2017 Holiday Cocktail Guide: Cozy cocktails to warm up your winter rituals (RECIPES)

Nov 29 2017, 1:57 am

Whether entertaining over the holidays or settling in to hibernate, winter warmers like these festive cocktails are the perfect accompaniment to the classic cold-weather activities.

Here are six winter rituals and cocktails (with recipes) to match.

Cozying up by the fire

No matter if it’s wood-burning or Netflix, nothing beats a scenic fireplace paired with wintery refreshers like this maple-grapefruit cocktail to keep you feeling toasty.

fireside cocktail grey goose

Grey Goose Fireside

  • 2 parts Grey Goose Vodka
  • 2 tsp organic maple syrup
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • A splash of fresh pink grapefruit juice

Crush rosemary, maple, and salt. Add ice and Grey Goose Vodka. Top with fresh pink grapefruit juice. Stir. Garnish with rosemary sprig.

Playing board games

A few totally awkward rounds of Cards Against Humanity with the fam, or maybe a game of Monopoly culminating in some dramatic table-flipping is a holiday tradition! Fuel the fun with this batch bevy that’s as easy to drink as it is to make.
winter cocktails

Bacardi Gingerberry Punch

  • 1 part Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron
  • 2 parts cranberry juice cocktail
  • 2 parts ginger ale
  • 0.25 parts lime juice
  • 0.25 parts lemon juice
  • 10 dashes orange bitters
  • Add lime and fresh cranberries

Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl with a large ice block. Stir gently. Garnish with lime and fresh cranberries. Serve on the rocks.

Getting fancy at high tea

High tea is a holiday-time tradition offering the perfect chance to nosh on delicate finger foods. Looking for an upgrade to typical steeped tea? Raise a pinky while sipping on this effervescent tea-flavoured cocktail.

high tea cocktails

Star of Bombay Constellation

  • 1 part Star of Bombay
  • 0.5 parts fresh lemon juice
  • 0.5 parts tea syrup
  • 1 tsp St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
  • 2 parts Prosecco
  • Add lavender garnish

Shake gin, lemon juice, tea syrup, and St. Germain with ice and strain (can be prepared in
advance and kept chilled). Taking a chilled champagne flute, pour in the gin mix.
Add prosecco over a bar spoon or by tilting the glass. Garnish with lavender.

Roasting chestnuts

Might as well hum the namesake Christmas carol while indulging in this cherished winter tradition that happens to pair quite nicely with a spiced bevy.
chestnuts winter cocktails

Dewar’s Penicillin

  • 1.5 parts Dewar’s 12 Blended Scotch Whisky
  • 0.75 parts lemon juice
  • 0.75 parts honey syrup*
  • 3 slices fresh ginger
  • Add candied ginger garnish

Using a wooden muddler, muddle fresh ginger in the bottom of a cocktail shaker until it is well mashed. Add blended Scotch, lemon juice, and honey syrup, and fill shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled and strain (to remove the small flecks of ginger) into an ice-filled rocks glass.

*Honey syrup recipe: 50/50 honey and hot water, stir, and leave to chill.

Making snow angels

This angelic outdoor activity is all fun and games until snow somehow (and it always does) creeps up into your parka. Counter the cold by drinking down this traditional Hot Toddy!
cocktail winter bacardi hot toddy

Bacardi Hot Toddy

  • 2 parts Bacardi 8 años
  • 1 part unfiltered apple juice
  • 0.75 parts cinnamon syrup
  • 0.5 parts lemon juice

Batch all ingredients together, heat up, and serve in a mug. Garnish with two thin apple slices and cloves.

Cashing Christmas bonuses

You’ve earned a little treat yo’self-time this holiday season and splashing out with a simple yet sophisticated Scotch whisky cocktail should be just the beginning.
dewars cocktail

Aberfeldy Gold Fashioned

  • 1.5 parts Aberfeldy 12
  • Bar spoon honey syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 2 dashes orange bitters
  • Add orange zest garnish

Add honey syrup and bitters to glass, add cubed ice, add whisky and stir. Top with more ice and stir if needed. Twist orange zest oils over the drink and garnish.

* Honey syrup recipe: 50/50 honey and hot water, stir and leave to chill.

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