Epic Christmas cocktails everyone will love! Serve these festive drinks at your holiday party and celebrate the season with easy, delicious cocktail recipes.
Epic Christmas Cocktails and Drinks
Make spirits bright with a range of holiday concoctions—from timeless classics to playful martinis and sangrias. These cocktails are packed with seasonal flavor and are ideal for entertaining. We focused on approachable recipes that rely on a few common ingredients and basic bar tools, so you can mix drinks quickly and confidently.
Liquors and Mixers Needed
Keep these staples on hand to cover most of the recipes below:
- Whiskey (bourbon, Scotch)
- Rum
- Vodka
- Midori
- RumChata
- Kahlúa
- Crème de Cacao
- Peppermint Schnapps
- Amaretto
- Wine (still and sparkling)
- Grenadine
- Cranberry juice
- Eggnog
- Milk
- Hot chocolate
- Apple cider or apple juice
Optional additions: gin, tequila, coconut milk, lime juice, or any seasonal-flavored liqueurs you enjoy.
Garnishes to have ready: orange peel, lemons, limes, star anise, cinnamon sugar for rimming glasses, grated nutmeg, pomegranate seeds, and sugared cranberries.
Classic Christmas Cocktails
These tried-and-true holiday classics are crowd-pleasers and can be scaled up for batches or made individually for guests.
Crockpot Mulled Wine
Ingredients: Merlot, orange juice, fresh cranberries, sugar, orange slices, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, brandy. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and cranberries. This slow-warmed mulled wine stays cozy in the crockpot and can be prepared ahead for stress-free entertaining.
Crockpot Hot Buttered Rum
Ingredients: unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, dark rum, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, apple cider or juice. Make the spiced butter base ahead and keep the drink warm in the slow cooker for an inviting seasonal sip.
Fun Christmas Cocktails
These festive drinks are ideal for nights by the fire, brunches, or gatherings with friends and family.
Cranberry Mimosa
Ingredients: Champagne, cranberry juice, cranberries for garnish. A bright, festive twist on the classic mimosa that’s perfect for holiday brunch.
Cranberry Moscow Mule
Ingredients: ice, lime juice, vodka, cranberry juice, ginger beer; garnish with a lime wheel, cranberries, and rosemary. The tart cranberry and spicy ginger beer make a festive, refreshing mule.
Dirty Shirley
Ingredients: vodka (plain, cherry, or vanilla), grenadine, Sprite (or similar), maraschino cherries. A grown-up Shirley Temple that’s bright, sweet, and nostalgic.
Boozy Grinch Cocktail
Ingredients: Midori, pineapple juice, ice, maraschino cherries. A playful green cocktail inspired by holiday characters—sweet and fruity.
Spiced Cranberry Cocktail
Ingredients: cranberry vodka, cranberry wine or juice, spiced cranberry juice, cranberries, rosemary, ice. Use store-bought spiced cranberry juice for convenience or swap for plain cranberry juice and adjust spirits to taste.
Mulled Cherry Cider Cocktail
Ingredients: vodka, maraschino cherry juice, cherry cider, mulled cider, maraschino cherries, ice. Tart cherry and warm cider spices combine for a seasonal riff on a screwdriver.
Cranberry Lime Cocktail
Ingredients: vodka (plain or cranberry), ginger ale or cranberry soda, cranberries and lime slices, ice. A balanced mix of citrus, sweet, and tart.
Homemade Peppermint Vodka
Ingredients: vodka, peppermint candies. A simple, festive infusion that adds a peppermint kick to many holiday cocktails.
Classic Grasshopper Cocktail
Ingredients: crème de cacao, crème de menthe, heavy whipping cream. A creamy mint-chocolate drink with a festive green hue—perfect for peppermint lovers.
Tiramisu Martini
Ingredients: coconut rum, Irish cream, Frangelico, peach schnapps, amaretto, butterscotch schnapps. A dessert-style martini that delights chocolate lovers—serve with a chocolate design on the glass.
Deal Closer
Ingredients: vanilla rum, amaretto, Irish cream, dark crème de cacao. An indulgent, adult version of chocolate milk—rich and comforting.
Milk Punch
Ingredients: whole milk, bourbon, brandy, simple syrup, vanilla; garnish with grated nutmeg and star anise. A smooth, southern-style holiday cocktail reminiscent of eggnog.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients: bourbon, honey, fresh lemon juice, boiling water. A classic warming cocktail that’s soothing on cold winter evenings.
Wassail Cocktail
Ingredients: apple cider, fresh ginger, sliced lemons, cinnamon, star anise, vanilla, bourbon per drink. A traditional spiced cider-based drink perfect for fall and winter gatherings.
Boozy Christmas Hot Chocolate
A rich mug of hot chocolate with a splash of liqueur is a cozy holiday treat. These recipes work with homemade hot cocoa, store mixes, or slow-cooker hot chocolate and white hot chocolate.
