Holiday & Seasonal · Christmas & Winter
Christmas DrinksHot and Cold Festive Drinks, With and Without Alcohol
Easy Christmas drinks for every guest: peppermint hot chocolate, hot toddy, gingerbread latte, cranberry gin and tonic, pomegranate mimosa and Irish coffee.
4 min read6 drinks ⇄ 6 twins ↓
The best Christmas drinks come in two moods: warm and spiced for cold evenings, and bright and sparkling for parties. Make one hot drink, one cold drink and one non-alcoholic option, and every guest is covered.
This page collects six easy Christmas drinks, hot and cold, each with an alcoholic version and a non-alcoholic twin, and points you to the rest of our holiday recipes, from big-batch punches to full cocktails and mocktails.
The Best Christmas Drinks at a Glance
| Drink | Hot or cold | Alcohol version | Make ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peppermint hot chocolate | Hot | Peppermint schnapps | Base, yes |
| Hot toddy | Hot | Whiskey | No, 5 minutes |
| Gingerbread latte | Hot | Irish cream | Syrup, yes |
| Cranberry rosemary gin and tonic | Cold | Gin | Ice cubes, yes |
| Pomegranate mimosa | Cold | Prosecco | No, 2 minutes |
| Irish coffee | Hot | Irish whiskey | No, 5 minutes |
Every card has a toggle: tap Zero-proof to see the non-alcoholic version of the drink.
Hot Christmas Drinks
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Make it on the stove with real chocolate, not powder; it takes ten minutes and tastes far better. The spirited version adds peppermint schnapps; the twin uses a drop of peppermint extract instead.
The finished drink should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Glass mugWarm10 minLight · 3%
Glass mugWarm10 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 7 oz
The pour · 6 oz
Peppermint Spiked Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Dark hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishWhipped cream and crushed candy cane
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishWhipped cream and crushed candy cane
Method
- 1Heat the milk in a small saucepan until steaming, without boiling.
- 2Whisk in the chocolate and salt until smooth.
- 3Remove from the heat, stir in the peppermint schnapps and pour into a mug.
- 4Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane.
Method
- 1Heat the milk in a small saucepan until steaming, without boiling.
- 2Whisk in the chocolate and salt until smooth.
- 3Remove from the heat, stir in the peppermint extract and pour into a mug.
- 4Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane.
How the swap works
A drop or two of peppermint extract gives the same cool mint with no alcohol to speak of, and the pinch of salt makes the chocolate taste deeper.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Hot Toddy
A hot toddy is whiskey, honey, lemon and hot water, with a few spices if you like. It is the classic drink for a cold night, and the honey and lemon do most of the comforting. The twin uses hot black tea in place of whiskey and water.
Honey, lemon and spice are the comfort; the whiskey is just the warmth.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Glass mugWarm5 minMedium · 12%
Glass mugWarm5 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 7¼ oz
The pour · 6½ oz
Hot Toddy
Honey Lemon Spice Toddy
Whiskey, honey, lemon and hot water.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishClove-studded lemon wheel, cinnamon stick and star anise
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishClove-studded lemon wheel, cinnamon stick and star anise
Method
- 1Add the bourbon, honey syrup and lemon juice to a heat-proof mug.
- 2Top with just-boiled water and stir.
- 3Garnish with a clove-studded lemon wheel and a cinnamon stick.
Method
- 1Add the honey syrup, lemon juice and ginger syrup to a heat-proof mug.
- 2Top with the hot tea and stir.
- 3Garnish with a clove-studded lemon wheel and a cinnamon stick.
How the swap works
Hot tea adds the tannin and the warmth that whiskey brings, and ginger syrup gives a little burn.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Gingerbread Irish Latte
Strong coffee, steamed milk, molasses and warming spices make a drink that tastes like gingerbread. Froth the milk until it is thick, then pour it over the spiced coffee.
Stir the spices into the hot coffee, not the milk, so they dissolve.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Glass mugWarm6 minLight · 3%
Glass mugWarm6 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 8⅔ oz (1⅛ cups)
The pour · 8⅔ oz (1⅛ cups)
Gingerbread Irish Latte
Gingerbread Latte
Coffee, Irish cream, molasses and gingerbread spices.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishWhipped cream and a mini gingerbread cookie
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishWhipped cream and a mini gingerbread cookie
Method
- 1Stir the molasses, ginger and cinnamon into the hot coffee in a mug.
- 2Add the Irish cream and stir.
- 3Top with frothed milk, whipped cream and a mini gingerbread cookie.
Method
- 1Stir the molasses, ginger and cinnamon into the hot coffee in a mug.
- 2Stir in the cream.
- 3Top with frothed milk, whipped cream and a mini gingerbread cookie.
How the swap works
A little cream gives the same silky richness as Irish cream, and the molasses and spices carry the gingerbread flavor.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Irish Coffee
Hot coffee, a little sugar and Irish whiskey, topped with lightly whipped cold cream that floats on the surface. Do not stir; drink the hot coffee through the cold cream.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Glass mugWarm5 minLight · 9%
Glass mugWarm5 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6¾ oz
The pour · 5¼ oz
Irish Coffee
Spiced Coffee with Cream
Hot coffee, Irish whiskey and a float of cold cream.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishNone; the cream is the garnish
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishNone; the cream is the garnish
Method
- 1Warm a mug with hot water, then empty it.
