The Most Popular Christmas Cocktails for This Festive Season

Read time: 5 mins.

Looking for Christmas cocktail recipes? Something to help put you in the festive spirit? 

Cocktails come in a variety of styles. Deliciously warm ones, ideal for cosying up with on a cold December evening or refreshing ones ideal for Christmas parties, festive brunches or, of course, on Christmas Day!

And can you guess the UK’s most popular Christmas drink? Unsurprisingly, it’s mulled wine.

Alongside our traditional mulled wine recipe, we’ve also suggested a few more obscure recipes! Make sure to check out the mulled gin recipe and gingerbread martini recipe!

And if you’re on the lookout for Christmas gifts with alcohol, have a look at our festive hamper range.

Here are our top 10 easy-to-make Christmas Cocktails:

Christmas cocktail recipe 1: Classic Mulled Wine (spicy and festive):

You’ll need:

• 750ml bottle of red wine
   
• 1 large cinnamon stick
   
• 2 star anise
   
• 4 cloves
   
• 2 strips lemon zest (you can use a vegetable peeler)
   
• 4 tbsp caster sugar
   
• Mugs or heatproof glasses
   

Method:

• Put the red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 mins.
   
• Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infuse for about 30 mins.
   
• To serve, heat without boiling and pour into your mugs or glasses.

Did you know, we include the delicious Shropshire Spice Co Mulled Wine Spice in our Christmas hampers! Find it in our red wine hampers.

Is there a more festive drink than mulled wine? Photo by Nikita Krasnov.

Christmas cocktail recipe 2: Hot Toddy (a warming pick-me-up)

You’ll need:

• 50ml whisky
   
• 3 tsp honey
   
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
   
• 1 lemon (thinly slice one half and juice the other)
   
• 2 cloves
   
• 2 heatproof glasses or mugs

   Method:

• Whisk the whisky and honey together and split between the glasses. Add half of the cinnamon stick to each, then top up with 200ml boiling water.

• Add a splash of lemon juice to each, then taste and add more to your liking.  Finish each with a slice of lemon, studded with a clove, and it’s always best served before it cools too much.

Christmas cocktail recipe 3: Mulled Gin (a good alternative to mulled wine)

You’ll need:

• 100ml gin

• 400ml apple juice (fresh or carton)
   
• ½ lemon, sliced
   
• 1 bay leaf
   
• 4 cloves
   
• 2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
   
• 1 small cinnamon stick
   
• 3 juniper berries, lightly crushed
   
• ½ tsp coriander seeds
   
• 1 tsp runny honey
   
• 4 small heatproof glasses, tea cups or mugs

To garnish, if wished:

• 4 bay leaves
   
• 2 thin lemon slices, halved

Method:

• Divide the gin between the glasses, mugs or tea cups.
   
• Tip the apple juice into a saucepan with the rest of the ingredients. Heat gently until simmering, then strain into a jug. Pour the mulled apple juice into the glasses with the gin and stir gently to combine. Garnish each glass with a bay leaf and half a lemon slice and serve warm. Delicious

Christmas cocktail recipe 4: Christmas Punch (great for entertaining, can be sized up if needed)

You’ll need:

• 75ml clementine juice
   
• 150ml Benedictine liqueur
   
• 225ml Dewar’s white label scotch whiskey or cognac
   
• 300ml cranberry juice
   
• The seeds from 1 vanilla pod
   
• 1 thinly sliced clementine
   
• 3 sour cherries (optional)
   

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a jug and store in the fridge for 2–3 hours before using – no longer as the sour elements will start to affect the overall flavour of the punch.
    
2. Serve in a large jug or bowl half-filled with ice. Mix well and allow to dilute for 5 minutes before serving.

Christmas cocktail recipe 5: Bucks Fizz (traditional, refreshing, celebratory):

You’ll need:

• 750ml Champagne
   
• Orange Juice (freshly squeezed is best! But a carton is ok)

Method:

An incredibly easy recipe – just combine the two, two parts champagne to one part orange juice! Feel free to add ice.

Cheers to the festive season with a glass of homemade Bucks Fizz. Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash.

Christmas cocktail recipe 6: Sherry Spritz for one (refreshing and delicious. Increase amounts accordingly)

You’ll need:

• 3 tbsp cream sherry
   
• 1 tbsp ginger syrup
   
• Ice
   
• Twist of orange
   
• Cava (to top up)
   

Method:

Put the cream sherry (vegan if you need it to be) and 1 tbsp ginger syrup in an ice-filled glass, then stir to chill. Add a twist of orange, then top up with cava.

Christmas cocktail recipe 7: Non-alcoholic Mulled Wine (warming, festive and fruity)

You’ll need:

• 500ml pomegranate juice (grape or cranberry juice can be used instead)
   
• 25g golden caster sugar
   
• handful of frozen blackberries
   
• 250ml apple juice
   
• 1 cinnamon stick
   
• 1 star anise
   
• 4 cloves
   
• 3 black peppercorns
   
• 1 orange, quartered

Method:

Put the pomegranate juice, sugar, blackberries and apple juice in a saucepan. Add the cinnamon, star anise, cloves, peppercorns and orange. Heat gently until simmering. Taste for sweetness, then strain into heatproof glasses.

Christmas cocktail recipe 8: Rum Old- Fashioned (nice alternative to the usual whisky version, serves one)

You’ll need:

• 50ml dark rum
   
• 1 tsp sugar syrup
   
• Few dashes of orange bitters
   
• Ice
   
• Strip of orange peel, to garnish
   

Method:

• Put half the rum, the sugar syrup and bitters in a mixing glass or jug. Add three ice cubes and stir slowly with a mixing spoon until the outside of the glass feels cold. Add the rest of the rum and a few more ice cubes, then stir to just combine.
   
• Strain the drink into an ice-filled rocks glass or tumbler and garnish with the strip of orange peel.

Christmas cocktail recipe 9: Christmapolitan (serves 2 but can be easily sized up, great party cocktail)

You’ll need:

• 250ml of sweetened Cranberry juice
   
• 100ml Vodka
   
• 1 tablespoon of lime Juice (fresh is best)
   
• 60 ml cointreau or triple sec
   
• Ice -  1 cup
   
• Garnish – whatever you like, lime, rosemary…

Method:

Basically, put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake! If you’re making it for a crowd it’s best to mix ingredients in a jug first, refrigerate then shake

Impress your friends and family with a homemade festive cocktail. Photo by Jenny Pace on Unsplash.

Christmas cocktail recipe 10: Gingerbread Martini (fun, festive and indulgent.  2 servings)

You’ll need:

• ¼ cup of caramel sauce
   
• ¼ tsp mixed spice
   
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
   
• 6 ice cubes
   
• ½ cup thickened cream
   
• ¼ cup vodka
   
• 1 tablespoon Baileys Irish Cream.
   
• Whipped cream to serve if desired

Method:

• Combine caramel sauce, mixed spice and ginger in a small jug.
   
• Place ice cubes, cream, caramel mixture, vodka and Baileys in a cocktail shaker. Secure lid. Shake well to combine
   
• Pour into chilled serving glasses. Dollop with whipped cream. Drizzle with extra caramel sauce. Decorate with whole and crushed gingerbread men if so wish!
   

We’d love to hear how you got on with these recipes! And do let us know if you have any recipes to add.

If you’re looking for alcoholic Christmas gifts this year, do make sure to check out our Christmas hamper range.

CHEERS!