Celebrate the holiday season with twelve festive cocktails that bring both nostalgia and novelty to the glass. From cozy classics to favourite drinks with a seasonal glow-up, each recipe offers a fresh way to toast the holidays. Perfect for quiet nights by the fire or lively get-togethers that somehow end in carolling.

1) Hot Buttered Rum

Celebrate the holiday season with twelve festive cocktails. From holiday classics to your favourite drinks with a seasonal touch, each one offers a different take on the holidays. Whether it’s a cozy night by the fire or a lively get-together, try a new drink each day or make a batch to impress your loved ones.

How to Make It
In a small bowl, cream together 1 tbsp softened unsalted butter and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Add a pinch of nutmeg, a small dash of cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract. Transfer the mixture to a heatproof mug, add 1.5 oz dark rum and ¾ cup hot water, then stir until fully melted and combined. Garnish with whipped cream and extra cinnamon.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Unsalted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanilla extract, Dark Rum, whipped cream (optional)

2) Cranberry French 75

A light, sparkling gin cocktail with bright lemon and gentle sweetness, topped with bubbly prosecco for an elegant festive touch. Refreshing, refined, and always a crowd-pleaser.

How to Make It
Add 1 oz gin, ½ oz lemon juice, and ½ oz cranberry simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled flute. Top with 3 oz prosecco or champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist and cranberries.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Gin, lemon juice, cranberry simple syrup, prosecco or champagne, lemon twist and cranberries (optional)

3) White Christmas Margarita

A tropical holiday margarita with creamy coconut, fresh lime, and smooth tequila, shaken icy cold for a crisp, festive finish. Served in a coconut-rimmed glass and topped with cranberries, it’s a winter twist on a classic.

How to Make It
Chill a stemless glass. Rim with lime juice and dip into coconut flakes. Fill a shaker with ice and add 2 oz blanco tequila, 1 oz triple sec, 1 oz coconut milk, and 1 oz lime juice. Shake well, strain over ice, and garnish with a lime wedge and cranberries.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Blanco tequila, Triple sec, coconut milk, lime juice, coconut flakes, cranberries and lime wedge (optional)

4) Sugar Cookie Cocktail

A rich, dessert-style cocktail that tastes exactly like its namesake—no baking required.

How to Make It
Add frosting to the rim of your glass and dip into sprinkles. Fill a shaker with ice, then add 1 oz of Amaretto, 2 oz of Coole Swan, and 1 oz of half-and-half. Shake well and strain into your prepared glass.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Amaretto, Coole Swan, heavy cream, ice, sprinkles and frosting (optional)

5) Frosty the Snowman Cocktail

A frosty cocktail that blends vanilla vodka, coconut, and a splash of blue curaçao for a bright icy hue. Smooth and indulgent with a coconut-rimmed glass, it’s a playful, snow-day sipper with a cheerful cherry on top.

How to Make It
Rim a glass with cream and dip it into coconut flakes. In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1½ oz vodka, 1 oz blue curaçao, 1 oz heavy cream, 1 oz coconut milk, and ½ tsp vanilla extract. Shake, strain over ice, and top with a cherry.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): vodka, blue curacao, heavy cream, coconut milk, vanilla extract, ice, cherry and coconut flakes (optional)

6) Candy Cane Paralyzer

A creamy peppermint cocktail with rich coffee notes and a cool, minty finish, layered over ice for a smooth holiday treat. Decadent and festive, it’s topped with crushed candy canes for the perfect seasonal touch.

How to Make It
Fill a glass with ice. Add 2 oz vodka, 1 oz Kahlúa, and 1 oz peppermint schnapps. Gently pour 2 oz heavy cream over top. Garnish with crushed candy canes.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Vodka, Kahlua, Peppermint Schnapps, heavy cream, ice, crushed candy canes (optional)

7) Holiday Mule

A holiday twist on the classic Moscow Mule. Vodka, cranberry and lime topped with bubbly ginger beer for a crisp and cheerful sip. Its ruby colour and garnish make it a merry addition to this year’s festivities.

How to Make It
Fill a glass or mule mug with ice. Add 2 oz vodka, ½ oz lime juice, 1 oz cranberry juice, and ½ oz simple syrup. Stir gently, then top with ginger beer. Garnish with cranberries and a lime wedge.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Vodka, lime juice, cranberry juice, simple syrup (optional), ginger beer, cranberries and lime wedge (optional)

8) The Grinch Mimosa

A crisp holiday mimosa inspired by the Grinch, made with orange juice, a splash of blue curaçao, and topped with prosecco for a bright, bubbly finish. Light, citrusy, and festive, it brings a fun pop of colour to any holiday toast.

How to Make It
Add the desired amount of orange juice to a champagne flute. Add ½ oz blue curaçao, then top with prosecco.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Prosecco, Blue Curacao, Orange juice.

9) Bourbon Egg Nog

A holiday classic and an easy cocktail that can be served cold or hot. The combination of a smooth bourbon and a creamy eggnog with some spices creates the perfect wintry drink.

How to Make It
Fill a glass with ice, or keep it warm if preferred. Add 2 oz bourbon and 5 oz eggnog. Finish with a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Bourbon, eggnog, nutmeg, cinnamon

10) Merry Cranberry Cocktail

A smooth cranberry cocktail with bright citrus and a touch of sweetness, shaken icy cold for a clean finish. Elegant and aromatic, it’s a perfect seasonal sipper with a hint of rosemary.

How to Make It
Fill a shaker with ice. Add 2 oz vodka, 1 oz cranberry juice, ½ oz orange liqueur, ½ oz simple syrup, and a squeeze of lime. Shake until icy cold and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Vodka, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, simple syrup (optional), lime, cranberries, rosemary sprig for garnish, ice

11) Cranberry Aperol Spritz

A crisp cranberry Aperol spritz with bright citrus notes and a light, sparkling finish. Festive, refreshing, and beautifully balanced, it’s a cheerful sip for any holiday moment.

How to Make It
Fill a stemmed glass with ice. Add 2 oz Aperol and 1 oz cranberry juice. Gently pour in 3 oz prosecco, then finish with a splash of soda water. Garnish with cranberries and an orange slice.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 1): Aperol, prosecco, cranberry juice, soda water, ice, fresh cranberries and orange slice (optional)

12) White Wine Sangria

This is the perfect drink for a group, the bright citrus flavours with a sparkling lift from the ginger ale added just before serving. It brings a joyful burst of seasonal cheer to any gathering this holiday season.

How to Make It
Fill a large pitcher with ice. Add 1 chopped apple and 1 sliced orange. Pour in 1 bottle of dry white wine and ½ cup orange liqueur. Stir gently and refrigerate for at least one hour. Just before serving, add ginger ale. Garnish with fruit, cranberries, and rosemary.

Ingredients Needed (Serves 4-6): Bottle of dry white wine (pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc), ginger ale, orange liqueur, apple, orange, cranberry, rosemary sprig