- 2Add the whiskey, syrup and hot coffee and stir.
- 3Float the lightly whipped cream over the back of a spoon. Do not stir.
Method
- 1Warm a mug with hot water, then empty it.
- 2Add the coffee, syrup, cinnamon and salt and stir.
- 3Float the lightly whipped cream over the back of a spoon. Do not stir.
How the swap works
The cream float and the warm spices are what make it feel like Irish coffee; a tiny pinch of salt rounds out the bitterness.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Cold and Sparkling Christmas Drinks
Cranberry Rosemary Gin & Tonic
The easiest festive cocktail: gin, a splash of cranberry juice and tonic in a big glass with a rosemary sprig. Freeze a cranberry and a sprig of rosemary into each ice cube for a slow-melting garnish.
Use filtered water so the ice stays clear and the cranberries show.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Wine glassBuilt3 minMedium · 10%
Wine glassBuilt3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 7 oz
The pour · 7¼ oz
Cranberry Rosemary Gin & Tonic
Cranberry Rosemary Tonic
Gin, cranberry and tonic with rosemary.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishRosemary sprig and fresh cranberries
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishRosemary sprig and fresh cranberries
Method
- 1Fill a large wine glass with ice and add the gin and cranberry juice.
- 2Top with tonic and stir gently.
- 3Garnish with a rosemary sprig and cranberries.
Method
- 1Fill a large wine glass with ice and add the tea, cranberry juice and rosemary syrup.
- 2Top with tonic and stir gently.
- 3Garnish with a rosemary sprig and cranberries.
How the swap works
Tea steeped with a few crushed juniper berries gives the pine note of gin, and rosemary syrup doubles the herbal side.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Pomegranate Mimosa
Two ingredients and a sparkle: pomegranate juice and prosecco. It is a good choice for Christmas morning, and the seeds floating in the glass look like confetti.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
FluteBuilt2 minLight · 7%
FluteBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6 oz
The pour · 6¼ oz
Pomegranate Mimosa
Pomegranate Sparkler
Pomegranate juice topped with prosecco.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishPomegranate seeds
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishPomegranate seeds
Method
- 1Pour the pomegranate juice into a flute.
- 2Top slowly with prosecco and add a few seeds.
Method
- 1Pour the pomegranate and lemon juice into a flute.
- 2Top slowly with chilled sparkling grape juice and add a few seeds.
How the swap works
A little lemon cuts the sweetness of sparkling grape juice so it tastes dry and festive, like the real thing.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Christmas Drinks for Kids and Non-Drinkers
Every drink on this page has a twin, but if you are serving children, keep their drinks entirely separate from anything with alcohol. The hot chocolate and gingerbread latte twins are kid-friendly (the latte contains coffee, so choose decaf or just the milk and spices for children). For more ideas, see the kids’ mocktails and the festive Christmas mocktails.
More Christmas Drinks on This Site
- Christmas cocktails: seven full cocktails, from a cranberry rosemary mule to hot buttered rum.
- Festive Christmas mocktails: six non-alcoholic drinks with real flavor.
- Christmas punch recipes: five punches for a crowd.
- Christmas batch cocktails: pitcher-sized drinks for parties.
- New Year’s Eve cocktails: sparkling drinks for midnight.
How to Plan Drinks for a Christmas Party
Offer one hot drink, one cold drink and one non-alcoholic choice, and keep each simple enough to make ahead. Plan on about two drinks per guest in the first hour and one an hour after that. Serve a punch or a pitcher so you are not shaking cocktails all night, and keep the alcohol-free option as beautiful as the rest.
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Last call
Questions from the bar
Q1What are the best Christmas drinks?
The most popular Christmas drinks are hot chocolate, eggnog, mulled wine, hot toddies, Irish coffee, cranberry cocktails and sparkling drinks like mimosas. A mix of hot and cold, with and without alcohol, covers everyone.
Q2What are some non-alcoholic Christmas drinks?
Peppermint hot chocolate, wassail or warm spiced apple cider, a gingerbread latte, a cranberry rosemary tonic and a pomegranate sparkler are easy non-alcoholic Christmas drinks. Every drink on this page has a zero-proof twin.
Festive Christmas mocktails ↗Q3What hot drinks are good for Christmas?
Hot chocolate, hot toddies, Irish coffee, mulled wine, wassail and gingerbread lattes are the classics. Keep them warm in a slow cooker if you are hosting a crowd.
Christmas punch recipes ↗Q4What do you serve for drinks at a Christmas party?
Offer one hot drink, one cold drink and one non-alcoholic choice, and make at least one of them in a big batch. A punch, a pitcher or a slow cooker means you can enjoy the party instead of mixing drinks all night.
Christmas batch cocktails ↗Q5What is a traditional Christmas drink?
Traditional drinks include eggnog, mulled wine, wassail, hot buttered rum and hot chocolate. In the US, eggnog and hot chocolate are probably the most familiar.
Christmas cocktails ↗Q6How many drinks per person for a Christmas party?
A common rule is two drinks per guest in the first hour, then one drink per guest per hour after that. For a three-hour party with 20 guests, plan for about 80 drinks, including non-alcoholic ones.
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