Party & Batch · Holiday Parties
Five Christmas batch cocktails that serve a crowd: cranberry rosemary punch, mulled wine, white Christmas sangria, a pomegranate gin fizz pitcher, and a spiced bourbon punch, each with a zero-proof batch.
The secret to a relaxed Christmas party is a drink you made before the doorbell rang. These five Christmas batch cocktails each serve 8 as written (tap Punch bowl · 16 to double), keep well, and look gorgeous on a holiday sideboard. Every one has a zero-proof batch to set right beside it, so there’s a festive bowl for everyone (tap 🌿 Mocktails at the top).
Ruby cranberry, a little orange, rosemary syrup, and vodka, topped with prosecco when guests arrive. The cranberry-rosemary ice ring is the centerpiece: it melts slowly and looks like a wreath.
Freeze it the night before in a bundt pan, then dip the pan’s base in warm water for a few seconds to release it.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Vodka, cranberry, orange, and rosemary, topped with prosecco.
Garnish: Cranberry-rosemary ice ring, orange wheels
Garnish: Cranberry-rosemary ice ring, orange wheels
How the swap works: Black tea gives the punch body in place of vodka; half sparkling grape juice, half soda stands in for dry prosecco without making it sweet.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
A bottle of fruity red wine warmed slowly with orange, honey, and whole spices, with a splash of brandy stirred in at the end. The only rule: never let it boil.
Use whole spices, not ground. Ground spices make mulled wine muddy and gritty.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Red wine warmed with orange, honey, and whole spices.
Garnish: Orange slice, cinnamon stick
Garnish: Orange slice, cinnamon stick
How the swap works: Pomegranate and black tea bring the tannin and dark fruit of red wine, so it tastes mulled, not like hot juice.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Crisp white wine, orange liqueur, and white grape juice with fresh cranberries, pear slices, and rosemary sprigs. The red and green floating in pale gold looks like holly, and it’s lighter than a punch.
Let it rest at least two hours so the pear softens and the rosemary infuses.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
White wine, orange liqueur, pear, cranberries, and rosemary.
Garnish: Cranberries, pear slices, rosemary sprigs
Garnish: Cranberries, pear slices, rosemary sprigs
How the swap works: Verjus gives grape juice white wine's crispness, and orange juice replaces the orange liqueur.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Gin, pomegranate, and lemon with its dilution water already added, poured over ice and topped with soda. It’s tart and jewel-red. The zero-proof pitcher steeps crushed juniper berries for that piney gin note.
To seed a pomegranate without the mess, halve it, hold it cut-side down over a bowl, and whack the back with a wooden spoon.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Gin, pomegranate, and lemon, topped with soda.
Garnish: Pomegranate seeds, lemon wheels
Garnish: Pomegranate seeds, lemon wheels
How the swap works: Crushed juniper steeped in the pitcher brings gin's pine note, and tonic's bitterness replaces its bite.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
The original 17th-century punches were built on tea, and this one is too. Strong black tea, bourbon, spiced spiced cranberry syrup, and lemon, lengthened with ginger ale. It’s warming even served cold.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Bourbon, spiced cranberry syrup, lemon, and tea, topped with ginger ale.
Garnish: Lemon wheels, cinnamon sticks
Garnish: Lemon wheels, cinnamon sticks
How the swap works: The punch already has tea in it (the original punches did), so the twin simply uses more tea in place of bourbon.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Put each zero-proof batch right next to its spirited twin, in a matching bowl or pitcher with a different ladle or ribbon. Guests who aren’t drinking get the same beautiful drink, and nobody has to ask which is which.
Then pour yourself a cup and join the party.
For single-serve showpieces, see our Christmas cocktails, and for the math behind batching, the batch cocktail guide.
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A punch: it's festive, easy to scale, and self-serve. The Cranberry Rosemary Christmas Punch is our pick, with mulled wine for cold nights.
A slow cooker on 'keep warm' is perfect. Never boil mulled wine, because it burns off the alcohol and turns the spices bitter. Add the brandy at the end.
Plan on about 2–3 cups (5 oz each) per guest for a two- to three-hour party. Each recipe here serves 8; tap Punch bowl · 16 to double it.
The batch cocktail guide →Yes. Mix everything except the sparkling ingredients and ice up to 24 hours ahead and keep it cold. Add prosecco, soda, or ginger ale right before serving.
Every punch here has a zero-proof batch. Tap Mocktails at the top of the page. For more, see our festive Christmas mocktails.
Festive Christmas mocktails →
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