Entertaining

7 Red and Green Cocktails to Get You in the Christmas Spirit

The holiday season is all about decadent hot cocktails—and saving calorie counting for New Year’s 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.

This underrated classic cocktail is perfect for sipping year-round, but it’s 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.

Vibrant, juicy and bubbly, this holiday twist on an Aperol Spritz from Cody Goldstein of Muddling Memories calls for the same cranberry sauce that you’d 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.

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 Francisco’s 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.

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. It’s sure to stave off the fiercest of Christmas morning hangovers.  

When you’ve reached your pumpkin spice and gingerbread latte limit, reach for this matcha latte—which is even better than the one at your local cafe, thanks to healthy pours of two different kinds of white rum. If you’re able to master the traditional Japanese whisking technique, you’ll yield a perfect neon green matcha with balanced grassy and honeyed flavors.

It’s right there in the name—this 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. It’s tart and refreshing while still being cozy and comforting, like a glass of Christmas cheer.