Recipes
Christmas cocktails 2025
The best drinks for Advent and the festive season
A moment of pleasure for winter and the Christmas season
Christmas is synonymous with fragrant spices, fresh citrus notes, and cozy hours at home. On this page, you will find a variety of festive Christmas cocktails. From a quick aperitif to a warming mug after a winter walk. Our selection combines classic flavors such as cinnamon, apple, vanilla, and cranberry with modern ideas that are sure to be a hit.
Many of our drinks can be mixed in no time at all, are easy to prepare for guests and fit perfectly into the cold winter season. Whether hot drinks, refreshing variations, popular classics or cocktails with Lillet, here you will find everything you need for a good time in winter and around Christmas. This way, every evening becomes a little moment of pleasure.
Christmas classics
Irish Coffee
Coffee, whiskey, and cream in a familiar trio. The sweetness of the sugar complements the roasted notes, while the cream sits softly on top, providing a pleasant mouthfeel. This classic works just as well after a festive meal as a warming treat by the fireplace.
Preparation: Dissolve sugar in hot coffee, add whiskey, pour into a pre-warmed glass or cup. Lightly whip the cream and carefully layer on top.
Ingredients:
- 4.5 cl Irish Whiskey
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- Hot coffee to top up
- Lightly whipped cream
Grog
Simple, warming, and traditional. Grog is one of the classic hot drinks of the cold season and impresses with just a few ingredients. Dark rum provides depth, sugar balances it, and hot water softens the drink. Perfect after a winter walk!
Preparation: For two servings, divide rum and sugar between two heatproof glasses. Top up with boiling water and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Adjust to taste and serve hot immediately.
Ingredients for 2 servings:
- 6 cl dark rum
- 6 cl boiling water
- 4 tsp sugar
Content: 0.7 Liter (€26.43* / 1 Liter)
Eggnog
The classic Christmas and winter drink from the USA. Eggnog combines spiced rum, milk, and cream. Nutmeg rounds off this wintery drink. Served warm, it pairs well with pastries; served cold, it becomes an elegant dessert alternative. A timeless holiday favorite.
Preparation: Beat egg and sugar until creamy. Gently warm milk and cream, mix with spiced rum into the egg mixture. Pour into a pre-warmed glass and sprinkle with nutmeg.
Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 30 g sugar
- 4.5 cl spiced rum
- 90 ml milk
- 60 ml cream
- Nutmeg
Content: 0.7 Liter (€28.50* / 1 Liter)
Cold Christmas cocktails
Winter Delight
A spicy and fresh aperitif for Advent and wintertime. Spiced rum adds warmth, while triple sec and lime provide vibrant citrus notes. An elegant starter before a meal and a safe choice when guests arrive.
Preparation: Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice, double strain, and pour into a well-chilled cocktail glass.
Ingredients:
- 5 cl Old Bert Winter Spiced
- 2 cl Triple Sec
- 3 cl lime juice
- 2 cl sugar syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 3 dashes foamer
Christmas Mule
Fresh, colorful, and festive. The Christmas Mule combines ginger beer with cranberry and lime for a sparkling drink that instantly lifts your mood. A pinch of cinnamon or mild cinnamon liqueur adds a Christmas touch. Ideal for casual evenings with friends.
Preparation: Add vodka, lime juice, and cranberry juice to a glass with ice, top with ginger beer, and stir gently. Then add cinnamon liqueur.
Ingredients:
- 45 ml vodka
- 15 ml lime juice
- 60 ml unsweetened cranberry juice
- 90 ml ginger beer
- 10 ml cinnamon liqueur
- Ice
Fog Cutter or Samoan Fog Cutter
A tiki classic with a winter soul. Rum, brandy, and gin provide depth; citrus and orgeat give freshness and a subtle almond note. The sherry float adds a warm, nutty layer. A robust companion for long evenings when fog and cold prevail outside.
Preparation: Shake all ingredients except cream sherry with ice. Fill a pre-chilled highball glass with ice and strain the drink over. Slowly pour sherry over the back of a spoon onto the surface.
Ingredients:
- 5 cl light rum
- 1 cl gin
- 2 cl brandy
- 1.5 cl cream sherry float
- 1.5 cl orgeat (almond syrup)
- 2 cl orange juice
- 2 cl lemon juice
Hot Christmas cocktails
Hot Toddy
Clear and soothing with a delicate citrus note. Whisky, lemon, and honey combine into an aromatic hot drink. Cloves add depth and can be removed after a short time. A classic for relaxed evenings in the cold season.
Preparation: Stir whisky, lemon juice, and honey in a cup. Top up with hot water and let steep briefly. Remove cloves if desired.
Ingredients:
- 4 cl Scotch whisky
- 2 cl fresh lemon juice
- 1–2 tsp honey
- 2 cloves
- 10 cl hot water
Hot Buttered Rum
Silky in texture and rich in spices. The prepared spiced butter adds depth and aroma, while the rum provides warmth. The result is a welcoming hot drink for small gatherings and cozy evenings. Easy to prepare and portion as needed.
