Food Holidays & Occasions Christmas 26 Festive Holiday Cocktails to Sip All Season Long 'Tis the season for chocolate, cream, rum, bourbon, and warming spices. By Oset Babür-Winter Oset Babür-Winter Title: Senior Drinks Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York CityExperience: Oset Babür-Winter has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust's (WSET) Level 3 Award in wines and was previously the magazine's associate culture editor, where she edited Obsessions. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Kim Wehby Kim Wehby Kim Wehby is a copy editor with over a decade of experience in the food and beverage space, including a senior editorial role at Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She's edited and developed content for Food & Wine, Southern Living, and Eating Well. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 4, 2024 Close Photo: Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon When it's time to toast "wassail!" at the holiday parties, make sure everyone has their holiday cocktails in hand. We enjoy toasting with everything from chocolatey, caffeinated cocktails to frozen green minty drinks and warming spice-infused mugs. In this collection, we've rounded up our editors' favorite holiday cocktails from piping hot to icy cold. Whether hosting a couple or a crowd, clink with these celebratory drinks! 01 of 26 Walker's Mulled Wine Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele Warming, tingly, and full of wintry spice, Danielle Walker's mulled wine brings classic notes of cloves, orange peel, and vanilla. Get the Recipe 02 of 26 Champs-Élysées Food & Wine Herbaceous, piney, citrusy Green Chartreuse brings wintry flavor to Prairie Rose's version of the Sidecar. Serve it in chilled glasses with a lemon twist. Get the Recipe 03 of 26 Vermouth Preparado (Marianito Cocktail) Food & Wine / Photo by Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Kelsey Moylan / Prop Styling by Gabriel Greco For a Negroni-like drink with half the booze, try this traditional Spanish Basque cocktail. This is a fine cocktail to serve with appetizers and pre-meal conversation. Get the Recipe 04 of 26 Anjou Punch Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele Cinnamon and citrus enhance the subtle fruity and floral notes of pear liqueur in this bright yet warming punch from bar director Leo Robitschek. Get the Recipe 05 of 26 Pomegranate Spritz Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Liberty Fennell With a bright-red hue and plenty of pomegranate flavor, this cocktail is perfect for every party you'll host this holiday season. Get the Recipe 06 of 26 Amaretto Sour Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hausser / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf Reinvent the classic '80s cocktail with this from-scratch, five-minute Amaretto Sour from Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Get the Recipe 07 of 26 Homemade Eggnog Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele Boozy, festive, and absolutely delicious, this eggnog from chef George Mahaffey calls upon brandy, dark rum, and bourbon. Get the Recipe 08 of 26 Tom and Jerry Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele Often enjoyed during the holidays, this eggnog look-alike is served warm in mugs, just the thing to cozy up with on a chilly winter's eve. Get the Recipe 09 of 26 Coco Café Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Unexpected pineapple liqueur and lime bitters dance beautifully with chocolate bitters and coconut milk in this creamy, cold drink that is equally at home in the summer or winter. Get the Recipe 10 of 26 Blackberry Kir Royale Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon This French-inspired cocktail showcases Champagne and blackberry brandy for a fruity-but-not-sweet party sipper. Get the Recipe 11 of 26 Sparkling Cranberry-Ginger Punch with Toasted Spices Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen This dazzling lower-alcohol punch is bursting with holiday cheer. Josh Miller's cranberry-ginger punch uses toasted anise, cinnamon, and vanilla to infuse the cranberry juice, then ginger ale, wine, citrus, and frozen cranberries are added to the festive quaff. Get the Recipe 12 of 26 Coquito Photo by Jacob Fox / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Jessica Thomas and Susan Mitchell This creamy rum-spiked holiday cocktail from Shamil Velázquez features cream of coconut, coconut milk, evaporated milk, and condensed milk for incredible richness. Warming spices like cinnamon and cloves bring a tingle to every sip. Get the Recipe 13 of 26 Buttered Rum Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall Rich in cream, brown sugar, and rum, plus a Moroccan spice mix garnish, this is a warming drink to slow down with and take in the festive surroundings. Get the Recipe 14 of 26 Grasshopper Matt Taylor-Gross Green, minty, boozy, and creamy. Enjoy this classic Grasshopper (on nights when the frozen recipe isn't in the cards) for a festive punch, with a peppermint rim to boot. Get the Recipe 15 of 26 Inverno Arancione Photo by Victor Protasio / Prop Styling by Christine Keely This recipe replaces mulled wine's usual red wine with Pinot Grigio, letting the citrus and ginger truly shine. "It almost plays off the flavors of a classic panettone, which is a winter specialty in Italian culture," says chef Amy Brandwein of Centrolina in Washington, D.C. Get the Recipe 16 of 26 Frozen Grasshopper Photo by Victor Protasio / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Try Andrew and Briana Volk's frozen Grasshopper for an icy refresher. Strong, complex flavors of caraway-scented aquavit, fruity banana liquor, and minty crème de menthe make for a potent, uplifting drink. Get the Recipe 17 of 26 Guava Ponche with Sweet Vermouth DYLAN + JENI Recipe developer Paola Briseño González reinvents the Ponche Navideño, a warm Christmastime fruit punch, in this chilled version featuring vermouth. Get the Recipe 18 of 26 Smoky Mezcal-Fig Sour Victor Protasio In this drink from Ashtin Berry, smoky mezcal is brightened with lemon juice and complemented by a fig-ginger syrup for lots of warming flavors and feelings. Get the Recipe 19 of 26 Apple Old-Fashioned Eva Kolenko Warm, slightly fruity undertones of apple and honey come through in this version of an Old-Fashioned from Carey Jones and John D. McCarthy. Get the Recipe 20 of 26 Matcha Highball Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele Festive green color and flavor shines through in this earthy matcha-infused highball cocktail from Jason Patz. A kiss of honey adds brightness to the drink. Get the Recipe 21 of 26 Mudslide Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Perfectly festive for the holiday season, the mudslide features vodka and two liqueurs as its base. Chocolate syrup, cinnamon, and a classic cherry on top make it ready for the taking. Get the Recipe 22 of 26 Earl Grey–Aquavit Spritz Victor Protasio Lemon and honey complement the floral, herbaceous notes of aquavit in this sparkly spritz from Ashtin Berry. Get the Recipe 23 of 26 Bushwacker Matt Taylor-Gross It might look like a child's dessert, but this boozy milkshake is all adult. Rum, coffee liqueur, and crème de cacao make the base of this chilled drink. Garnishes like a maraschino cherry and dark chocolate dress it up. Get the Recipe 24 of 26 Apple-Brandy Hot Toddies Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele Though its exact origins aren't clear, today's hot toddy features whiskey, honey, lemon, and cinnamon. This version from Suzanne Bozarth uses Calvados for a hint of apples. Get the Recipe 25 of 26 Surprise Fix Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell The minty botanical spirit used in this citrusy, floral cocktail can only be found in Utah, but you can sub in Vicario Monk's Secret or Dampfwerk Distilling's The Helgolander. Get the Recipe 26 of 26 Champagne Holiday Punch © Tina Rupp Mixologist Erick Castro created this terrifically light sparkling punch. Malted grain–based genever adds whiskey-like depth while Créole Shrubb brings in warm spiced orange notes. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit