Christmas

This is a guest post from The Mixer – your one-stop destination to discover drinkspiration for every occasion. From delicious recipes with expert tips to trendy new serves and ideas, The Mixer encourages connectivity and good times, whether you’re new to hosting or a cocktail pro!

As the nights draw in and our thoughts turn to the holiday season, bring on the festive feels with these delicious Christmas cocktails. These delicious drinks capture all the seasonal flavours and are perfect for getting cosy and merry with your loved ones. Bottoms up!

Christmas Negroni 

The Negroni keeps making waves in the cocktail scene (yep, we’re looking at you, House of the Dragon fans), and we predict that the Christmas Negroni will be the next big thing this festive season. To make one, you’ll use the original Negroni recipe but add some festive flair by making your own Christmas-infused gin and using winter spice garnishes. 

Ingredients (per person)

• 1 Oz Campari 
• 1 Oz Christmas-infused gin (recipe below) 
• 1 Oz Cinzano Vermouth Rosso 
• Orange peel to garnish    
• Cinnamon stick, star anise and fresh bay leaf to garnish  
• Ice 

Method 

1. Pour the Campari, infused gin and vermouth into an ice filled mixing glass 

2. Stir until ice cold (about 30 seconds) 

3.  Strain into a chilled rocks glass over a large ice cube or sphere 

4. Twist an orange peel over the Negroni to release its oil and add it to the drink 

5.  Garnish with cinnamon stick, star anise and a fresh bay leaf 

How to make festive gin

To make your infused gin, grab your favourite gin and pour out a drink for yourself and a friend to make some space in the bottle to add the spices. Next, toast 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 star anise pods, 5 cloves, a teaspoon of black peppercorns, and 3 fresh bay leaves in a dry pan until fragrant. Transfer into a pestle and mortar and crush roughly. Add the spices to your ¾ bottle of gin, seal, and give it a good shake. Leave overnight – or for up to 3 days in a dark space – to infuse. Strain into a pitcher using a cheesecloth or coffee filter to remove the spice bits. Pour the gin back into the bottle, and voila! 

Jack Frost

Jack Frost is famous in folklore all over the world. In adult land, however, he is a mischievous frozen blue drink that spreads festive cheer. This is one of those fun alcoholic drinks for Christmas that will make your family and friends forget about the freezing temperatures outside while warming them up with a taste of the tropics inside. All you need is vodka or rum, pineapple juice, Blue Curaçao, coconut cream, corn syrup, ice, a decent blender, and your favourite people to share it with.  

Ingredients (per person)

• 1 Oz Vodka or White Rum
• 1 Oz Blue Curaçao
• 2 Oz Pineapple juice
• 1 Oz Cream of coconut
• Ice
• Light golden syrup and shredded coconut to rim the glass

Method

1. Take two plates then pour some light golden syrup onto one, and sprinkle shredded coconut flakes onto the other 
2. Dip the rim of your glass into first the golden syrup and then the coconut and set aside
3. Add ice to the blender along with vodka or rum, Blue Curaçao, pineapple juice and cream of coconut 
4. Blitz until smooth and frosty
5. Pour the frozen mixture into your prepared glass, pop in a straw and serve

Eggnog Martini

A hands-down number one hit and family favourite at Christmas is eggnog. But what happens if you skip the rum, add a vanilla vodka and amaretto twist, shake it up and strain it into a glass? The Eggnog Martini, that’s what, and it’s epic! As far as best vodka Christmas cocktails go, this one is packed with sweet and indulgent holiday cheer. You absolutely have to try it.  

Ingredients (per person)

• 1.5 Oz Vanilla Vodka
• 0.5 Oz Amaretto
• 2 Oz Eggnog
• Ice
• Chocolate shavings, simple syrup, and cinnamon sugar to garnish

Method

1. Pour a dash of simple syrup onto one plate and cinnamon sugar onto another
2. Dip the rim of the martini glass into the syrup and then the cinnamon sugar and set aside
3. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
4. Add the vodka, amaretto liqueur and eggnog 
5. Give it a good shake until chilled and creamy
6. Strain into a prepared martini glass, sprinkle over chocolate shavings and serve

Hot Toddy

Sip on a Hot Toddy cocktail for a drink to soothe your soul after a long (long) day of family and Christmas activity chaos. It’s the ideal drink to enjoy slowly for that fireplace feeling. Also, it will be just what you need if you feel yourself morphing into the Grinch about to steal Christmas gifts from sugared-up children. It’s in our book of easy winter cocktails, and you can customise it with your favourite alcohol and flavourings.  