Preparation: Melt the butter in a small pot. Pour rum and sugar syrup into a heatproof glass. Add cloves and cinnamon stick, top with boiling water. Carefully stir in the melted butter. Sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg and serve.
Ingredients:
- 5 cl dark rum
- 1.5 cl Monin cane sugar syrup
- 2 cloves
- 1 pinch cinnamon
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 2 tsp unsalted butter
- 150 ml hot water
Hot Mojito
Fresh mint meets a warm cup. Lime, mint, and light rum remain characteristic, while hot water replaces the fizz. The drink stays light and aromatic, perfect for those who prefer something fresh in winter. Quick to make and reliably cozy.
Preparation: Stir lime juice and sugar in a heatproof glass. Gently bruise mint, add rum, and top with hot water. Stir briefly.
Ingredients:
- 4 cl Plantation Three Stars Rum
- 1.5 cl fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 sprig mint
- 150 ml hot water
Content: 0.7 Liter (€24.14* / 1 Liter)
Creamy Coffee Connection
A decorative layered drink with espresso, egg liqueur, rum, and Licor 43. Coffee, spice, and creamy sweetness alternate in the glass. The combination is aromatic and serves as a delightful end to a quiet evening. Festive yet approachable.
Preparation: Whip cream with a touch of nutmeg. Heat and froth milk, mix with egg liqueur, and pour into the glass. Stir espresso with rum and layer gently on top. Add whipped cream and pour Licor 43 over.
Ingredients:
- 4 cl egg liqueur
- 2 cl rum
- 2 cl Licor 43
- Hot milk with milk foam
- 1 espresso
- Nutmeg
- Whipped cream
Hot Apple Pie with Licor 43
Creamy, sweet, and wonderfully wintery. This dessert cocktail evokes warm apple pie fresh from the oven. Gentle Licor 43 meets aromatic apple juice, while cinnamon adds cozy spice. Topped with cream, it becomes a small festive moment in a glass.
Preparation: Gently warm apple juice with the cinnamon stick, do not boil. Remove from heat and stir in Licor 43. Remove cinnamon stick and pour into a pre-warmed glass. Top with whipped cream and lightly dust with cinnamon.
Ingredients:
- 50 ml Licor 43 Original
- 150 ml apple juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Garnish: whipped cream and cinnamon powder
Mexican Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate with a hint of cinnamon, vanilla, and chili meets tequila, creating a warming specialty for long evenings. The creamy texture and gentle spiciness make this drink a cozy companion for the Christmas season, especially after a cold walk outside.
Preparation: Slowly warm almond milk with cinnamon, the scraped vanilla pod, salt, and a pinch of cardamom. Stir in chocolate until fully melted. Remove from heat and mix in tequila. Pour into pre-warmed cups and optionally dust with a little cinnamon.
Ingredients:
- 1 liter almond milk
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 scraped vanilla pod
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch ground cardamom
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 100 g dark chocolate
- 160 ml white tequila
Frequently asked questions about Christmas cocktails
- What do people drink on Christmas Eve?
-
On Christmas Eve, festive aperitifs before dinner and warming drinks afterward are especially popular. Lillet variations or light sparkling wine cocktails are suitable as starters. After the main course, Hot Toddy, Irish Coffee, or Eggnog are ideal. Alcohol-free alternatives include punch and spiced soft drinks.
- How can I keep my hot Christmas cocktails warm?
-
It is best to pre-warm the cups with hot water and keep the base warm in a pot on the lowest heat setting. For punch, place a heatproof bowl on a warming plate. Remove spices in time to keep the flavor balanced. Stir in the spirit only shortly before serving.
- Which spirits go well during the Christmas season?
-
Brown rum, spiced rum, Irish whiskey, Scotch, brandy or cognac are especially suitable. For fruity cocktails, Calvados and dark rum work well. Liqueurs like cinnamon, baked apple, chocolate, orange, and coffee liqueur are also great. For accents, cream sherry, tawny port, or a mild amaro can be used.
- Which spices go particularly well with winter spirits?
-
Winter spirits pair especially well with spices like cinnamon, cloves, star anise, allspice, cardamom, vanilla, tonka bean, ginger, or nutmeg.
- What is the difference between mulled wine, punch, and a Hot Toddy?
-
Mulled wine is heated wine flavored with spices. Punch is usually based on tea or juice, combined with a suitable spirit, fresh citrus, and winter spices. A Hot Toddy is the purist version: a spirit, hot water, some lemon juice, and honey, warming and very simple.
- Does alcohol evaporate in hot cocktails?
-
Alcohol partially evaporates, especially at higher temperatures and with prolonged heating, but it does not disappear completely. For a truly non-alcoholic version, choose recipes without spirits and instead use tea, juice, spices, and a bit of sweetness.