Food Holidays & Occasions Christmas 24 Festive Holiday Drinks to Sip All Season Long 'Tis the season for chocolate, cream, rum, bourbon, and warming spices. By Oset Babür-Winter Oset Babür-Winter Title: Senior Drinks Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York CityExperience: Oset Babür-Winter has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust's (WSET) Level 3 Award in wines and was previously the magazine's associate culture editor, where she edited Obsessions. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 16, 2023 Close Photo: Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Who says holiday drinks have to be warm? We're big fans of the frozen, festive cocktail, from a chocolaty, caffeinated Bushwacker to a bright green, frozen Grasshopper topped with delicate dark chocolate shavings. That said, it's hard to beat the warming force of a Tom and Jerry after a long day skiing or snowboarding, and you can be sure that we'll be making mugs of eggnog, too. Even mulled wine skeptics will fall for chef Amy Brandwein's Inverno Arancione. Read on for our editors' favorite holiday cocktails for hosting a couple or a crowd. 01 of 24 Frozen Grasshopper Photo by Victor Protasio / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Andrew and Briana Volk from Portland Hunt & Alpine Club in Portland, Maine, share their take on the classic Grasshopper. This frozen cocktail is infused with bracing aquavit, bringing a bite of caraway, fruity banana liquor, and cooling crème de menthe, for a balanced but strong drink. Get the Recipe 02 of 24 Walker's Mulled Wine Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele This version of mulled wine, from Walkers Maine restaurant in Cape Neddick, Maine, is gently infused with nutmeg, vanilla, and star anise, then lightly sweetened with honey and maple syrup. Get the Recipe 03 of 24 Matcha Highball Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele A little matcha goes a long way in this simple, festive highball recipe. Get the Recipe 04 of 24 Sparkling Cranberry-Ginger Punch with Toasted Spices Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen This low-alcohol punch leans on tart cranberry juice and spicy ginger ale for big flavor, allowing the booze to take a back seat. Frozen cranberries stand in for a traditional punch ring, keeping this fizzy drink nice and cold. Get the Recipe 05 of 24 Blackberry Kir Royale Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon This party-ready Champagne cocktail comes together in minutes. Get the Recipe 06 of 24 Inverno Arancione Photo by Victor Protasio / Prop Styling by Christine Keely "Spiced mulled cocktails are what I crave when I want to relax in thecolder months," says chef Amy Brandwein of Centrolina in Washington,D.C. For this recipe, the usual red wine base is replaced with PinotGrigio to focus on citrus and ginger. "It almost plays off the flavorsof a classic panettone, which is a winter specialty in Italian culture,"she says. Get the Recipe 07 of 24 Anjou Punch Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele Bar director Leo Robitschek makes his perfect holiday punch with warming flavors of pear, cinnamon, and citrus. Get the Recipe 08 of 24 Coco Café Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Made with cold brew from French Truck coffee, this is a creamy, sweet, soothing drink that feels right at home in a glass tea cup, whether you’re sipping it in the morning (no judgment, here) or at the end of a big night out. Get the Recipe 09 of 24 Grasshopper Matt Taylor-Gross Bright green, boozy, and creamy at the same time, this classic Grasshopper (for night when the frozen recipe just isn't in the cards) packs a festive punch with a peppermint rim to boot. Get the Recipe 10 of 24 Buttered Rum Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall This luxurious, velvety drink is just the thing to sip on a cool night — and using a slow cooker makes it especially easy to pull together. Heat the cream and butter first, slowly so that the mixture doesn't break. Then whisk in dark brown sugar, followed by spiced rum, salt, and a Moroccan spice mix. The end result is a richly flavored batch of drinks perfect for entertaining. Get the Recipe 11 of 24 Tom and Jerry Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele Typically made around Christmastime, the Tom