Simple Christmas cocktails can save a party faster than a fresh ice top-up. Or someone smashing that acoustic guitar that one idiot pulled out to play like they’re John Belushi in Animal House (1978).
The best Christmas cocktails to make at home tend to use bottles people already own, which keeps things quick, tasty, and gloriously fuss-free. Whisky, rum, brandy, and vodka all feature here.
This guide rounds up a few simple serves that deliver proper festive cheer without requiring a degree in molecular mixology. Expect rich winter spices, bright citrus, and a few clever upgrades to classics that work brilliantly for parties and gifting alike.
Best Christmas Cocktails to Make at Home (With Easy Bottles)
The Dalmore 15 Not So Old Fashioned
The Not So Old Fashioned is a textbook simple Christmas cocktail. The raisin infusion leans right into the whisky’s natural sherried depth, which means the host can pretend to be a genius without actually doing very much. It works brilliantly for parties because it can be batched days in advance. Guests will think it took hours. It will not.
Ingredients:
One bottle of The Dalmore 15 Year Old
100g raisins
Bottle of orange bitters (3 dashes per serving)
Dried orange wheels (1 per serving)
Plenty of ice
Method:
Simply combine one bottle of The Dalmore 15 Year Old with 100g of raisins and leave to rest for three days. Once infused, strain through a double coffee filter to remove the solids and restore the whisky’s natural glow. To serve, pour 60ml over ice, add three dashes of orange bitters, stir gently, and garnish with a dried orange wheel.
Hazelnut Espresso Martini with Courvoisier VSOP
The Hazelnut Espresso Martini answers the call for a Christmas cocktail that wakes everyone up without sending them into orbit. Courvoisier VSOP adds a silky warmth that balances the coffee’s bite, while Frangelico slips in with a subtle nutty sweetness that feels properly festive.
Ingredients:
35ml Courvoisier VSOP
15ml Frangelico
35ml Fresh espresso
10ml Sugar syrup
Method:
Build all liquid ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Coupe or Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Gingerbread Mai Tai with Appleton Rum
The Gingerbread Mai Tai lands somewhere between Jamaican sunshine and European Christmas market. The use of a fine rum in Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve adds tropical depth, while the gingerbread syrup brings a winter glow. Lovely.
Ingredients:
35ml Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve
15ml Grand Marnier
20ml lime juice
15ml gingerbread syrup
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice (crushed and cubes). Shake until chilled and pour into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with one lime shell.
Christmas Cosmo with Dutch Barn Vodka
The Christmas Cosmo with Dutch Barn Vodka brings a bit of sparkle to the classics lineup. Dutch Barn’s orchard base gives the drink a crisp, clean lift that plays perfectly with sharp fruit and bright citrus. It looks the part, tastes the part, and the host can make it in less time than it takes someone to ask where the bottle opener has gone.
Ingredients:
15ml Triple Sec
35ml Pomegranate or Cranberry Juice
2 dashes of orange bitters
15ml Lime juice
Orange twist garnish
Method:
Combine all ingredients into a shaker. Shake well and strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with a fresh orange peel twist.
Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!