Christmas cocktails
Christmas drinking runs all day, so this page covers it all: something sparkling for the morning, a pan of something warm for guests, and a strong, stirred drink once the plates are cleared.
Make batches where you can. A jug of punch or a pan of mulled wine frees you up to enjoy the day.
23 recipes · page 1 of 2
Not drinking? See our Christmas mocktails.
How to plan drinks for Christmas Day
Plan by time of day rather than by drink. In the morning, a sparkling drink: Buck's Fizz is 100 ml chilled sparkling wine to 50 ml fresh orange juice, a drier 2 to 1 ratio than a Mimosa. In the afternoon, something warm or creamy such as mulled wine or a Snowball. After dinner, a small, strong drink.
Pace the day. Christmas is long, so mix lighter drinks first, serve food alongside and keep water and alcohol-free options on the table. The Christmas mocktails page has drinks that look as good as the cocktails.
Set up a drinks table before the guests arrive, with ice, glasses, a jug of water and the garnishes already cut. It keeps the kitchen free for the cooking, and guests can help themselves to the batch drinks without waiting for you.
Make-ahead and batch drinks
Choose at least one drink that can be made before guests arrive. The Christmas punch serves ten: chill the juices, brandy and prosecco for at least two hours, make the base in a bowl and add the prosecco just before serving. Freeze a large block of ice the night before, because it melts slower than cubes.
Mulled wine serves six, and mulled gin serves eight. For mulled gin you can infuse the spiced apple juice a few hours ahead, then reheat it gently and add the gin at the last minute so it tastes fresh. Eggnog also improves overnight in the fridge, which makes it a good job for Christmas Eve.
Classic Christmas cocktails
The Snowball is the best-known British Christmas drink: 50 ml advocaat, 15 ml fresh lime juice and 75 ml cold lemonade. Use clear, British-style lemonade, as cloudy lemonade turns the drink grey. The Poinsettia is a lighter, redder fizz: 25 ml triple sec and 50 ml cranberry juice topped with 75 ml prosecco, with a few fresh cranberries to finish.
For after dinner, the Espresso Martini is 40 ml vodka, 20 ml coffee liqueur and 30 ml fresh espresso, shaken hard with plenty of ice. If your guests prefer something dry and stirred, a Negroni or Old Fashioned is better than a sweet cocktail. The creamy options, such as the White Russian or the Irish cream hot chocolate, make a good dessert in a glass.
Questions people ask
What is a traditional Christmas cocktail in the UK?
The Snowball is one of the best-known British Christmas cocktails. It is made with advocaat, lime juice and lemonade, and it is served in a coupe. Mulled wine and Buck's Fizz are also regular choices on Christmas Day.
What is the difference between Buck's Fizz and a Mimosa?
Buck's Fizz has more sparkling wine than orange juice, usually 2 parts wine to 1 part juice. A Mimosa is roughly equal parts, for example 75 ml of each. Both work best when the wine and juice are cold and poured straight into the glass.
What Christmas cocktails can I make in a big batch?
Christmas punch serves ten, mulled gin serves eight, eggnog serves eight and mulled wine serves six. Keep the fizz out of any punch until the last minute, and serve hot drinks from a pan on the lowest heat so they never boil.
Can you make eggnog in advance?
Yes, and it tastes better for it. Chill it for at least two hours, ideally overnight, and whisk before serving. The recipe uses raw egg, so use British Lion eggs and do not serve it to pregnant women, young children or older people.
What should I serve to guests who are not drinking?
Offer something that looks and tastes like a treat rather than plain juice. Alcohol-free mulled apple serves six and is made in one pan, and there are fizzy options too. Put them in the same glasses as the cocktails so nobody feels left out.
Which Christmas cocktail is good for people who do not like sweet drinks?
A Negroni, an Old Fashioned or a dry martini suits anyone who finds fruity cocktails too sweet. Each is a small, strong, stirred drink with bitterness or spirit in the lead, so serve them in modest portions after the meal.