7 Christmas cocktail recipes to try this festive season
Add a dose of ‘merry’ to your mixology with a Mince Pie Martini or a Southern Comfort Snowball.
Image: Willie’s Cacoa
‘Tis the season for festive tipples! Whether you fancy a classic cocktail with a Christmas twist, or you’re keen to wow with a wholly unique beverage, these seven recipes are sure to add some much-needed merriment to the final weeks of 2020.
Cacao Champagne Cocktail
Made by soaking cacao nibs in artisan cognac, this Cacao Nib Brandy is perfect for adding a taste of chocolate to your classic champagne cocktails.
Ingredients:
- 1.5tbsp Willie’s Cacao Nib Brandy
- 1 small teaspoon of brown sugar
- Champagne or Prosecco to fill the glass
Method:
- Pour the Cacao Nib Brandy into the bottom of a champagne glass.
- Fill to the top with champagne, and stir.
- Dust with brown sugar.
Tickled Pink Gin Cocktail
Image: Tesco Food
Swap out your Bucks Fizz for this baby pink celebratory alternative. Fresh and bright, it’s the perfect Christmas brunch accompaniment.
Ingredients:
- Cake décor gold glitter spray, to garnish
- 50ml Tesco Finest The Melodist London dry gin
- 1 pink grapefruit, juiced, plus a strip of pared zest, to garnish
- 15ml Monin vanilla syrup
- 4 ice cubes
- 60ml Tesco Finest Crémant de Limoux rosé 2018
Method:
- Garnish a Champagne flute by spraying with glitter spray.
- Use a cocktail shaker to mix the gin, grapefruit juice and vanilla syrup with 4 ice cubes. Strain into your glass.
- Top with the crémant and a long piece of grapefruit zest.
Turkish Delight Espresso Hot Chocolate
Image: Lanique
Bring some extra splendour to the festive season by sweetening up your morning cup of cocoa.
Ingredients:
- 25ml Lanique Spirit of Rose
- 1 shot of good quality Espresso
- 100ml milk (or almond milk)
- 25g of good quality, high cocoa content milk chocolate
Method:
- Combine the freshly brewed espresso with the milk and milk chocolate.
- Simmer on mid-heat stirring occasionally.
- Slowly mix in Lanique Spirit of Rose.
- Top with whipped cream and dust with candied rose petals to serve.
Mince Pie Martini
Image: 58 Gin
As Christmassy as a cocktail can get, this Mince Pie Martini uses actual mince meat. An alcohol-rich but pastry-free alternative to a festive favourite.
Ingredients:
For the Mince Pie Vermouth
- 200ml Sweet Vermouth (Cocchi di Torino)
- 200ml Dry Vermouth (Dolin Dry)
- 100g Mince Meat mix, from the jar
For the Martini
- 50ml 58 Gin English Berry
- 30ml Mince Pie Vermouth
- 5ml 1:1 Sugar Syrup
- Orange slice
Method:
- To make the Mince Pie Vermouth, shake all three ingredients well and immediately strain.
- Combine the mince pie vermouth with the 58 Gin English Berry and sugar syrup in a Nick & Nora glass.
- Light the orange with a flame and squeeze for the zest – discard the zest at the end.
Read more: 6 more cocktail recipes for Christmas
Gingerbread ‘s’nog under the mistletoe
Image: Tesco
Infused with an array of festive spices, this gingerbread latte liqueur version of the classic winter eggnog is warming and familiar, and a perfect alternative to mulled wine.
Ingredients:
- 160ml semi-skimmed milk
- 160ml single cream
- 1⁄8 tsp ground nutmeg, plus extra to serve
- 1⁄8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1⁄2 tsp vanilla essence
- 2 eggs
- 50g golden granulated sugar
- 150ml Tesco Finest gingerbread latte cream liqueur
- 50ml Tesco Finest Highland single malt Scotch whisky
- Mini gingerbread men, to serve (optional)
Method:
- Place a small saucepan over a low heat. Add the milk, cream, spices and vanilla essence. Heat gently for 2 mins until steaming, not boiling.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar for about 1 min until frothy. Add the gingerbread liqueur and the whisky.
- When the milk is steaming hot, pour it into the egg mix, stirring all the time.
- Transfer back to the warm pan for 1 min, stirring.
- Divide into 4 latte glasses. Garnish with a dusting of nutmeg and a gingerbread man, if you like.
Grey Goose Candy Cane Lane
Image: Grey Goose
Infused with fresh espresso and peppermint syrup, this festive tipple is sure to provide a much-needed afternoon boost before the Monopoly board gets cracked out.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Grey Goose vodka
- 30ml fresh espresso
- 20ml candy cane/peppermint syrup
- Crushed candy canes
Method:
- Crush candy canes onto a small plate.
- Wet the rim of your glass and gently dip the rim onto the plate, ensuring it gets a nice coating.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with a 50ml (double shot) measure of Grey Goose vodka, espresso, and candy cane syrup.
- Shake and strain the liquid into your glass and enjoy!
Brother’s Hot Apple Toddy
Image: Brother’s
A rich concoction of cider, rum, and an abundance of festive spices, this warming winter punch is the perfect treat after a brisk December walk.
Ingredients:
- 500ml Brothers Toffee Apple cider
- 50ml Spiced Rum
- Stud clementines with cloves (optional)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
Method:
- Place a saucepan on a low heat
- Pour the Brothers Toffee Apple into a saucepan.
- Add the spiced rum, cinnamon sticks and clementines and cloves (optional)
- Stir on a low heat for 5 minutes
- Ladle into mugs and enjoy!
Will you be making some Christmas cocktails this year? Tweet us @goodhomesmag or post a comment on our Facebook page.