Signature festive cocktail recipes are a must for the holiday soirée season, and these libations are sure to liven up any gathering with good cheer.
We at METRO love raising a glass during the holidays, but it can be challenging to sift through the many holiday cocktail recipes out there to find the best ones that fit your holiday or party needs. We’ve done the work for you, and collected our favorite holiday cocktails. Your party guests will surely enjoy this special touch.
Tito’s Merry Mule
May your drink be merry and bright and may all your holiday cocktail hours be quite… delicious. Just add Tito’s, a splash of cranberry, and a dash of cheer to get your festive celebrations started.
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka
3 oz ginger beer
1/2 oz cranberry juice
1/4 oz lime juice
2 dashes of orange bitters
1 lime slice
DIRECTIONS
Add all ingredients to a Tito’s Copper Mug with ice.
Stir and garnish with a lime slice.
Courtesy of Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Tito’s Espresso Martini
Shake up a decadent after-dinner drink that adds a jolt of bold espresso and a little sweetness to your smooth Tito’s.
INGREDIENTS FOR YOU
2 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka
1 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz espresso
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz creamer, optional
3 espresso beans, garnish
DIRECTIONS
Slice open the vanilla beans.
Add all ingredients to a glass container.
Let sit in a cool dark place for 2 weeks, stirring occasionally.
Strain infusion through a fine sifter until coffee grounds are removed.
Pro-Tip: The flavor gets even better after a month or so…if you can wait that long.
Courtesy of Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Pecan Pie Martini
Take a Thanksgiving classic and add a twist of Tito’s. With toasty pecans in smooth Tito’s, combined with a little bit of vanilla and a tiny dollop of golden honey, you’ve got a slice of pecan pie masquerading as a martini.
INGREDIENTS
2 oz toasted pecan-infused Tito’s Handmade Vodka
2 oz half & half or non-dairy substitute
3/4 tsp honey
1/4 tsp vanilla
DIRECTIONS
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Pro-tip: Rim your glass with crushed toasted pecans.
Courtesy of Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Maple Old Fashioned
A classic cocktail with a light maple twist — relaxing and unforgettable maple old fashioned.
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1/4 ounce cherry liqueur
1/4 ounce maple syrup
3 dashes toasted pecan bitters or cherry bitters
DIRECTIONS
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
GARNISH
Add a Woodford Reserve Bourbon Infused Cherry or two
Courtesy of Woodford Reserve
Christmas Cobbler
INGREDIENTS
2 OZ Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey
½ OZ Tawny Port
½ OZ Lemon Juice
1 OZ Cranberry Sauce
INSTRUCTIONS
Add ingredients to a shaker tin with ice.
Shake vigorously until chilled and diluted.
Strain into a rocks glass with ice.
Garnish with three cranberries on a pick.
Courtesy of Woodford Reserve
Gingerbread Martini
INGREDIENTS
2 parts Reyka Vodka
1 part Chocolate Liqueur
1 part Gingerbread Syrup
Caramel Syrup
Gingerbread Cookies for rim and garnish
Whipped Cream for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Drizzle caramel into a gingerbread cookie rimmed glass.
Add Vodka, gingerbread syrup, chocolate liqueur, and ice into a shaker.
Shake and strain into glass.
Top with whipped cream and gingerbread cookie.
Courtesy of Reyka Vodka
Aunt Clara’s Pink Bunny Pajamas
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz Bespoke Bourbon Cream
.75 oz Citrus Forward Gin
3 dashes cranberry bitters
.5 oz simple syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into martini or coupe glass.
Garnish with an orange wheel
Courtesy of Black Button Distilling
Wintertide Spritz
Festive glimmers of burgundy and evergreen dazzle in this cold-weather spritz, a snow globe of Hendrick’s, elderflower tonic and sparkling wine. Host marvelously with the Wintertide Spritz!
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 parts HENDRICK’S GIN
3 parts Elderflower Tonic
Squeeze of Lime
Splash of Sparkling Wine
Rosemary Sprig, Pomegranate Seeds, and Cucumber Wheel to Garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine ingredients in a wine glass filled with cubed ice and lightly stir.
Garnish with a rosemary sprig, pomegranate seeds, and a cucumber wheel.
Courtesy of Hendrick’s Gin
Cherry Vanilla Kiss
Sweet, bitter, and spiced. Nothing screams flavorful experimentation like this classy cherry creation to share with your favorite person.
INGREDIENTS
1 fl oz Captain Morgan Cherry Vanilla Spiced Rum
1 fl oz Sweet Vermouth
1 fl oz Bitter Aperitivo
Cherry Vanilla rum soaked cherry garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Pour Captain Morgan Cherry Vanilla Spiced Rum, sweet vermouth, and bitter Aperitivo into a shaker over ice.
Shake and strain into a coupe or martini glass.
Garnish with rum soaked cherry.
Courtesy of Captain Morgan
Cinn City
Forgive me father for I have cinn’d. This cocktail calls for coconut, pineapple’s and mint, giving off some Jamaican cooking vibes. But it’s the cinnamon syrup that does the heavy lifting, bringing everything together as one.
INGREDIENTS
1 Stick Cinnamon
½ Parts Cinnamon Syrup
1½ Parts Coconut Water
Ice Cubes
1⅔ Parts Jameson Black Barrel
⅚ Parts Lime Juice
1 Part Pineapple Juice
DIRECTIONS
To Make Cinnamon Syrup, you will need 500ml water, 350g demerara sugar, 4 cinnamon sticks; Add all ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 10 minutes on a low heat; Remove from the heat, allow to cool and remove the cinnamon sticks.
Bottle and refrigerate.
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. If you have a blender at home try blending the ingredients with ice instead of shaking to get a different consistency.
Strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a lime wedge/ toasted cinnamon stick/ grated cinnamon/ pineapple wedge/ pineapple leaf/ mint sprig/ coconut flakes – whatever you have at hand.
Courtesy of Jameson Irish Whiskey
