Christmas Themed Cocktails & Mocktails

Christmas time, mistletoe and… cocktails! At the end of a long day at work, or on the eve of the big day itself, you might fancy a warm tipple or a spiced mocktail to sip on while you watch your favourite Christmas film. Perhaps you fancy branching out from the usual mulled wine or apple cider during the holidays this year, and you want to try your hand as a mixologist. They don’t have to be complicated and we are sure you will find a new favourite…

Favourite Cocktails & Mocktails for This Christmas Season!

1. Hot Toddy

Let’s start with the simple, classic wintertime drink and the perfect pick me up for a cold evening. This can be a quick way of keeping your hands warm this festive season. And, of course, it will also ward off any winter sniffles.

How to make:

1. Stir together 1 teaspoon of honey and 25ml whisky, top with hot water. 
2. Add lemon juice to taste and garnish with a lemon slice studded with cloves and half a cinnamon stick.

Top Tip: Add another spoonful of honey if you want a sweeter drink. If you’re not a fan of whisky, swap it out for brandy or dark rum. 

2. Snowball

A retro cocktail to get the Christmas Party started. This drink became super popular in the Uk in the 1970s, so get your groove on and jump back in time with this Christmas drink!

How to make:

1. Pour 50ml of advocaat over ice in a highball glass, top with lemonade and stir. 
2. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a slice of lime. 

Top Tip: If you want to add a little kick, add some ginger syrup or swap your lemonade for Babycham.

3. Tasty Eggnog

This tasty tipple is perfect for a nice evening in, or to serve to guests at a Christmas party. A proper classic filled with creamy, sugary goodness. 

How to make:

1. Put 50g of caster sugar in a saucepan with 75ml of water. Simmer until the sugar has dissolved and cool to make a sugar syrup. 
2. Beat an egg yolk and a drop of vanilla essence until smooth. Add 100ml of condensed milk, 25ml of brandy and a few teaspoons of sugar syrup. Chill for a few hours and serve over ice. 

Top Tip: If you are looking for something that isn’t as sweet, switch the water and condensed milk to hot semi-skimmed and add half the sugar. 

4. Apple Cider Mimosa

This is a very easy way to make apple cider fancy! If you are a big juice drinker, this might be the one for you.

How to make:

1. Rim the champagne flutes with sugar and cinnamon. 
2. Pour 30ml of Apple Cider into the glass and top with champagne. Garnish with an apple slice. 

Top Tip: If you don’t have apple cider you can use apple juice to the same effect. 

5. Mince Pie Martini

Mince pies don’t just have to be for eating! This martini is basically Christmas in a glass and will certainly satisfy your cravings for your favourite Christmas treat.

How to make:

1. Make a mincemeat syrup by boiling 100ml water, 100g caster sugar and 50g of mincemeat. Cool and strain. 
2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle 1 tsp of mincemeat and then add 25ml gin, 10ml of dark rum, 25ml of sweet red vermouth, 20ml syrup, ice and shake.
3. Strain into glasses to serve and top with a sprinkling of nutmeg. 

Top Tip: If you want, you can add a small shortbread star to the glass to top this off. 

6. Eastern Breeze

Christmas cocktails don’t have to be complicated or even take a lot of preparation. This cocktail is easy, quick and it tastes really great. Oh, and it’s vegan too!

How to make:

1. Add 50ml of vodka, mint leaves and a tablespoon of pomegranate seeds to a glass filled with ice. 
2. Top with apple juice and stir. Garnish with mint leaves or an orange slice. 

Top Tip: If you want to get really fancy, you can freeze the pomegranate seeds in the ice cubes to make your drink more sophisticated. 

7. Hot Buttered Rum

A winter warmer and a good remedy for a day spent outside with family and friends, and the perfect way to take the chill out of your bones. 

How to make:

1. In a mug stir together 2 teaspoons of melted butter, a tablespoon of brown sugar, 25ml of dark or spiced rum, a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg 
2. Top with hot milk and stir to combine. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. 

Top Tip: Simply forget the rum for a virgin version of this tasty Christmas cocktail.

8. Winter Pimms

Do you wait around for the summer when Wimbledon is on the telly and the temperature finally reaches 20°c to whack out your favourite tipple? Not anymore, Pimm’s is back for the winter holiday season and it tastes incredible! 

How to make:

1. Pour 250ml of Pimms and 250ml of brandy into a jug filled with ice. 
2. Add cinnamon sticks, orange wedges, apple slices and vanilla pods. 
3. Top with apple juice and serve. 

Top Tip: If you want to get really fancy, you can freeze the pomegranate seeds in the ice cubes to make your drink more sophisticated. 

9. Salted Caramel Pecan Sour

If you want to shake it up a bit and really impress your friends you can try your hand at this festive drink. Although it can take a bit of preparation, it is well worth it!

How to make:

1. Make a salted pecan syrup. Do this by roasting pecans in a dry saucepan for 2 mins, take off the heat and add 80ml of water and 160g of golden caster sugar with a pinch of salt. Stir rapidly until the sugar has dissolved. Sieve to remove the nuts.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add 50ml of vodka, 20ml pecan syrup, ½ egg whites, 20ml of clementine juice, and bitters. Shake hard. Add ice and shake again. 
3. Strain into a glass and garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Top Tip: If you don’t want to make a pecan syrup, try using a cinnamon or ginger syrup. 