Ingredients (per person)

• 2 Oz Bourbon Whiskey
• 0.5 Oz Fresh lemon juice
• 2 Teaspoons brown sugar
• 5 Cloves
• Sliced lemon
• Boiling water  

Method

1. Take a slice of lemon, press the cloves into the lemon round and set aside 
2. Boil water and fill a mug to the three-quarter mark
3. Pour in the whiskey and lemon juice and stir in the sugar until dissolved
4. Serve in a warmed mug

Winter Manhattan

Spice up your Christmas-themed cocktails with a Winter Manhattan. To make these, you simply stir up three ingredients: whiskey, sweet vermouth, and apple sours. Like almost any cocktail, there are variations, including the festive Mistletoe Manhattan that calls for cherry juice, sugared cranberries, and rosemary, or a less sour version using bourbon, bitters, and sweet vermouth. We suggest testing a few options and choosing your favourite.  

Ingredients (per person)

• ​​1.5 Oz Bourbon
• 0.5 Oz Sour Apple Liqueur
• 0.5 Oz Sweet Vermouth
• To garnish a twist of lemon peel (optional)
• Ice

Method

1. Pour all ingredients into a mason jar or cocktail shaker and fill with ice
2. Stir until completely chilled
3. Strain into chilled cocktail or martini glass
4. Garnish with a twist of lemon and enjoy

Pomegranate Martini

There are so many different types of Martinis to taste, try and shake up, but the pretty Pomegranate Martini has a special place in our hearts because it’s so extremely photogenic. It’s also a very approachable drink, much closer in taste to a Cosmopolitan than a classic Martini. Sweetly tart, fruity and light, it’s easy to whip up (even in batches), and adds a hint of sophistication to just about any gathering. 

Ingredients (per person)

• 0.5 Oz  Vodka 
• 0.5 Oz  100% pomegranate juice (purchased or fresh squeezed) 
• 0.25 Oz Grand Marnier
• 0.25 Oz lemon juice 
• 0.25 Oz simple syrup or maple syrup 
• Lemon peel to garnish 
• Ice

Method

1. Place the vodka, pomegranate juice, triple sec, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice
2. Shake 15 seconds until cold
3. Strain the drink into a cocktail or martini glass
4. Use a knife to remove a 1″ wide strip of the lemon peel
5. Squeeze the lemon peel into the drink to release the oils
6. Gently run the peel around the edge of the glass, place it in the glass and serve
7. Garnish alternative: You can also add some pomegranate seeds to the bottom of your cocktail glass for an extra-special serve.

Bourbon Apple Cider

This spiced cocktail is exactly what you need to warm up on a cold night. To get those cheeks glowing, you’ll need bourbon, apple cider, vermouth and bitters. Serve your Bourbon Apple Cider over ice with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprig of thyme. This is a full-flavour cocktail, and the sourness of the lemon balances beautifully with the sweet notes of caramel, vanilla and apple. How do you like them apples? Because, quite frankly, we’re a little obsessed.

Ingredients (for 2 people)

• 1 Oz of Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey 
• 1 Oz of apple cider 
• 1 Oz of Cinzano Vermouth Rosso 
• 1 Oz of lemon juice 
• 1 Oz of orange bitters 
• Apple slices to garnish 
• A sprig of thyme to garnish 
• Ice

Method

1.     Add ice to a large mixing glass or cocktail shaker

2.     Pour in the bourbon, cider, sweet vermouth, lemon juice and bitters

3.     Stir until chilled (about 30 seconds)

4.     Strain into any cocktail glass of your choice

5.     Garnish with a few apple slices and a sprig of thyme

For more cocktail inspiration please visit The Mixer.