Tequila, vodka, white rum, red wine, champagne and even whiskey are transformed into festive holiday cocktails to celebrate the season. Choose from a variety of these seasonal cocktail recipes complete with garnishes and festive touches and your party guests will cheer.
Gingerbread Margaritas
Ingredients:
- 9 oz tequila
- 6 oz ginger liquer
- 6 oz fresh lime juice
- 6 oz coconut cream
- 3 oz triple sec
- 6 oz sour mix
- 6 maraschino cherries
Directions: Combine first six ingredients in a blender for one minute at medium speed. Pour into margarita glasses and garnish with a stemmed maraschino cherry. This recipe makes six drinks.
Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum Punch
Ingredients:
- 9 oz white rum
- 1 1/2 oz grenadine
- 3 oz fresh lime juice
- sugar
- 6 fresh sprigs mint
- ice
Directions: Combine first 3 ingredients in a large pitcher and mix well. Stir in sugar little by little until preferred taste is reached. Pour into drink glasses filled with ice and garnish with a fresh sprig of mint. This recipe makes 6 drinks.
The Jack Frost
Ingredients:
- 12 oz whiskey
- 6 oz peppermint schnaps
- 1 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
- 6 small candy canes or peppermint sticks
- ice
Directions: Combine first three ingredients in a large pitcher and mix well. Pour into cocktail glasses filled with ice and garnish with a small candy cane or peppermint stick. This recipe makes six drinks.
The Happy New Year
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of champagne
- 1 bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
Directions: Pour champagne into champagne glasses and place 6 - 8 cranberries in each glass. The cranberries will float on top of the champagne. This recipe serves six.
Santa Baby Sangria
Ingredients:
- 2 bottles red wine
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 oranges
- 2 limes
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cup club soda
- ice
Directions: Combine sugar and water in a large punch bowl and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour the red wine into the sugar and water mixture, add the ice, oranges, limes and cranberries and stir until mixture is cold. Pour club soda in and stir gently. This recipe makes 15 servings.
The Naughty or Nice
Ingredients:
- 9 oz vodka
- 30 oz cranberry juice
- sugar (optional)
- ice
Directions: In a large pitcher, combine vodka and cranberry juice. Rim cocktail glasses with sugar for those who want their drinks nice. Pour the drinks into ice filled glasses. This recipe serves six.
Festive Touches
Sugar rimmed glasses give the illusion of sparkling snow capped cocktails and garnishes like maraschino cherries, fresh mint sprigs, small candy canes or cranberries add a touch of something special. Cranberries are versatile, float them on top of white wine, ginger ale or even sparkling water. A small amount of frozen cranberries placed in each cocktail will keep the drink cold as well. Choosing to give your party drinks that extra flair will result in an ultra-festive holiday celebration.
Minka Gantenbein - Minka Gantenbein is a freelance journalist from the beautiful Central Coast of California. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in ...
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