45 Winter Cocktails That Will Get You Feeling Festive
Your heart will definitely grow three sizes after one of these.
If you thought summer had the cocktail game on lock, think again—it's winter's time to shine. We've gathered our favorite winter cocktails to put you in the spirit of the season. From seasonal flavors to warm and cozy hot drinks to Christmas-themed cocktails, these cold-weather drinks will get everyone feelin' festive.
If you're a hot drink only type of person in the wintertime, no worries, we've got you covered with plenty of warming, ultra-cozy cocktails. Our classic Hot Toddy, mulled wine and RumChata hot cocoa are the boozy drinks you need to warm up when cold weather strikes. Looking to get festive? Our peppermint bark mimosas, sugar cookie martinis, and jingle juice are sure to put everyone in the Christmas spirit. Even the meanest of Grinches won't be able to resist cheersing a boozy Grinch punch; however, these winter cocktails go way beyond Christmas! These drinks were made to be enjoyed all season long—with classic cocktails and winter flavors like cranberry (cranberry mimosas or cranberry orange whiskey sour, anyone?), warming gingerbread, and decadent caramel, these boozy bevs go way beyond Christmas day.
Planning a holiday party? Many of these drinks are a breeze when it comes to entertaining. From crowd-pleasing holiday punches to big-batch drinks, these cocktails are easy, delicious, and a fabulously festive way to celebrate at your next party. Looking for more? Check out our favorite Christmas sangria recipes, holiday desserts, and festive appetizers to round out your winter celebration.
Mulled Wine
Making this mulled wine couldn't be easier: Combine a bottle of red wine with some orange slices, warm spices, honey, and brandy, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. THAT'S IT. We like using dry varietals like Merlot, Malbec, or Cabernet Sauvignon. But really, your favorite bottle, whatever it may be, should work!
Get the Mulled Wine recipe.
Big Apple Manhattan
This Manhattan uses apple brandy to give it a fruity twist. It's a strong enough drink to handle any and all holiday hustling and is perfect served with any of our apple desserts.
Get the Big Apple Manhattan recipe.
Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
We crave cranberry cocktails all season long, and this is our go-to cocktail this holiday season. It's warm and spicy from the whiskey and ginger beer, but refreshing and tart from the cranberry and citrus.
Get the Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour recipe.
Irish Mule
We love how the oaky, vanilla-y flavors that come from your favorite whiskey are so well complemented by the fresh ginger and lime in a classic Moscow Mule. It’s the perfect slight twist on the classic that will surprise your guests and have them singing your praises (or maybe writing a limerick about you).
Get the Irish Mule recipe.
Tiramisu White Russians
Somewhere between cocktail and dessert, this Italian-influenced White Russian is hard to resist. Looking for a festive upgrade? A dash of orange bitters, a pinch of ground cinnamon, or some fresh nutmeg shavings add another dimension to this decadent drink.
Get the Tiramisu White Russians recipe.
Jingle Juice
You'll be hearing jingle bells in no time with this sweet-tart big-batch cocktail. We love a punch at the holidays as it cuts down on bartending time, and they're maybe a little too easy to mix up!
Get the Jingle Juice recipe.
Brown Sugar Old-Fashioned
A little brown sugar makes this classic cocktail extra warm and cozy, adding a hint of caramel and makes this drink feel anything but old-fashioned. It's the only way we like to make it now.
!Get the Brown Sugar Old-Fashioned recipe.
Classic Eggnog
Eggnog is the type of drink that people either love or really really hate. It's rich, creamy, and, well, egg-y. We fall into the camp of people who love it (like, really really love it), and we're serving it cold or hot all winter long.
Get the Classic Eggnog recipe.
Nutty Irishman
The sweetness and subtle nuttiness of the hazelnut liqueur Frangelico is the perfect partner to rich Irish cream. The almost inevitable whipped cream mustache that follows is highly worth it.
Get the Nutty Irishman recipe.
Hot Buttered Rum
Hot buttered rum is essentially the OG butter beer. They both are golden, richly sweet, and have that beautiful head that will give you a silly mustache when you drink it. Add in rum, butter, sugar, ice cream, and healthy dose of cinnamon, and you've got heartwarming wintertime magic in a glass.
Get the Hot Buttered Rum recipe.
Whiskey Ginger
Is there any whiskey cocktail more iconic and simple than a whiskey ginger? It’s just two ingredients, but it’s truly one of the best bubbly/spirit combinations out there. To go the extra mile, we wanted a homemade, showstopper garnish, and we couldn’t think of anything more fitting than fresh, spicy candied ginger. Not only does it look great atop a drink, but it's also great for snacking.
Get the Whiskey Ginger recipe.
Peppermint Bark Mimosas
These mimosas are just the thing to get you in the holiday spirit (and use up that giant bottle of peppermint schnapps!). Wanna double up on holiday cheer? Serve with our classic gingerbread for full-on holiday vibes.
Get the Peppermint Bark Mimosa recipe.
Hot Toddy
A hot toddy is one of our favorite drinks to sip on when you're feeling under the weather or as a nightcap. Best part is? You almost definitely have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now. Change things up and make an apple cider version complete with caramel!
Get the Hot Toddy recipe.
White Christmas Margaritas
Want to switch up your usual holiday cocktail? Try this coconut- and lime-flavored margarita on for size! This will guarantee a white Christmas this year.
Get the White Christmas Margaritas recipe.
Boozy Butterbeer Punch
The famous Harry Potter-themed drink, Butterbeer, gets a boozy upgrade. We solemnly swear we are up to no good when we have one of these.
Get the Boozy Butterbeer Punch recipe.
Sugar Cookie Martinis
Our version of this festive favorite features Baileys and whole milk to give it that rich creaminess, along with vanilla vodka and Amaretto for that sugar cookie vibe, and... a tiny candy cane-shaped sugar cookie hanging off the rim. We suggest pre-made cookie dough and frosting for our cocktail décor—use seasonal favorites to enjoy this year-round!
Get the Sugar Cookie Martinis recipe.
Irish Coffee
Coffee cocktails are the ideal double-hit of caffeine and booze straight to the system, perfect for the start or end of the night. Irish coffee is one the most classic coffee mixed drinks that just requires a combination of sweetened coffee, Irish whiskey, and (of course) whipped cream. It's cozy, delicious, and incredibly easy to make.
Get the Irish Coffee recipe.
Eggnog Jell-O Shots
It's not the holidays until the eggnog has been poured, and this year we are spicing things up a bit. RumChata and brandy ensure these Jell-O shots will make the holidays so much fun.
Get the Eggnog Jell-O Shots recipe.
Moscow Mule Punch
Yep—this is basically one giant Moscow Mule. Which means that you don't have to play bartender all night. Mint isn't technically classic in the OG cocktail, but it's a nice, fresh touch in this punch.
Get the Moscow Mule Punch recipe.
Chocolate Martini
The perfect combination of boozy and sweet for an after-dinner treat, we love topping ours with shaved chocolate, a pinch of cocoa powder, or even adding a crushed Oreo rim.
Get the Chocolate Martini recipe.
Taylor Worden is Delish's Assistant Digital Food Producer, where she creates recipe galleries, recipe updates and more. She was previously a freelance editor on the food team for Good Housekeeping, where she also contributed entertainment and culture pieces as a freelance writer. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism and a lifelong love of writing. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, testing out a new pasta recipe, or rewatching one of her favorite shows.
