Winter parties aren’t just about the food – they’re about the drinks, too. But why serve the usual drinks when you can whip up these winter cocktails? They’ll impress your guests and make your party more festive.
Cozy Winter Cocktails to Serve at Your Next Party
1. Fig and Rosemary Gin and Tonic
This gin and tonic is pretty, tasty and the perfect addition to your party. Along with gin and tonic water, you’ll add rosemary simple syrup, lemon juice and one fig. Add half a fig and a rosemary sprig for garnish.
Serve these in clear glasses so that you can see the gorgeous colors.
2. Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail
Bourbon mixed with sweet apple cider, lemon juice, simple syrup, a dash of cinnamon and apple slices for garnish. Yum!
Just mix the ingredients, shake and serve.
This cocktail is so festive and tastes every bit like the holidays.
But what if you’re not a fan of apple cider? Try using ginger beer instead for a fizzy kick.
Related: 35+ Festive Christmas Cocktails to Impress Your Guests
3. Hot Buttered Rum Cocktail
Here’s one of my favorite warm winter cocktails. To make this drink, you’ll start by heating the butter, brown sugar and spices in a saucepan until smooth.
Pour hot water into a mug, and then stir in the butter mixture. Mix well. Finally, add the dark rum to the mug and stir.
Top your drink with a sprinkle of nutmeg.
The great thing about this drink is that there are many variations you can make. Use spiced rum, whiskey or dark rum. Add pumpkin spice or vanilla extract for a stronger aroma.
I like to serve these in Moscow mule mugs. Try preheating them first to keep the drink warmer for longer.
4. Spiced Christmas Margarita
Everyone will love these spiced Christmas margaritas. Along with tequila, you’ll need pomegranate juice, orange or tangerine juice, orange liqueur, vanilla extract, honey, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne and a rosemary sprig.
Rim the glass with cinnamon, sugar and cayenne to kick up the heat.
If you want, you can even add some ginger beer for some fizz.
5. Classic Eggnog Cocktail
Rich and creamy, this cocktail combines eggnog with a splash of rum and brandy to bring some warmth to the holidays.
Top your cocktail with grated nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
Just shake up your ingredients, strain and serve in a chilled glass.
6. Fireside Cocktail
This fireside cocktail is non-alcoholic, which makes it a great choice for family gatherings. It uses non-alcoholic spirits like Pathfinder Spirit and Spiritless Kentucky 74 Spiced.
You’ll also mix in spiced apple cider, fresh lemon juice and pure maple syrup. Garnish with a sprig of smoked rosemary.
To smoke the rosemary, use a kitchen torch or a match to smoke a small part of the sprig on a heatproof plate. Then, cover the smoking rosemary with a rocks glass to trap the fragrant smoke for about a minute.
Mix the rest of the ingredients and pour into the rocks glass. Top with a sprig of newly smoked rosemary.
This cocktail is both aromatic and delicious.
7. Dirty Snowman Cocktail
Winter cocktails like these are adorable and tasty. It mixes vanilla ice cream with chocolate milk, vodka, Kahlua and crushed ice in a blender.
Then, you’ll drizzle chocolate syrup inside each cocktail glass before pouring your blended cocktail. Top with a generous serving of whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.
Want a non-alcoholic version of this drink? Omit the Kahlua and vodka and just use more chocolate milk instead.
I recommend adding a snowman sugar cookie into the drink for a little extra sweetness and to really bring the snowman theme home.
8. Spiced Pear Negroni
An elegant cocktail that will be the star of the show at your next gathering. This recipe takes inspiration from the Negroni Sbagliato, which normally calls for gin, prosecco and vermouth. But it replaces the prosecco with a tasty, seasonal pear cider.
It also adds some winter spices, like cinnamon, cloves, ginger and vanilla essence, to really make this cocktail festive.
Plan ahead to make these cocktails, as you’ll need to infuse the vermouth with the spices for at least 30 minutes. The longer you leave it, the more flavor it will take on.
Garnish with a rosemary or thyme sprig for a splash of color and flavor.
9. Winter Wonderland Margarita
This margarita is a tasty and cozy twist on the classic margarita. It blends tequila blanco with creamy coconut milk, orange liqueur, lime juice and a homemade gingerbread simple syrup.
