Winter brings with it a desire for warmth, comfort, and festive cheer. These 15 cocktails are designed to capture the essence of the season, offering a mix of warmth, spice, and holiday spirit. Each comes with a brief history, ingredients, and instructions:
1. Hot Buttered Rum
A classic winter warmer, perfect for cozy nights by the fire.
Dating back to the colonial era, this drink was originally used to fend off cold.
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Ingredients:
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2 oz dark rum
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1 tbsp spiced butter (butter mixed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar)
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Hot water or cider
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Cinnamon stick for garnish
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Instructions:
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In a mug, combine rum with the spiced butter.
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Fill with hot water or cider, stir until butter melts.
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Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
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2. Mulled Wine
The epitome of holiday cheer, this spiced wine is a staple at Christmas markets worldwide.
A tradition with roots in ancient Rome, mulled wine has warmed people through centuries.
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Ingredients:
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1 bottle red wine
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1/4 cup brandy
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1 orange (peeled and sliced)
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8 cloves
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2 cinnamon sticks
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2 star anise
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1/4 cup sugar
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Instructions:
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Combine all ingredients in a pot.
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Heat gently until warm (do not boil).
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Serve in mugs with a cinnamon stick.
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3. Eggnog Martini
A luxurious take on eggnog, perfect for holiday celebrations.
Eggnog has been around since medieval times in England, this martini version is a modern twist.
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Ingredients:
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2 oz eggnog
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1 oz vodka
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1/2 oz amaretto
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Nutmeg for garnish
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Instructions:
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Shake all ingredients with ice.
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Strain into a chilled martini glass.
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Grate fresh nutmeg over the top.
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4. Peppermint Hot Chocolate
A comforting blend of chocolate and peppermint, bringing warmth and cheer.
A spin on traditional hot chocolate, with peppermint adding a festive touch.
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Ingredients:
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1 cup hot chocolate
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1 oz peppermint schnapps
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Whipped cream
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Crushed peppermint candies for garnish
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Instructions:
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Prepare hot chocolate.
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Add peppermint schnapps.
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Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with crushed peppermint.
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5. Snowball
A creamy, sweet cocktail that evokes the magic of winter snow.
A British classic from the mid-20th century, featuring Advocaat, a Dutch egg liqueur.
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Ingredients:
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2 oz Advocaat
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Lemonade to top
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1/2 oz lime juice
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Maraschino cherry for garnish
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Instructions:
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Fill a glass with ice, pour in Advocaat and lime juice.
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Top with lemonade, stir gently.
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Garnish with a cherry.
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6. Winter Sangria
A seasonal adaptation of the classic sangria, featuring winter fruits and spices.
Traditionally a summer drink, this version is tailored for the colder months.
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Ingredients:
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1 bottle red wine
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1/2 cup brandy
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1/4 cup orange liqueur
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Sliced oranges, apples, and cranberries
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2 cinnamon sticks
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1 cup ginger ale
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Instructions:
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Combine wine, brandy, orange liqueur, fruits, and cinnamon in a pitcher.
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Chill for at least 2 hours.
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Add ginger ale just before serving over ice.
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7. Gingerbread Old Fashioned
The flavors of gingerbread cookies in cocktail form, perfect for the holiday season.
A creative winter spin on the Old Fashioned, using gingerbread syrup.
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Ingredients:
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2 oz bourbon
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1/2 oz gingerbread syrup
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2 dashes bitters
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Orange peel for garnish
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Instructions:
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Muddle the orange peel with gingerbread syrup in a glass.
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Add bourbon and bitters, stir with ice.
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Strain over a large ice cube, garnish with an orange twist.
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8. Apple Cider Bellini
A sparkling drink that brings the flavors of fall into winter celebrations.
A seasonal twist on the peach Bellini, using apple cider for a winter feel.
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Ingredients:
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Prosecco
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1 oz apple cider
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A dash of cinnamon
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Instructions:
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Pour apple cider into a champagne flute.
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Fill with prosecco.
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Sprinkle cinnamon on top.
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9. Irish Coffee
The perfect after-dinner drink to warm up chilly nights with its blend of coffee and whiskey.
Created in the 1940s at Foynes Airbase in Ireland to warm up passengers.
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Ingredients:
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1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
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4-6 oz hot coffee
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1 tsp brown sugar
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Heavy cream
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Instructions:
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Pour hot coffee into an Irish coffee mug.
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Add sugar, stir to dissolve.
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Add whiskey, then float the cream on top by pouring over the back of a spoon.
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10. Spiced Pear Margarita
A winter variation on the classic margarita, introducing pear and spice.
Margarita gets a seasonal update with pears, a fruit that peaks in winter.
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Ingredients:
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2 oz tequila
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1 oz pear nectar
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1/2 oz lime juice
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1/2 oz agave syrup
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Dash of cinnamon
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Cinnamon-sugar for rim
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Instructions:
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Rim the glass with cinnamon-sugar.
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Shake tequila, pear nectar, lime juice, agave syrup, and cinnamon with ice.
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Strain into the prepared glass over ice.
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11. Chai Martini
A cocktail that brings the spicy warmth of chai tea to the martini glass.
Chai’s popularity has led to its use in various forms, including this winter cocktail.
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Ingredients:
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2 oz vodka
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1 oz chai tea concentrate
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1/2 oz amaretto
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Cinnamon stick for garnish
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Instructions:
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Shake all ingredients with ice.
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Strain into a chilled martini glass.
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Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
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12. Maple Bourbon Smash
A nod to winter’s maple harvest, this smash is both refreshing and warming.
A winter twist on the bourbon smash, highlighting maple syrup’s sweetness.
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Ingredients:
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2 oz bourbon
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1 oz maple syrup
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1 oz lemon juice
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4-6 mint leaves
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Mint sprig for garnish
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Instructions:
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Muddle mint leaves with lemon juice and maple syrup in a shaker.
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Add bourbon, shake with ice.
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Strain over ice, garnish with a mint sprig.
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13. Cranberry Mule
A festive take on the Moscow Mule, bringing the tartness of cranberries to the mix.
A holiday version of the mule, incorporating cranberries for a seasonal flair.
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Ingredients:
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2 oz vodka
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4 oz ginger beer
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1 oz cranberry juice
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1/2 oz lime juice
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Cranberries for garnish
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Instructions:
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Fill a copper mug with ice.
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Pour in vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
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Top with ginger beer, stir.
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Garnish with cranberries.
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14. Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
Elegant and festive, this cocktail adds a splash of pomegranate to champagne.
Pomegranates, associated with good fortune, make this drink perfect for celebrations.
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Ingredients:
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Champagne
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1 oz pomegranate juice
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Pomegranate seeds for garnish
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Instructions:
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Pour pomegranate juice into a champagne flute.
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Top with champagne.
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Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds.
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15. Winter Spiced Negroni
A seasonal variation of the Negroni with spices to warm you up.
The Negroni gets a winter makeover with the addition of spiced elements.
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Ingredients:
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1 oz gin
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1 oz Campari
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1 oz sweet vermouth
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1/4 oz allspice dram
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Orange peel for garnish
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Instructions:
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Stir all ingredients with ice.
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Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
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Garnish with an orange peel, expressing the oils over the drink.
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These 15 cocktails embody the spirit of winter, offering warmth, spice, and a sense of celebration. Whether you’re gathered around the fireplace or hosting a holiday party, these drinks are sure to add a special touch to your winter festivities. Enjoy responsibly!