Bailey’s Hot Chocolate
Ingredients: hot chocolate mix, milk, Bailey’s Irish Cream. A simple upgrade to boxed cocoa—top with marshmallows and whipped cream.
Kahlúa Hot Chocolate
Ingredients: hot chocolate mix, milk, Kahlúa. Use a spiced or Mexican-style hot chocolate mix for extra depth and warmth.
Crockpot Mexican Hot Chocolate
Ingredients: heavy cream, half-and-half, milk, boiling water, vanilla, instant coffee, ground cinnamon, milk chocolate, dried ancho chili. The ancho chili adds a subtle heat—optional additions include tequila or Fireball.
Boozy Frozen Hot Chocolate
Ingredients: milk, water, chocolate drink mix, coffee ice cream, ice, Irish cream or Kahlúa. A chilled, indulgent version that’s rich and fun as a party treat.
Christmas Eggnog Cocktails
Eggnog pairs beautifully with many spirits. Try these variations to enjoy this creamy seasonal favorite.
Bourbon Eggnog
Ingredients: eggnog, bourbon, ground nutmeg to garnish. The caramel and vanilla notes of bourbon enhance classic eggnog flavors.
Amaretto Eggnog Cocktail
Ingredients: amaretto, eggnog. A nutty, warming twist—finish with a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon.
Eggnog White Russian
Ingredients: Kahlúa, vodka, eggnog. A boozy take on a dessert cocktail with a smooth, creamy profile.
Fireball Eggnog Cocktail
Ingredients: Fireball whisky, eggnog, cinnamon sticks. The spicy cinnamon whiskey pairs nicely with creamy eggnog for a cozy winter cocktail.
Eggnog Mudslide
Ingredients: Kahlúa, vodka, eggnog; garnish with whipped cream and nutmeg. A seasonal spin on the mudslide that swaps in eggnog for cream.
RumChata Eggnog Cocktail
Ingredients: RumChata, eggnog; garnish with whipped cream and nutmeg. The cinnamon-rice-milk notes of RumChata blend beautifully with eggnog for a memorable holiday drink.
Christmas Shots
Celebrate with festive shooters that add fun and color to holiday gatherings.
Grinch Jello Shots
Ingredients: green jello, boiling water, vodka, cold water; garnish with whipped cream and red heart candies. Festive and colorful, perfect for themed parties.
Peppermint Patty Shot
Ingredients: crème de cacao, peppermint schnapps, Bailey’s. A three-ingredient shooter that tastes like the classic candy.
Three Wise Men Shot
Ingredients: three whiskies (bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, Scotch). A bold shooter made with your preferred whiskies.
Polar Bear Shot
Ingredients: white crème de cacao, peppermint schnapps. Clear, minty, and perfect for a winter-themed shot.
Red Snapper Shot
Ingredients: Canadian whisky, amaretto, cranberry juice. A bright red shooter that’s flavorful and simple to prepare.
Cherry Bomb Shot
Ingredients: grenadine, cherry vodka, and an energy drink. A festive, punchy red shot for lively gatherings.
Chocolate Covered Cherry Shot
Ingredients: grenadine, Kahlúa, Bailey’s. A layered shot that evokes the flavors of chocolate-covered cherries.
Fireball Jello Shots
Ingredients: cherry jello, Fireball cinnamon whisky, garnished with Red Hots and whipped cream. Sweet, spicy, and ideal for holiday parties.
Oatmeal Cookie Shot
Ingredients: Bailey’s, butterscotch schnapps, Kahlúa, Fireball. A dessert-inspired shooter reminiscent of cookie-and-milk flavors.
Cocktail Tools
Helpful tools for stocking a home bar:
- Ice cube maker (for large clear cubes)
- 2 oz shot glasses
- Bar spoon (for stirring and layering)
- Cocktail shaker and strainer
- Stemless martini or classic martini glasses
- Angled jiggers for accurate pours
- Copper mule mugs for Moscow Mules
- Old fashioned / rocks glasses
- Insulated or clear coffee mugs for hot drinks
- Sharp knife for cutting garnishes
Alcohol content varies by recipe and brands used—adjust proportions to taste and drink responsibly.
Great Cocktail Recipe Collections
Explore more seasonal and themed collections to expand your holiday menu, including winter cocktails, two-ingredient mixes, peppermint schnapps and butterscotch schnapps recipes, cranberry-based drinks, and guides to popular mixers like Fireball and Frangelico. These collections make planning a holiday bar simple and fun.
If you enjoy recipes, also consider exploring copycat dishes, desserts, and slow-cooker recipes to round out your holiday hosting.
Follow recipe creators and social channels for fresh ideas, photos, and seasonal inspiration for cocktails and other holiday treats.