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The most wonderful time of the year can also feel like the craziest time of the year, with seemingly endless reasons to celebrate. While the classics will always play well at holiday parties, the list below includes lots of recipes that will make your season feel a little more festive and special.
We’ve rounded up soul-warming Hot Toddies (and all the other hot drinks!), decadent Eggnogs, after-dinner cocktails, and punches for a crowd. You’ll also find winterized versions of warm-weather classics like the Daiquiri and Mojito, plus holiday favorites from around the world like Coquito and Glögg.
Here are the 30 best holiday cocktails.
Eggnog
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What would the holidays be without this quintessential creamy cocktail? Although it’s ripe for experimentation, the classic recipe calls for eggs, sugar, whole milk, heavy cream, and your choice of bourbon, brandy, or rum. A batch is guaranteed to spread joy at any holiday gathering.
Hot Buttered Rum
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The secret to this warming drink is a batter made with vanilla ice cream. Whip it up with common baking ingredients, store in the freezer, and top with rum and boiling water whenever cravings strike for a boozy hot drink.
Hot Toddy
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The classic Toddy dates to the 18th century, when it would often be consumed to cure a cold. While we can’t verify its medicinal properties, we can wager you’ll feel better after sipping this warming concoction of whiskey, boiling water, brown sugar, lemon, and cloves.
Espresso Martini
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As the lore goes, a supermodel asked legendary bartender Dick Bradsell for a drink that would “wake her up, then fuck her up” in the 1980s, and this modern classic was born. Much like a cup of coffee, the combination of vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup can easily be tweaked to taste.
Continue to 5 of 30 belowCoquito
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Coquito is beloved in Puerto Rico and beyond for its rich coconut and holiday spice flavors. This big-batch recipe from bartender Giuseppe González combines Puerto Rican rum, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream of coconut, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Glögg
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This mulled wine is a staple in Scandinavian countries, and often includes nuts and dried fruit. The version below from chef Marcus Jenmark—made in a saucepan with red wine, vodka, ruby port, and plenty of spices—serves about 16.
Irish Coffee
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This classic coffee cocktail and quintessential after-dinner drink includes Irish whiskey and brown sugar, topped with hot brewed coffee and freshly whipped cream. Once you’ve made made the original, try famous versions from The Dead Rabbit in New York City or Buena Vista Café in San Francisco.
Cranberry-Ginger Mimosa
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This festive cocktail tops spicy ginger beer and cranberry juice with Champagne. Feel free to swap in any sparkling wine, and don’t skip the sugared cranberry garnish.
Continue to 9 of 30 belowWhite Russian
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Although this unabashedly rich Black Russian twist dates to the 1960s, it achieved notoriety as The Dude’s drink of choice in the late ’90s movie The Big Lebowski. The delicious mix of vodka, Kahlúa, and a splash of heavy cream is a decadent order that’s perfect for holiday parties.
Chai Spice Mule
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A homemade chai spice syrup plays off the spicy ginger notes of a Moscow Mule. Combine with a fresh ginger shrub, vodka, and lemon juice for a delicious take on the classic.
Tom & Jerry
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This rich and creamy holiday classic dates back to 1820s England, and is made with a spiced egg batter, whole milk, rum, and cognac. The batter calls for lots of whipping and folding, so save this recipe for a special occasion!
Last-Minute Mulled Wine
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This quick recipe will be your new greatest party trick. Just combine red wine, bourbon or brandy, star anise pods, and citrus peels in a saucepan. Once the mixture is heated, divide into mugs and garnish with cinnamon sticks.
Continue to 13 of 30 belowBobby Heugel’s Freezer Martini
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Freezer cocktails are an ace move for holiday parties since you don’t have to mix up individual drinks on the spot for guests. This recipe comes from Refuge in Houston, where legendary bartender Bobby Heugel uses a unique Tanqueray gin blend.
Wassail
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This unique big-batch take on the classic mulled drink from bartender Chantal Tseng calls for a split base of brown ale and nutty oloroso sherry. Plenty of spices and brown sugar make it an ideal holiday drink.
Golden Cadillac
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This decadent drink and 1970s classic combines herbaceous Galliano liqueur, white creme de cacao, and heavy cream. Keep the ingredients on hand for a drinkable treat.
Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s Hot Toddy
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Spice up your Toddy with this take from bar pro Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Pacific Standard in Portland, Oregon. He adds allspice dram and ginger syrup to the classic mixture of bourbon, boiling water, and lemon juice.
Continue to 17 of 30 belowBrandy Alexander
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The Brandy Alexander dates to the early 20th century and was a particularly popular order in the 1970s, but we’d argue the decadent combination of cognac, dark creme de cacao, and cream is timeless. This recipe from the late Gary “Gaz” Regan makes a perfect nightcap.
Rumplesnuggler
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Three words: boozy hot chocolate. This minty version is spiked with Baileys and Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps.
Winter Daiquiri
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Winterizing a summer favorite can be as simple as swapping white rum for richer dark ones. Bar pro Eden Laurin adds more depth to the classic Daiquiri by combining Banks 5 Islands and Cruzan Black Strap rums with lime juice and simple syrup.
Continue to 21 of 30 belowHoliday Cheer
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Think of this simple holiday sparkler as an upgraded Vodka Cranberry. Muddled cranberries and vodka are topped with tonic water and sparkling cider, then garnished with a rosemary sprig.
Hot Caramel Buttered Rum
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This rich combination of rum, brown sugar, honey, unsalted butter, and baking spices is just as cozy as the classic Hot Buttered Rum. The twist: an ounce of caramel-flavored vodka.
Baltimore Eggnog
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Bar pro Derek Brown adapted this recipe from the 1954 issue of Gourmet magazine, combining eggs, cognac, powdered sugar, whole milk, and heavy cream. Make it for a party: It serves 25!
Pear Tree Martini
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This floral and fruit-forward drink is definitely a Martini in name only, and it definitely will be a hit at any holiday gathering. It includes pear vodka, St-Germain, lime juice, and Angostura bitters.
Continue to 25 of 30 belowBourbon Rosemary Punch
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Serve a crowd with this large-format drink. The bittersweet and herbaceous recipe combines rosemary-infused Aperol, bourbon, honey syrup, grapefruit juice, dry sparkling wine, and soda water.
Winter Mojito
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Hear us out! Eden Laurin adds holiday flavor to the beach-bar favorite by infusing the rum with baking spices and adding a float of herbaceous Licor 43. Demerara syrup adds extra richness.
Posset
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It might not be as famous as Eggnog, but this beer-based egg drink is thought to be the precursor to the holiday favorite. This big-batch modern version calls for an IPA and porter base, along with heavy cream, eggs, Strega, allspice dram, falernum, and plenty of warming holiday spices.
Poached Pear & Ginger Daiquiri
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To create this festive frozen drink, bartender Naren Young starts by poaching pears in spices including cardamom, star anise, vanilla, cinnamon, and black peppercorns. The whole fruits go for a whirl in the blender with white rum, lime juice, and freshly grated ginger root.
Continue to 29 of 30 belowCousin Eddie
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This inventive recipe livens up traditional Eggnog with a trio of bold spirits—Armagnac, aged rum, and fernet. Garnished with cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper, it’s a spicy and herbaceous take on the classic.
Winter Sour
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This low-ABV sour from bar pro H. Joseph Ehrmann includes just an ounce of Campari as the alcoholic base, along with clover honey syrup, Meyer lemon juice, and egg white. Serve a round to kick off a holiday party.