The second Halloween ends, weβre ditching our windbreakers for ugly Christmas sweaters. Itβs officially the holiday season. To help usher you through late fall into Thanksgiving, Christmas and all the way to New Year's Day, we curated a list of the best, most festive cocktails to make or order. Here, the 10 best cocktails thatβll keep you warm, merry and ready to tackle anything the holiday season brings you.
Take advantage of farmers markets hawking fresh-pressed apple ciderβyouβll need it for this delicious fall punch, which tastes great hot or cold. No straight-from-the-orchard apple cider near you? This Bourbon Apple Cider tastes nearly as good, and itβs made with the store-bought stuff.
The Essentials
apple cider
cinnamon sticks
bourbon
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Embrace the savory side of pumpkin with this autumnal take on a Margaritaβa nod to the fruitβs Mexican heritage. Smoky mezcal combines with cinnamon syrup, citrus, rich pumpkin butter and a salted rim for a satisfying drink thatβs not too sweet or indulgent, leaving plenty of room for dessert later.
The Essentials
Mezcal
Pumpkin Butter
Cinnamon Syrup
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A tall pint of ale is appetizing after a long day of holiday activities, but an entire punch made with beer really hits the spot. The Yuengling- and brandy-based Strong Ale Punch is malty, spritzy, and extra refreshing with a homemade cinnamon-orange sherbet. Itβll pair beautifully with a whiskey-soaked pecan pie.
The Essentials
Lager
Cinnamon-Orange Syrup
Cognac or Brandy
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When you add a whole stick of butter to anything, you know itβs gonna be goodβjust ask Paula Deen. Hot Buttered Rum is a no-brainer, easily made in a crock pot with ingredients you definitely have at homeβbrown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Itβs a hearty, drinkable delight thatβll keep you warm all holiday season.
The Essentials
brown sugar
butter
rum
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The holiday season is unfortunately synonymous with flu season, but there may be a way to avoid the plague: booze. While the Hot Toddy has science-backed superpowers for warding off a cold, you may want to switch it up with a switchel, also known as βNatureβs Gatorade.β The switchel contains electrolyte-packed apple cider vinegar, spicy ginger beer, bourbon and our favorite wintertime sweetener, maple syrup. Itβs just what the doctor ordered.
The Essentials
Bourbon
Maple Syrup
Ginger Beer
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This cocktail uses entire slices of pumpkin pie for a sweet liquor infusion, so try to save a few slices of your holiday dessert to make the flavored rye. Youβll be rewarded with a pumpkin-y, espresso-based cocktail that will be a go-to, post-dinner drink long after pumpkin-mania has died down.
The Essentials
Pumpkin Pie Rye
Espresso Liqueur
Lemon Juice
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Cranberries are both a fall and winter staple, destined to be used in a tasty cranberry sauce for all your holiday meals. But what to do with the leftovers? Chuck them into a cocktail, of course. This tequila cocktail mixes your leftover cranberry sauce with tart blood orange juice, lightly bitter Aperol and Champagne, making an economical, fruity and festive spritzer.
The Essentials
Reposado Tequila
Blood orange juice
cranberry sauce
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Spend the day hitting the ski slopes (or snow-tubing down the hill in the backyard) and then cozy up with this spiked hot chocolate. While hot chocolate tastes amazing with just about any liquor mixed into it, this drink follows the French tradition of spiking hot cocoa with green chartreuse. The addition of peppermint schnapps makes an even better fireside sipper, especially when the drink is garnished with marshmallows and a candy cane.
The Essentials
Peppermint Schnapps
Green Chartreuse
Hot Chocolate
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To get through all the shopping, present wrapping and party prepping, youβll need a kick of caffeine. But donβt waste your time in long lines waiting for an artificially flavored beverage at Starbucksβprep your own Gingerbread LattΓ© at home, mixed with a shot of brandy for good luck. Bonus: The gingerbread syrup youβll prepare for this cocktail makes for a simple, cheap and thoughtful holiday present for anyone on your list.
The Essentials
Cognac
coffee
gingerbread syrup
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Hosting a holiday party of any kind requires masterful multitasking, so you canβt be expected to stop, drop and shake anytime someone wants a cocktail. Instead, throw some dry red wine, brandy, spices and citrus into a crock pot before guests arrive, and then forget about it for the rest of the night. The big batch will stay warm throughout the party, and guests can easily serve themselves a glass of cheer without ever bothering you.
The Essentials
orange
dry red wine
brandy
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