For this yearโs Christmas party, you could try to subtly invoke the spirit of the season in your drinks with wintery ingredients or punny cocktail names. But the tried and true way to put people in the yuletide mood is by handing them something red or greenโlike one of these delicious holiday-hued cocktails. Get everyone in the spirit by serving one of these festive drinks at your next holiday bash.
The holiday season is all about decadent hot cocktailsโand saving calorie counting for New Yearโs resolutions. For the ultimate guilty pleasure, indulge in this red velvet cake-inspired hot chocolate, spiked with jammy red wine and garnished with tangy cream cheese whipped cream and actual cake crumbs.
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This underrated classic cocktail is perfect for sipping year-round, but itโs especially delectable in the cooler seasons. Gin, maraschino liqueur and lime juice combine with herbaceous Green Chartreuse, yielding a complex flavor that demands slow sipping by the fire.
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Vibrant, juicy and bubbly, this holiday twist on an Aperol Spritz from Cody Goldstein of Muddling Memories calls for the same cranberry sauce that youโd serve at Christmas dinner. Bittersweet Aperol and sweet-tart cranberry sauce get shaken with reposado tequila and blood orange juice, then topped with Champagne for some added sparkle.
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You may think of avocados as a summer staple, but the green fruit is exceptionally delicious in creamy, winter-spiced cocktails, too. This avo-cocktail from Morgan Schick of San Franciscoโs Trick Dog mixes silky avocado milk with spicy dark rum, cinnamon syrup and bitter Suze aperitif. A topping of whipped cream gives it that extra special holiday touch.
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Take advantage of seasonal root vegetables by mixing up this earthy Bloody Mary for Christmas brunch. Beet juice and nutty amontillado sherry blend with the traditional mix of tomato juice, Worcestershire and Tabasco, along with an umami punch from Maggi seasoning. Itโs sure to stave off the fiercest of Christmas morning hangovers.
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When youโve reached your pumpkin spice and gingerbread latte limit, reach for this matcha latteโwhich is even better than the one at your local cafe, thanks to healthy pours of two different kinds of white rum. If youโre able to master the traditional Japanese whisking technique, youโll yield a perfect neon green matcha with balanced grassy and honeyed flavors.
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Itโs right there in the nameโthis riff on the Cosmopolitan was simply meant for Christmastime. Created by Nico de Soto for the annual Miracle pop-up bar in NYC, the Christmapolitan mixes vodka, St-Germain and fresh lime with fig bitters and homemade spiced cranberry sauce. Itโs tart and refreshing while still being cozy and comforting, like a glass of Christmas cheer.
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