10. Fresh & Frosty

You might be a bit full of heavy, creamy Christmas cocktails. Well here is your solution, this light and fruity drink will leave you feeling refreshed and energised to keep partying the whole season through!

How to make:

1. Add 37.5ml of Fino, 12.5ml of Italicus and 20ml of lemon juice to a stemmed glass.
2. Top up with Prosecco and garnish with a sugar rim and orange or lemon peel.

Top Tip: You can use non-alcoholic sparkling wine, for a less alcoholic cocktail. 

11. White Christmas Margarita

It might not be snowing outside, but that doesn’t have to stop you from celebrating a white Christmas. Why not try these cocktails for a delicious way to bring winter to your kitchen.

How to make:

1. Combine 20ml of unsweetened coconut milk, 50ml of tequila, 40ml of triple sec and 20ml of lime juice with ice in a blender. Blend until smooth. 
2. Rim your glass with sugar, and garnish with a lime wedge and frozen cranberries. 

Top Tip: If you don’t like cranberries you can always swap them for maraschino cherries or pomegranate seeds. 

12. Jack Frosties Slushie

A colourful way of celebrating the festive season that celebrates the cooler elements of Christmas time. This cocktail will definitely chill you out. 

How to make:

1. In a blender, add 50ml of vodka, 50ml of champagne, 25ml of blue curacao, 25ml of lemonade and ice. Blend until combined. 
2. Rim the glass with sugar and serve immediately. 

Top Tip: If you don’t have blue curacao, you can always use coloured alcopops.

13.Classic Baileys Hot Chocolate

A little twist on the usual hot chocolate. Indulge yourself in this tasty bedtime treat and warm up from the inside out. Just make sure you don’t mix them up with the ones you give the kids!

How to make: 

1. Start by pouring 50ml of Baileys into your favourite mug. 
2. Make up your hot chocolate and pour into the mug, stirring gently. 
3. Top with whipped cream and chocolate flake pieces for a big treat! 

Top Tip: You don’t have to use Baileys, any Irish Cream will make your hot chocolate special. Oh, and it doesn’t even have to be alcoholic! Try adding mint, hazelnut or gingerbread syrup to make your hot chocolate even tastier! 

14. Mulled Apple Juice – Non-Alcoholic

The classic winter warmer that will hit that sweet spot. It’s not all about the alcohol, this is a tasty drink that can be enjoyed by guests of all ages at any time. It’s super easy and a twist on the usual alcoholic mulled wine.

How to make:

1. In a saucepan, heat apple juice together with strips of orange peel, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries and cloves. 
2. Ladle into glass mugs and serve warm.

Top Tip: If you want to make this an alcoholic beverage, add some brandy. 

15. Virgin Hot Toddy

A twist on the usual toddy we all know and love, this one will still keep you warm but can be enjoyed by the whole family. It’s non-alcoholic, but of course, it still packs a punch full of Christmas cheer.

How to make:

1. Add 150ml of orange juice, 20ml of lemon juice, 10ml of cinnamon syrup in a mug together and top with hot water. 
2. Gently stir and garnish with a clove spike and orange slices. 

Top Tip: If you’re fancying a tipple, simply add 30ml of vanilla flavoured vodka. 

16. Virgin Pomegranate Mojito

A festive fruity treat that can cater to all of your guests, whether they are drinking alcohol or not! This classic cocktail has been transformed into a tasty juice with the same minty kick and it’s super easy!

How to make:

1. Ahead of time, freeze ice cubes filled with pomegranate seeds and/or cranberries.
2.  Add lime wedges, pomegranate seeds and mint to a glass and muddle, add the fruity ice cubes and top with half lemonade and half pomegranate juice. 

Top Tip: Don’t worry if you forget to make the ice cubes ahead of time! You can use crushed ice or normal cubes to the same effect. 

17. Orange & Nutmeg Christmas Coffee

Wake up, it’s Christmas time! This coffee will start your morning off right or top your day off as a perfect after-dinner hot drink.

How to make:

1. Add 4tbsp ground coffee, a cinnamon stick and 2 chopped dates in a large cafeteria together with a pinch of ground nutmeg, 2 cloves and a strip of orange zest, then pour over 400ml freshly boiled water.
2. Stir gently to combine and leave to brew for 4 minutes. 
3. Pour into espresso cups. 

Top Tip: If you don’t have any cinnamon sticks you can always add vanilla pods to add another layer to your coffee.

Perhaps you feel like getting a professional to teach you how to make some festive cocktails and mocktails? If so, we have cocktail masterclasses, bar staff, waiters and mixologists to make all of your cocktail Christmas parties extra special.

Or, maybe you’ve got the drinks down to a T and you’re just looking for some great entertainment, or a lovely caterer to set off the evening. You can have a look at our website for some inspiration and to find something perfect for you!

Tasha Bowers

Client Support Hero & Event Expert

Passions: Travelling, Plants, Halloween, Gigs, Disposable Cameras, Noodles, Indie Music, Books and Roller Skates.