 1 part Campari and 1 part 1757 Vermouth di Torino Rosso
in a glass with ice. Top with 1 part Cinzano Prosecco. Garnish with an orange slice.
Recipe from Campari
Baked Apple Margarita
Combine 0.5 oz. of Agave, 0.25 oz. of lime juice, 2 oz. Campo Bravo Reposado, and 1.5 oz. of baked apple syrup. Garnish with a cinnamon stick for a cozy holiday flavor.
For the baked apple syrup: The baked apple syrup is made by making apple purée (sauce) as you’d make at home. After you make it, simmer it by adding water, nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon, and strain.
Recipe from Jackdaw NYC
Betty Buzz Cranberry T&G (Easy to Make a Mocktail!)
Over ice, combine 1.5 oz. gin (if desired), 2 oz. cranberry juice, and a splash of lime juice in a glass. Top with half a bottle of Betty Buzz Tonic Water and garnish with a lime wheel and tooth-picked cranberries.
Recipe from Betty Buzz
Pumpkin Pie Martini
In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz. Patrón Silver, 1.5 oz. orange juice, 1.5 oz. pumpkin purée, 0.75 oz. lemon juice, and 1 0z. honey pumpkin spice syrup, and shake. Strain the cocktail into a martini glass. Dust with pumpkin pie spice blend and garnish with an orange twist, then serve.
For the honey pumpkin spice syrup: In a small pot, whisk together 1 cup of water, 1 cup of honey, and 2 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice blend. Over high heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Once at a boil, turn off the heat and allow the syrup to completely cool.
Recipe from Patrón
Spiked Pumpkin Spiced Latte
Add 2 oz. Casa Del Sol Reposado or Blanco, 1 oz. premium espresso, 0.75 oz. pumpkin spice syrup, and 0.5 oz. coconut milk or oat milk into a shaker over ice. Shake well for 10 seconds. Strain into a martini or coupe glass. Garnish with grated fresh cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.
Recipe from Casa Del Sol Tequila
Ring the Bells
Shake together 0.75 oz. The Pathfinder Hemp and Root, 0.75 oz. Cognac, 0.5 oz. Faretti Chocolate Liqueur, and 0.75 oz. orange juice.
Double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange twist and grated chocolate.
Recipe from The Pathfinder Hemp and Root
Winter Cup
Stir together 1 oz. Whitley Neill Original London Dry Gin, 0.5 oz. raspberry liqueur, and a splash of sparkling lemonade in a highball glass over cubed ice. Garnish with an orange slice, blackberry, raspberry, and sprig of mint.
Recipe from Whitley Neill Original London Dry Gin
Aviation Dry Martini
In a pint glass, add 2.5 oz. Aviation American Gin, 0.5 oz. Dolin Dry Vermouth, and 1 dash Regan’s No.6 Orange Bitters. Fill with ice and stir. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon disc or twist.
Recipe from Aviation American Gin
Cinnamon Apple Smash
In a cocktail shaker add 1.5 oz. King St. Vodka, a splash of brown sugar simple syrup, and ice. Squeeze half an orange into the cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass. Top with sparkling apple cider.
Recipe from King St. Vodka
The Cozy Mogul
Shake 0.5 oz. lime juice, 0.25 oz. prickly pear purée, 0.5 oz. agave syrup, and 1.5 oz. Gran Coramino Cristalino tequila in a shaker. Strain over ice and garnish with a sprig of eucalyptus.
Recipe from Gran Coramino Tequila
Mistletoe Mule
Shake 2 oz. Citrus Forward Gin, 1 oz. lime juice, and 2 dashes cranberry bitters with ice. Pour into a mule mug. Top with 4 oz. ginger beer. Garnish with a cranberry skewer and mint leaves.
Recipe from Citrus Forward Gin
Your V-Day Date Night Needs a Pink Cocktail
So, This Thing Is Basically a Keurig for Alcohol
Ginger Ale Cocktails Are My New Obsession
Have Sprite? Make One of These Cocktails.
