6 classic holiday cocktail recipes with a festive twist

Author: The Bar Team

A table with apple pie, a slice served on a plate with whipped cream, three mugs of spiced drink with cinnamon sticks, and a red mug, set against a silver tinsel backdrop.

Along with the change in temperature, winter also brings an air of good cheer and festivity, especially when holiday cocktails add to the merriment. No matter how you celebrate the season, good times go hand in hand with good libations. But if you think eggnog and hot toddies are your only seasonal options, think again. Here is a list of classic cocktails with a holiday twist. 

Along with the change in temperature, winter also brings an air of good cheer and festivity, especially when cocktails add to the merriment. No matter how you celebrate the season, good times go hand in hand with good libations. But if you think eggnog and hot toddies are your only seasonal options, think again. Here is a list of classic cocktails with a seasonal twist. 

Winter Waltz espresso martini

Whether it’s a late-night outing or a midday brunch, an on-trend coffee cocktail presented with a lavish peppermint candy rim provides just the right amount of pep for your step. 

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A chocolate cocktail in a martini glass topped with whipped cream and cocoa, garnished with a candy cane. Christmas decorations and gingerbread cookies are in the background.

Engravable

Mr Black

Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

70cl

Ketel One

Ketel One Vodka

700ml

A blue bowl filled with sugared cranberries sits on a white surface, with a few sugared cranberries scattered beside the bowl.

Cranberry vodka spritzer

A sprig of rosemary and whole cranberries coated with powdered sugar will give any simple cocktail a holly jolly vibe. This vodka-based highball, composed of subtly sweet-tart and tangy lime notes, is an elegant addition for hangs with friends and family.

Winter paloma

Incorporate in-season fruit juices and sparkly garnishes to give a classic cocktail a seasonal spin. Just be sure the flavor notes are similar, such as sweet with sweet vs. tart with tart. This take on the Mexican highball comes together quickly but gets festive with a vibrant magenta hue thanks to cranberry and pomegranate juices in place of the traditional grapefruit. Zhug it up with a sprinkle of edible glitter.

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A glass of pomegranate juice sits on a wooden board surrounded by a whole pomegranate and scattered pomegranate seeds against a dark background.

Don Julio

Tequila Don Julio Resposado

750ml

A tall, clear glass tumbler with vertical ribbed lines stands against a plain black background.

Nude

Big Top High Ball Glass, Set of 4

A glass of rum cocktail with a large ice cube, orange peel, and chocolate shavings sits next to a bottle of Ron Zacapa 23 on a white wooden surface.

Rum old fashioned

Gifts don’t have to be the only things you end up exchanging this season. Try swapping out the usual whiskey in an old fashioned for dark rum and serve it warm instead of cold for a delicious hot toddy meets old fashioned mashup.

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Engravable

Zacapa

Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Rum

750ml

A wooden block holds four gold bar tools: a strainer, bottle opener, jigger, and spoon, each standing upright in its own slot.

Kessy Beldi

Sidecar 5-Piece Tool Bar Set

Bloody Mary

Sometimes the best way to beat the cold is to warm yourself up with a spicy cocktail. When it comes to classic serves that are on the spicy side, you can play around with ingredients while still sticking to the original flavor profile. The key is to taste as you mix! A classic Bloody Mary topped with plenty of hearty goodies can be the perfect canvas to play around with and heat things up. Get feisty with the hot sauce, horseradish and peppers, or mix up the ingredients by using hot chili peppers or multiple hot sauces for depth of flavor.

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A person with a tattooed arm holds a tall glass of a red cocktail garnished with celery and herbs, with smoke rising around the drink on a bar counter.

Big Top High Ball Glass, Set of 4

Casamigos

Casamigos Mezcal

750ml

A glass of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, garnished with a crushed cookie and a red-and-green striped candy cane, surrounded by festive holiday decorations.

Peppermint hot chocolate

The best (and easiest) way to put a festive spin on a classic holiday serve is by swapping in a flavored spirit for traditional ones. Treats like this warming, boozy hot chocolate recipe are simple to prepare and only require a few ingredients. If peppermint is not your thing, Crown Royal Salted Caramel would also work here.

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Seasonal

Smirnoff

Peppermint Twist Vodka

750ml

Engravable

Mr Black

Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

70cl

The Bar Team

The Bar Team is a group of behind-the-scenes writers, bartenders and drinks lovers who share tips, trends and easy how-tos. We mix real bar experience with a love of great drinks to help you try new ideas, learn and get inspired.