21 Festive Christmas Cocktails
Find fun and festive Christmas cocktail recipes here. Classic mulled wine, not-too-sweet holiday punch, cranberry margaritas and much more!
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on December 4, 2025
Cheers to the holidays! I’ve rounded up my favorite Christmastime cocktails. The list includes holiday classics and creative wintertime sips. Whether you’re hosting friends and family or looking for a festive drink to enjoy by the fire, you’ll find plenty of fun options below.
Don’t miss this not-too-sweet holiday punch, or the mulled wine that makes your home smell like Christmas. If you’d like to offer non-alcoholic options, consider my hot chocolate, cinnamon tea or hibiscus mocktail (add a few fresh cranberries to the glass).
Here are some simple snacks and treats to round out your evening:
- Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Easy Chocolate Bark
- Festive Cheese Board
- Pomegranate Salsa
- Sesame Caramel Corn
- Sweet & Spicy Roasted Party Nuts
Vanilla-Pear Holiday Punch
Make this pear punch for your holiday get-togethers! It’s not too sweet, but full of cheer. Recipe yields 8 cocktails. Divide or multiply the recipe as necessary (for a single serving, follow this recipe).
New York Sour
Learn how to make a New York sour cocktail. I sweeten mine with maple syrup instead of simple syrup, which tastes amazing! They look impressive but they’re easy to make.
Classic Mulled Wine
Warm up with this classic mulled wine recipe! Gather a few basic ingredients and you’ll be sipping mulled wine in 15 minutes. Recipe yields about 5 servings; multiply as desired.
Irish Coffee
Learn how to make the best Irish coffee! To make this simple cocktail recipe, you’ll need hot coffee, Irish whiskey, maple syrup and whipped cream.
Best Manhattan Cocktail
Quality ingredients and proper technique are all you need to make the best Manhattan you’ve ever had.
Classic French 75 Cocktail
Classic French 75 cocktails are easy to make at home with this recipe! The French 75 is a refreshing and citrusy, sparkling gin cocktail that packs a punch.
Classic Moscow Mule
Moscow Mules are an easy chilled cocktail that tastes festive thanks to the ginger beer! You’ll also need vodka and lime. Copper mugs are optional.
Classic Hot Toddy
Warm up with this classic hot toddy cocktail recipe! Hot toddies are so easy to make. You’ll just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon.
Blood Orange and Pomegranate Sparkling Sangria
This sparkling rosé sangria recipe features blood oranges, pomegranates and a touch of brandy. It’s naturally sweetened and so delicious! Feel free to double or triple this recipe for a crowd. Just wait to pour in the rosé until you’re ready to drink.
Dairy-Free White Russian
This white Russian cocktail recipe is creamy, delicious and surprisingly dairy free! Just whip up some cashew milk (instructions provided), then add vodka and Kahlua. Easy!
Whiskey Sour
Make the best whiskey sour with this recipe! Fresh lemon juice is key. Serve your whiskey sour up with foamy egg white or on the rocks—the recipe includes instructions for either option.
Homemade Espresso Martini
Make the best espresso martini with this recipe! Use cold brew concentrate for ease and amazing flavor, or fresh espresso for a luxuriously foamy top.
Classic Martini
Make a classic martini at home with this foolproof recipe. Whether you like your martini with a twist of lemon or dirty with olives, this recipe is for you. Yields 1 cocktail as written; you can mix several at once if you’d like.
Old Fashioned Cocktail
This Old Fashioned cocktail recipe calls for maple syrup instead of plain simple syrup. It’s the best Old Fashioned you’ll ever have! Recipe yields 1 drink. See note on how to make in bulk.
Spiced Apple Margaritas
Simple apple margaritas with spiced sugar and salt rims! These cocktails would go over great at holiday parties and Mexican-themed dinners.
Negroni Sbagliato Cocktail
The Negroni sbagliato is bittersweet, lightly fizzy, and citrusy. It’s the perfect aperitivo, made with prosecco, sweet vermouth and Campari.
Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
This fun whiskey sour recipe is full of bourbon and fresh lemon, sweetened with maple syrup and includes a hint of cinnamon.
Fresh Cranberry Margaritas
Simple and stunning cranberry margaritas made with fresh cranberries. To get a head start on the drinks, make the cranberry jam up to 5 days in advance.
Homemade Wassail
Learn how to make wassail cocktails with real apple cider, ginger, lemon, spices and, of course, bourbon. Wassails are perfect for warming up on cold days!
Ruby Red and Rosemary Honey Cocktail
This beautiful and light winter cocktail is made with fresh grapefruit juice, vodka or gin, lemon, rosemary and honey.
The Best Mimosa (Plus Tips & Variations!)
Learn how to make classic orange mimosas with this recipe, plus find tips on how to make them your own! Oranges are in season during the winter, but you could also consider using cranberry or pomegranate juice for a festive spin.
Christmas Cocktails: Holiday Sangria
This sparkling rosé sangria recipe features blood oranges, pomegranates and a touch of brandy. You can double or triple this recipe for a crowd. Just wait to pour in the rosé until you’re ready to drink.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons honey or sugar
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 3 medium to large blood oranges
- Arils (seeds) from 1 pomegranate
- ¼ cup brandy
- 1 bottle dry sparkling rosé (or white sparkling wine like Prosecco or Cava)
Instructions
- To make simple syrup, combine equal parts honey or sugar and water in a bowl. Whisk until the sweetener has mixed into the water. Set it aside.
- Juice two of the blood oranges with a citrus juicer or squeeze the blood orange halves to extract the juice. Slice the remaining blood orange into thin rounds, then slice them through the middle to create half moons.
- In a pitcher, combine the blood orange juice, blood orange slices, pomegranate arils and brandy. For best flavor, let the fruit marinate in this mixture for a few hours, covered and chilled in the refrigerator. (Don’t worry, it’ll be great right away if you need it now.)
- When you’re ready to serve, pour in the sparkling rosé. Add simple syrup to taste. Use a ladle to divide the sangria and fruit into glasses.
Notes
See more at Blood Orange and Pomegranate Sparkling Sangria.
Enjoy responsibly. Wishing you a merry and safe holiday season! Browse more Christmas recipes and my complete cocktail collection.
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