The holiday season is upon us, but those easy Christmas cocktails aren't going to make themselves! No holiday party would be complete without a great selection of festive drinks. They're fun and, more importantly, they get you in the Christmas spirit. So, let's not delay any further...

Before we start, make sure you've got a load of cinnamon, cloves, lemons, oranges and sugar to hand, you're going to need them!
 

1. Mulled Wine

glass of mulled wine

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me... a mulled wine in a pear tree. Yes, no list of the best easy Christmas cocktails would complete without a classic mulled wine. Quite literally the smell of Christmas, this mulled wine is sure to warm your cockles on cold wintery night. Best consumed in front of a crackling fire place!

Ingredients:

  • 750ml red wine
  • 25g orange peel
  • 25g lemon peel
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 cloves
  • 3 star anise
  • 5 tbsp sugar

Method:

Step 1 - Add all the ingredients into a pan on a low heat.

Step 2 - Allow it to simmer and stir gently for 10 minutes.

Step 3 - Leave the mixture to cool for 30 minutes, before enjoying!

 

2. Christmas Punch

Christmas Punch

Like the great Noddy Holder once said, "it's Christmassssss (Punch)". If this list wouldn't be without a mulled wine, it certainly can't do without a good ol' Christmas Punch. Punch is great for any time of the year and is undoubtedly a massive party hit. With this Christmas Punch recipe, it couldn't be simpler. Just add all of the delicious festive ingredients to a pan and simmer. Once simmered, it's time to get it down ya!

Ingredients:

  • 750ml dry red wine
  • 700ml brewed English tea
  • 50ml dark rum
  • 265g sugar
  • 125ml orange juice
  • 125ml fresh lemon juice

Method:

Step 1 - Add all of the ingredients into a pan to simmer.

Step 2 - Once the sugar has completely dissolved, pour the punch into a serving bowl to enjoy!

 

3. Grinch Christmas Cocktail

Grinch xmas cocktail

Now, Christmas isn't for everyone. Yes, we're talking about you humbugs out there! So, with this in mind, there's a perfect cocktail for you to not enjoy this holiday season... the Grinch Christmas Cocktail. It's positively anti-Christmas and extremely green, so get those Grinch vibes on whilst you're sipping on it. Of course, those who love Christmas can also enjoy it. Just make sure you at least knock over one Christmas tree after you've had one.

Ingredients:

  • 45ml Midori
  • 30ml light rum
  • 150ml lemon-lime soda

Method:

Step 1 - Pour the Midori and rum into a glass with ice and stir gently.

Step 2 - Fill the glass with the lemon lime soda to finish.


Alternatively, you could go for something a bit smaller. Our Christmas Shot Recipes piece features the Grinch Cocktail's baby, the Grinch shot. Find out how to make it! 

 

4. Vodka Hot Chocolate

Vodka hot chocolate

We'll be honest here, this recipe is not strictly for Christmas time. However, to fully enjoy everything about it, it definitely helps. What's not to love? It's chocolate and alcohol together! Not only will you get your sugar fix but also a good merry measure of alcohol! The key to success here is to make the hot chocolate part really well. If this fails, the whole thing falls with it!

Ingredients:

  • 500ml milk
  • 80g chocolate chips
  • 10ml vodka
  • 1 tbsp double cream

Method:

Step 1 - To make the hot chocolate, add the milk and chocolate chips into a pan to simmer. Gently stir the mixture until the chocolate has melted.

Step 2 - Remove from the heat and add the double cream and vodka. Stir once again.

Step 3 - Pour into a glass and enjoy your adult hot chocolate.

 

5. Hot-Buttered Rum

Hot buttered rum

This is a bit of a weird one, we'll admit. The name certainly gives nothing away. If this was a technical challenge on the Bake Off, we would doubt anyone would know how to make it. But saying this, it's very popular over the festive period. If you're familiar with a Tom and Jerry Cocktail, then you'll love this variation. We recommend slinging any hope of maintaining a diet out the window with this festive cocktail, however. Live a little!

Ingredients:

  • 60ml dark rum
  • 120ml hot water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp unsalted, softened butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp allspice

Method:

Step 1 - Add the butter, sugar, spices and vanilla extract to the bottom of an Irish Coffee mug to muddle together.

Step 2 - Pour on the rum and water, and stir. Once all stirred up, you're ready to drink it!

 

6. Festive Eggnog

Glasses-of- Christmas-Eggnog-on-cut-logs

Baby, it's cold outside, so why not come on in and enjoy a festive Eggnog with Tom Jones and his lovely Welsh tones? The perfect drink for a more chilled, respectable holiday party, the Eggnog is one of the best known Christmas drinks out there. It may not sound like it would be, but it's all in the taste (which is amazing). Eggnogs are also great for audience interaction. Get your guests involved by making their own Eggnogs. What a way to generate some Christmas spirit!

Ingredients:

  • 1 egg
  • 40ml brandy / Cognac
  • 20ml dark-aged rum
  • 90ml milk
  • 2 tsp white sugar
  • 1 tsp water

Method:

Step 1 - Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake (don't add any ice).

Step 2 - Now, shake the mixture again but with ice.

Step 3 - Once shaken, fine strain the Eggnog into a glass and garnish with nutmeg.

 

7. Snowball

Snowball cocktail

A distant cousin of the Eggnog, the Snowball is another eggy cocktail. We must stress to not be put off by this fact, though. They are both truly delicious and both part of the easy festive cocktails for beginners group! Still not convinced? Omelette us try and describe it a little. You know when you're sat on a plane and it's flying through the clouds? Those clouds you see, imagine eating one of them. That's the flavour. To put it more obviously, it's a light, creamy, sweet, lemonadey taste. Not even one hint of an eggy flavour, just pure joy.

Ingredients:

  • 50ml Advocaat
  • 50ml lemonade
  • 10ml fresh lemon juice

Method:

Step 1 - Add all of the ingredients to a glass with ice. Stir gently and serve.

 

8. Christmas pudding vodka

warm-vodka-christmas-cocktail-with-cinnamon-clove-and-sliced-lemon

Technically, this isn't really part of the festive cocktails list. This is an infused vodka recipe, rather than a full cocktail. However, it's so good and so festive that we couldn't leave it out. Plus, why be a sucker for rules? Now, we're sure you're wondering how to drink it once fully infused. Here are your options: straight (on the rocks), with ginger beer or cranberry juice. Drink it one of these three ways and you won't be disappointed.

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle of vodka
  • 450g muscovado sugar
  • 200g citrus peel (orange or lemon peel)
  • 2 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 2 sticks of cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp nutmeg

Method:

Step 1 - Prepare the citrus fruit. Remove the peel and add the juice.

Step 2 - Use a dry pan to warm up the spices on a low heat for around 5-10 minutes, before taking off the heat.

Step 3 - Then, add the citrus peel, juice, spices and sugar to the vodka bottle and leave to steep. Leave for a few days, agitating the mixture occasionally.

Step 4 - Fine strain the mixture and rebottle. Your vodka is now ready to drink!

 

9. Bucks Fizz

champagne-glasses-filled-with-bucks-fizz

No, we're not talking about the UK's Eurovision representatives and winners in 1981, but rather a classic cocktail. Transport yourself to the land of make believe with this slightly more alcoholic version of the Mimosa. With only two ingredients and a one-step method, it won't be hard making your mind up on whether to make this cocktail or not! Hats off to those who spotted the niche Bucks Fizz references in there too.

Ingredients:

  • 50ml orange juice
  • 100ml sparkling wine (Champagne is commonly used)

Method:

Step 1 - Add the orange juice and sparkling wine to a flute glass and serve.
 

Love Bucks Fizz? Take a look at the best champagne cocktails here.

 

10. Cranberry Old Fashioned

two-glasses-cranberry-old-fashioned-Christmas-cocktail

Cranberry really is the official fruit of the Christmas cocktails. With that being said, it's time to zhuzh up a classic cocktail. The Old Fashioned needs no introduction, we all know this simple classic. But how about we add a little sparkle to its recipe? This is where the cranberry sauce comes in. Not, cranberry juice, but sauce! Using this instead of cranberry juice means you'll get a much stronger flavour, something you'll really notice. No subtleties here!

Ingredients:

  • 60ml Bourbon whiskey
  • 30ml club soda
  • 2 tbsp cranberry sauce
  • 1 sugar cube
  • 1 orange wedge
  • 1 dash of Angostura bitters

Method:

Step 1 - Muddle the sugar cube, orange wedge and bitters in the serving glass.

Step 2 - Then, add in the Bourbon, cranberry sauce and club soda. Stir and serve.

How about we try a tequila variation? The Christmas Margarita is a festive hit with its tequila, cranberry and lime combination. It won't disappoint! 

11. Winter Pimm's Punch

glass of mulled wine

Yes, you are reading that correctly, a Pimm's Punch bowl for the winter! We are outrageous! The only disclaimer for this recipe is that you'll need a specific type of Pimm's. The blackberry and elderflower Pimm's offers a beautifully balanced injection of berry and floral notes into the punch. Mix it with the fiery flavour of the brandy and other spices, and you've got an alternative take on the classic Christmas Punch and Pimm's.

You'll need to turn your clocks back to drink this Pimm's o'clock.

Ingredients:

  • 500ml Pimm's Blackberry and Elderflower
  • 500ml brandy
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 star anise
  • 1.5 litres apple juice

​​​​​​​Method:

Step 1 - Add all the ingredients to a jug and stir the mixture around.

Step 2 - Serve up in a glass with a side of mince pies!

 

12. Brandy Alexander

Brandy Alexander

At number 12 is the Brandy Alexander. This is a proper classic cocktail recipe, fit for a Christmas party. It's not exclusively an 'xmas' drink, but given its ingredients, we think it definitely qualifies for the list. Compared to the others, the measures are on the smaller side but this shouldn't put off any cocktail lovers!

Ingredients:

  • 40ml brandy
  • 20ml dark cacao liqueur
  • 40ml milk

​​​​​​​Method:

Step 1 - Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake well.

Step 2 - Fine strain the Alexander into a serving glass.

 

13. Irish Coffee

Jameson Irish whiskey Irish coffee

Party like the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl with this little Irish number this Christmas. Just like the Eggnog, the Irish Coffee is best drunk surrounded by easygoing vibes. You wouldn't want it sloshing around in your stomach during a messy Christmas party in the office, would you? Anyway, it's creamy, it's dreamy and it's better than linguine. Sláinte!

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 40ml Irish whiskey
  • Coffee (to fill)
  • 30ml whipped fresh cream

​​​​​​​Method:

Step 1 - Add all the ingredients, except the cream, to an Irish coffee mug and stir.

Step 2 - Gently pour the cream on top to float. Serve up your creation.

 

14. Hot Toddy

Hot Toddy

The last of the easy Christmas cocktails. We're sad it's over so soon. We're leaving you on a nice, homely one and one to melt the snow from your eyelashes. It's... the Hot Toddy! The combination of whiskey, honey, spices and lemon goes down a treat during Christmas time. We can't vouch for any health benefits the Hot Toddy is said to have, but we can vouch for its festiveness. Enjoy this recipe alongside a crackly Jona Lewie vinyl on Christmas Eve.

Christmas cocktails? Easy! Completed it, mate.

Ingredients:

  • 50ml Irish whiskey
  • 200ml boiling water
  • 3 tsp honey
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 cloves

​​​​​​​Method:

Step 1 - Whisk together the whiskey and honey, and pour into a glass.

Step 2 - Add the cinnamon stick and boiling water.

Step 3 - Finally, add a splash of lemon juice to top it off.


​​​​​​​The easy cocktail recipes don't end there! We have some super easy and tasty Christmas Martini recipes waiting just for you. Don't wait get on it! 

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