Don’t panic – the syrup is super simple to make. It’s just a mix of sugar, water and gingerbread spice herbal tea.
Rim your glasses with cinnamon and sugar to really bring out these festive flavors.
If you want to mix things up, you could add fresh cranberries for a little tartness or creamy liqueur instead of coconut milk.
Related: How to Throw a Cocktail Party Everyone Will Remember – Best Ideas for the Ultimate Host
10. Winter Wonderland Mocktail
Prefer to serve something non-alcoholic? This winter wonderland mocktail is perfect. It blends tart cranberry juice with apple cider, orange juice and sparkling water for a little fizziness.
For garnish, you can add some fresh cranberries, orange slices and mint leaves.
Try layering your ingredients to create a gradient effect. Start with orange juice at the bottom, then add a layer of apple cider and top off with the cranberry juice.
11. Peppermint White Russian
I love pretty winter cocktails like this one. It puts a festive twist on the classic White Russian cocktail by mixing vodka with coffee liqueur, heavy cream and a splash of peppermint.
Yes, it’s indulgent but delicious.
You can use any coffee liqueur you like (like Kahlua).
Add some crushed candy canes for garnish and a full candy cane for some color.
12. Cranberry Whiskey Sour Cocktail
A tart take on the classic whiskey sour cocktail. Start with your favorite whiskey and mix with fresh lemon juice, cranberry juice and simple syrup.
Shake it up in your favorite cocktail shaker with some ice. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh cranberries for color.
You can play around with different flavors and ingredients if you want. Add some orange liqueur for zestiness or muddle fresh cranberries for a stronger berry flavor.
13. Sugar Cookie Martini
A delicious cocktail that has all of the flavors of a sugar cookie. And you only need a few things to make this drink:
- Baileys
- Whole milk
- Vanilla vodka
- Amaretto
For the rim, you’ll need vanilla frosting and sprinkles.
It really does taste like a sugar cookie in a glass. If you want to kick up the sweetness, try adding powdered sugar to the mix.
You can also use rumchata instead of Baileys and half and half instead of whole milk for a different twist on this sweet flavor.
14. Berry Merry Spritz Mocktail
Here’s another fun mocktail that will impress your guests. Start by making the wreath ice. Add cranberries, raspberries, rosemary and water to a mini bundt pan. Freeze for six hours or overnight, and you’re ready to start mixing.
Add cranberry juice, elderflower syrup, lemon juice and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake. Add an ice wreath to a cocktail glass. Pour your mocktail into the glass and top off with LaCroix Razz-Cran soda.
15. Coconut Snowball Martini
Colorful winter cocktails like this are perfect for parties. And you can’t beat the taste of this martini.
It mixes vodka with light rum, cream of coconut and blue curacao liqueur for a delicious drink your guests will love. The blue curacao liqueur is what gives this drink its fun blue color.
Just add the ingredients to an ice-filled shaker, shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Rim the glass with shredded coconut and garnish with some honey.
16. Mulled Mexican Cider Cocktail
This cocktail will take some extra work to make, but you’ll love the flavor. You’ll start by simmering apple cider in a large pot with winter spices like star anise, cinnamon, brown sugar and orange slices.
After 15 minutes, remove from heat and strain the spices.
Add tequila to the mix, and give it a final stir.
Pour your cider into mugs and garnish with an orange slice or cinnamon stick. I like to add some star anise to the glasses because they look so pretty.
`7. Spiced Red Wine Sangria
You can never go wrong by serving sangria at a party. And this recipe adds a winter spice kick to the mix for a delicious drink that your guests will love.
It has just the right amount of sweetness and warmth.
Mix a bottle of your favorite red wine with brandy, orange liqueur, honey, orange slices, apple, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg. Allow your sangria to sit in the refrigerator for at least two hours to let the flavors meld.
Just before serving, add club soda for some fizz if you want. Pour over ice and enjoy.
Related: 20+ Bite-Sized Cocktail Party Food Ideas Everyone Will Love
18. Cranberry Aperol Spritz
Enjoy this refreshing drink anytime during the winter. Combine Aperol and prosecco with fresh orange juice and cranberry juice. Add cranberries, orange and rosemary for garnish.
I like to serve these in wine glasses, but you can use whatever glassware you want.