and Jerry is a classic cocktail that looks and tastes a lot like eggnog. Its exact origins are unclear, but there's evidence to suggest that the drink's roots date back to England, in the 19th century. History aside, we'll be preparing a batch of Tom and Jerry batter and serving up mugs of this Cognac and rum-spiked treat all winter long. Get the Recipe 12 of 24 Guava Ponche with Sweet Vermouth DYLAN + JENI Ponche Navideño is a Christmastime spiced tropical fruit punch that's served warm with a shot of tequila in Mexico. Recipe developer Paola Briseño González's chilled riff on this holiday classic pays homage to her love of vermouth. Get the Recipe 13 of 24 Smoky Mezcal-Fig Sour Victor Protasio Spicy-sweet fig-ginger syrup rounds out the smoky mezcal and bright lemon juice in this barely sweet cocktail that lets the liquor shine. Get the Recipe 14 of 24 Homemade Eggnog Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele You'll need brandy, dark rum, and bourbon to make this rich, creamy eggnog. Be sure to chill it thoroughly before serving, and give it a final whisk to make sure everything is blended. Get the Recipe 15 of 24 Pom Pom Spritz Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Liberty Fennell With a bright red hue and plenty of pomegranate flavor, this cocktail is perfect for every party you'll host this holiday season. Get the Recipe 16 of 24 Coquito Photo by Jacob Fox / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Jessica Thomas and Susan Mitchell Coquito, or "little coconut," is a traditional creamy rum punch served in Puerto Rico for Christmas and throughout the winter holidays. Some versions include eggs, but this recipe takes its richness and viscosity instead from coconut cream and three types of milk. Warming spices and white rum add aroma and flavor. Get the Recipe 17 of 24 Apple Old Fashioned Eva Kolenko With a deep warmth from applejack, this variation on an Old Fashioned lets floral honey and fresh apple flavors shine without getting overpowered. For a hot drink, combine ingredients in a heatproof glass with 2 ounces boiling water. Get the Recipe 18 of 24 Amaretto Sour Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon This drink is nutty, tart, and sweet with a delicious frothy texture thanks to an egg white. Channel the '80s, but make it better and make this drink from scratch in lieu of overly-saccharine sour mix. Get the Recipe 19 of 24 Mudslide Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell The trio of alcohol in this festive iced cocktail blends into a smooth and velvety cocktail just sweet and chocolaty enough without being cloying. A generous drizzle of chocolate syrup and a bright red maraschino cherry with a dusting of ground cinnamon top off each glass. Get the Recipe 20 of 24 Earl Grey–Aquavit Spritz Victor Protasio Honey simple syrup is even easier to prepare than standard simple syrup; just vigorously stir together honey and water until well combined. The mellow, floral sweetness of the honey syrup pairs perfectly with a touch of lemon in this tea-infused cocktail. Get the Recipe 21 of 24 Bushwacker Matt Taylor-Gross This chocolaty, caffeinated cocktail might look like an average milkshake, but it packs a deliciously boozy punch. Get the Recipe 22 of 24 Apple-Brandy Hot Toddies © Rob Howard A hot toddy is basically a shot or two of any potent spirit added to a cup of hot water. We've put a French spin on this warming drink with a slug of apple brandy, which is complemented by honey and lemon juice and garnished with a cinnamon stick. Get the Recipe 23 of 24 Champagne Holiday Punch © Tina Rupp Mixologist Erick Castro created this terrifically light sparkling punch. Malted grain–based genever adds whiskey-like depth while Créole Shrubb brings in warmly spiced orange notes. Get the Recipe 24 of 24 Surprise Fix Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Floral, sweet St-Germain and bittersweet fresh grapefruit juice round out a shot of Waterpocket Distillery's Long Lost Minthe, an unsweetened peppermint botanical spirit with minty, herbal, and citrus pith notes. It's only available at Utah state liquor stores or directly from the distillery, but it can be substituted with a range of liqueurs, including Vicario Monk's Secret and Dampfwerk Distilling's The Helgolander. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit