No matter what the holiday season looks like for your family, one thing’s for sure: You’ll need libations. These 63 holiday cocktails are seasonal, simple and worthy of celebration, whether you’re adding them to your Christmas or New Year’s Eve menu. Below, you’ll find everything from sparkling drinks to crowd-pleasing punch bowls to hot spiked cocktails to keep the party going. (And if you’re unsure of what to serve with one of these drinks, try one of our 67 easy Christmas dinner ideas on for size.)
63 Holiday Cocktails to Sip from Christmas through New Year’s Eve
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Published Nov 9, 2022
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: red vermouth
Summer doesn't have dibs on spritzers. This one got a wintry makeover, courtesy of sweet red vermouth, grapefruit and rosemary.
2. Cranberry-Mint Holiday Punch
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
Serving a crowd doesn’t get any easier. This punch is a refreshing-yet-powerful combo of vodka, orange liqueur and sparkling wine.
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: wine
Psst: We have an ingenious plan for that leftover bottle of summer rosé in your fridge.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: tequila
Almond milk and a dash of coffee liqueur give this traditional Latin drink a grown-up spin.
6. Slow Cooker Spiked Cinnamon Lattes
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
We’ll never grow tired of Crockpot cocktails, since they save us from standing over the stove for who knows how long.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: wine
The winter sangria of your dreams. Cinnamon sticks, cloves and brandy add spice and warmth to fresh orange.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: rum
So decadent and delicious that you’ll almost forget all about hot cocoa. Almost.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Main Alcohol: tequila
One of our favorite ways to take full advantage of citrus season. (BTW, if you need help buying a quality bottle of tequila, we're here to help.)
10. Spiced Persimmon Old Fashioned
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: whiskey
Persimmons are sort of like the underdogs of winter. Maybe you never tried one, but their unique flavor fits the season like a glove.
11. Slow Cooker Cranberry Hot Toddy
- Time Commitment: 4 hours and 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: rum
Brandy and spiced rum take over for traditional bourbon whiskey.
12. Mulled Cider
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Main Alcohol: rum
If you’ve never tried your hand at homemade apple cider, you’re in for a real treat. Spike it with rum, whiskey, vodka or applejack.
13. Classic Eggnog
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
The hardest thing about making your own eggnog is waiting for it to chill before helping yourself to a glass.
14. Easy Cranberry Moscow Mule
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
Tart-sweet cranberry juice can hold its own against fresh lime juice and spicy ginger beer.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: beer
Zhuzh up your favorite pilsner or hefeweizen with simple syrup and freshly squeezed blood orange juice. 'Tis the season, no?
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
Complete with maple-cardamom syrup and a sugared cranberry garnish. Even better, it's easy to prepare for a crowd if need be.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
Is it really holiday happy hour without a bottle of peppermint schnapps at the party? Rim the glass with crushed peppermint candies.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Main Alcohol: gin
Crisp, refreshing and herbaceous, this gin cocktail is everything we love about citrus season. Roll the rosemary sprigs in sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: cream liqueur
Think of this rich libation as a liquid peanut butter cup. Swap vanilla vodka out for peanut butter whiskey if you'd prefer.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
The secret to this sipper is Irish cream and Frangelico, a silky hazelnut liqueur.
21. Cinnamon Bourbon Old Fashioned with Brûléed Oranges
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
Top any drink with torched citrus fruit and let the oohs and ahhs roll in. Don't forget the rosemary-infused cinnamon simple syrup.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: tequila
Cranberry juice’s natural tartness make it a great substitute for sour or margarita mix.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: Irish cream
Even the whipped cream is infused with Irish cream. Serve with a dusting of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
- Time Commitment: 4 hours and 50 minutes
- Main Alcohol: wine
It’s your spice rack’s time to shine. We're talking cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and star anise.
25. Bourbon-Ginger Cider Cocktails
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
Think of it as a whiskey mule that just spent the day at an apple orchard.
26. Pomegranate Ginger Apple Cider Punch
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: sparkling wine
Finish them off with pomegranate arils and thin-sliced Pink Lady apples to wow your guests.
27. Caramel Apple Old Fashioned
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
Starring homemade apple cider caramel, which you’ll definitely want to drink straight from the saucepan. (In case you want to make your own apple cider for it...)
28. Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
Go the extra mile by squeezing your own blood orange and clementine juices—it'll be well worth the effort.
29. Pumpkin Pie Smash Cocktail
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
The syrup, made with pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie spice, comes together on the stovetop in minutes.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
From the ginger-honey syrup to the fresh mint, this cocktail is fit for St. Nick himself.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: tequila
Our favorite part is the sweet-and-salty cinnamon rim, hands down.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: whiskey
We had no idea a cocktail this chic was hiding in our pantry. You're only five ingredients away.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
Want to go the extra mile? Candied rosemary sprigs are an elegant garnish that’s shockingly simple to make.
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 40 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
The recipe calls for your favorite bourbon, but we’re betting spiced rum or vanilla vodka would taste amazing, too.
35. Blood Orange Ginger White Sangria
- Time Commitment: 4 hours and 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: wine
Bet you’ve never thought of putting kumquats in your cocktail before, huh? You can thank us later.
36. Vanilla Chai Tea White Russian
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
It all starts with concentrated chai syrup that’s bursting with warm winter spices.
37. Cranberry-Spiced Whiskey Sour
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
You’ve heard of latte art, but have you ever seen an Angostura bitters heart drawn in frothy egg white?
38. Spicy Pomegranate Moscow Mule
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
Ginger beer for spice, sliced jalapeños for heat and citrus juices to balance them out.
40. Jingle Bell Cranberry Paloma
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: tequila
A few spoons of leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce go a long way. Top each glass with sugared cranberries to drive the theme home.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Main Alcohol: wine
Mulled wine is typically made with red vino, but we’re not complaining about this white wine alternative. Go for sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio.
42. Pomegranate Orange Champagne Cocktail
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: Champagne
Because the end of 2022 calls for the fanciest drink in your arsenal. Bring on the bubbly.
43. Spiced Cranberry-Pear Whiskey Cocktail
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: whiskey
Your favorite rye meets tart cranberry syrup and spiced pear liqueur. Call it a Christmas miracle.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
Honeycrisp apple syrup puts this warm-and-cozy bev over the top.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
Meet the most festive drinkable dessert you’ll ever lay eyes on. We’re talking candy canes, marshmallows, gingerbread cookies and all the chocolate.
47. Cranberry Mimosa
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: sparkling wine
We know what we’re sipping while opening gifts on Christmas morning. Might we suggest pairing it with a killer brunch spread?
48. Boozy Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: coffee liqueur
Choose Kahlúa, bourbon or no spirit at all for the grown-ups. Your kids will love it virgin.
49. Frothy Whipped Coffee White Russian
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
Dalgona coffee, all grown up. Might we suggest using vanilla-flavored vodka?
50. Honeycrisp Bourbon Spiced Cider
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
The recipe calls for a *ton* of whole spices, plus fresh ginger.
51. Pear and Cranberry Champagne Cocktails
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Main Alcohol: Champagne
This five-ingredient beauty is ready to usher you into the new year come midnight.
52. Pomegranate and Orange Punch
- Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes
- Main Alcohol: sparkling wine
Festive ice cubes with pomegranate seeds and mint leaves add an extra wow factor.
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: wine
Think of this holiday cocktail as sparkling apple juice…for adults. The best part is snacking on the wine-soaked apple slices as you drink.
54. Apple Cinnamon Moscow Mule
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Main Alcohol: vodka
The recipe calls for vodka, but we're betting cinnamon whiskey would work just as well. Bonus points for using homemade apple cider.
55. Grapefruit White Wine Spritzer
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Main Alcohol: wine
Citrus season has never looked so elegant. The key here is pairing tart grapefruit vodka with a sweet white wine, like moscato or riesling.
56. Holiday Cheermeister Bourbon Punch
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
File this under How to Serve Eight in Ten Minutes. Dump all six ingredients in a punch bowl or large pitcher so your guests can serve themselves.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Main Alcohol: bourbon
Winter's chill is no match for this soul-warming cocktail. It starts with a buttered brown sugar-maple batter that pairs just as beautifully with spiced rum as it does bourbon.
61. Frozen Cranberry Daiquiris
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes (plus freezing time)
- Main Alcohol: rum
Because it's never too cold out for a frozen cocktail. Silver rum stars in this lime-kissed bev, made with vibrant cranberry syrup.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: Scotch or whiskey
If you don't have ginger tea on hand, use black tea with extra spices or opt for chai tea instead. Scotch or whiskey work best here, but you could also use spiced rum.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Main Alcohol: coffee liqueur
Any cocktail topped with mini marshmallows, chocolate syrup and salted caramel is our kind of nightcap. Feel free to make it boozier by adding crème de cacao or Baileys.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
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