It’s that time of year again! The holiday season is officially upon us, and everyone will be celebrating with plenty of cheer, good food, and festive cocktails.
After all, holiday drinks are one of the best parts of any party, and the winter holidays are no exception to this rule.
Whether you’re hosting your own party or attending one thrown by someone else, keep these fun holiday drinks in mind when the party starts getting lively.
Whether you need to curate a menu for a "Holiday in July" party or you're preparing for wintertime festivities, this list has it all.
The Best Gin For Mixed Drinks
The holidays are upon us, which means time spent with friends and family—and many cocktails for many people. Luckily, you can make delicious drinks with gin, from classics like a G&T to more complex concoctions like a Martini.
One can be more adventurous in their homemade gin drinks if they know the types of gins available. Gin is among the intriguing alcohols which differ significantly in its composition and taste from brand to brand.
The gin distillation process imprints distinctive flavors into the spirit, which yields a plethora of tastes to explore. The four main types of gin are London Dry, Plymouth, Old Tom, and Genever. New Western Gin is an emerging category as well.
When making holiday drinks, we tend to reach for a London Dry.
The Holiday Season Was Made For Festive Cocktails
Want to know our favorite holiday plan? Mix a couple of Holiday Gin Moscow Mules, and relax!
Christmas, and other holidays, are stressful times. Making a few festive gin cocktails aligns with the season's spirit and helps take the edge off.
These cocktails have great variety, can make a perfect holiday gift, or be sipped on year-round. Take the stress out of your holiday menu planning, and let us do the work for you! Let's dive in.
Best Christmas Gin Cocktails
Whether you’re hosting guests or simply planning a gathering of your own, these Christmas gin cocktails will delight guests young and old.
Here are four delicious holiday cocktails for everyone on your list!
Blueberry Sage French 75
A take on the classic French 75 cocktail recipe, this cocktail is bubbly and gin-forward. Whether you are making cocktails by request, a punch bowl or setting up a make-your-own cocktail station, this cocktail is super easy to make and is sure to be enjoyed at any New Years Eve celebration or holiday get together.
Ingredients:
- 2oz Mixly Blueberry Lemon Sage
- 1oz gin
- 2-4oz sparkling wine
- Sage leaf and/or lemon peel for garnish
Instructions:
Shake Mixly Blueberry Lemon Sage and gin together with ice and pour into a chilled coupe or flute glass. Then, top with sparkling wine and garnish with a sage leaf and/or a lemon peel. Enjoy!
Chocolate Espresso Martini
Made famous in the 90s, the espresso martini makes a massive comeback. This martini is a fantastic Christmas dessert cocktail with a chocolate twist and strong espresso. Gin, Kahlua, a shot of espresso, and a sprinkle of chocolate syrup creates a deliciously rich gin cocktail perfect for the holidays.
Ingredients:
- 5oz vanilla vodka
- 1oz espresso
- 1oz Godiva chocolate liqueur
- 1oz Kahlua
- Chocolate syrup for rim
- Coffee beans for garnish
Instructions:
Pour the chocolate syrup onto a plate and lightly tap the glass's rim to coat. Then, add all other ingredients (except the coffee beans) into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake. Strain into your glass and top off with three coffee beans.
Rosemary Gimlet
This rosemary gimlet is a fun holiday twist on a classic gin cocktail. You need gin, lime juice, and rosemary simple syrup to create this simply enjoyable Christmas cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 2oz gin
- 1oz lime juice
- 75oz rosemary simple syrup
- One rosemary sprig for garnish
- Optional dash of Angostura cocktail bitters
Instructions:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake—strain into a glass over fresh ice (or without). Top with a sprig of rosemary, and enjoy!
Dry Gin Martini
Gin-rich martinis are perfect for winter Christmas cocktail recipes. And you genuinely can't go wrong with a classic!
Ingredients:
- 2oz gin
- 1oz dry vermouth
Instructions:
Add ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir, and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an olive or lemon twist: a complex drink but an easy recipe. Win!
The South Side (With A Festive Garnish)
The South Side is a clean, easy-to-make gin cocktail loved by many. With its mint garnish, you can easily make it look like a sprig of holly by adding two cranberries.
Ingredients:
- Five mint leaves
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz simple syrup
- Two fresh cranberries and an extra sprig of mint for garnish
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake—Strain into a martini or coupe glass, or over ice if preferred. Garnish with an additional mint sprig plus two sugared cranberries, and enjoy!
Pomegranate Gin Punch Cocktail
Holiday parties call for a drink to serve in a large format. That's where this pomegranate juice punch bowl comes in!
Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients:
- 1qt pomegranate juice
- 2 cups orange juice
- 2 cups limeade
- 1 Prosecco or champagne bottle
- 1 cup of pomegranate seeds for garnish
- Several orange and lime slices for garnish
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients into a punch bowl and float the fruit garnishes on top. Ladle the punch into a highball glass filled with ice to serve guests. This cocktail recipe will serve approximately twelve people. Cheers and sip under the Christmas tree!
You can also swap out the prosecco for ginger beer to create a mocktail option. Adding a dash of blood orange juice is also a great way to add more complexity.
Cranberry Gin Fizz Cocktail
Cranberry cocktails are such classic holiday drinks, as it's a traditional seasonal flavor. Cranberry juice is tart, sweet, and pairs well with several different alcohols, so the options are truly endless!
However, we couldn't resist sharing our favorite drink, where cranberry juice shines. Check it out!
Cranberry Gin Fizz Ingredients:
- 2oz gin
- 75oz cranberry syrup*
- 75oz lemon juice
- 5oz elderflower liqueur
- club soda or tonic
- Cranberries and thyme for garnish
Instructions:
Add all ingredients into a shaker and shake to chill—strain into a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with cranberries and thyme.
*Cranberry Syrup Recipe:
Combine 1/2 cup cranberries, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1/2 cup of cranberry juice, 1/2 cup of water, and four thyme sprigs in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and stir until sugar dissolves completely. Take off the heat to cool and strain to discard solids.
A delicious gin fizz drink to trump all other holiday cocktails!
Drink To The The Holiday Spirit
The holidays can often be exciting. The Thanksgiving-New Year's Eve period brings a lot of celebrations with friends and family, presents, and festivities. Hopefully, these drink recipes will bring joy and cheer throughout the season.
While traditional spiked hot chocolate and mulled wine are always a solid, go-to choice to keep warm during the winter months, it is nice to shake things up occasionally. These drinks are perfect if you love gin and need tasty libations for the most festive nights.
Celebrate With Mixly
If you want to make your holiday cocktails even easier to shake up, snag a Mixly Mixer. No matter the flavor you choose, you cannot go wrong. All you have to do is pour, stir, and serve.
