5 Holiday Cocktails and Mocktails for Your Holiday Gatherings

Whether you want something to sip by the fire or hosting a big holiday party — festive drinks are the perfect addition to your holiday menu, and create a feeling of intimacy amongst your guests. To help bring cheer to your gatherings this holiday season, the team at Joylux has put together a list of our favorite tried and true holiday cocktails and mocktails you and your guests will love.

White Chocolate Peppermint Martini

Move over, Starbucks! This White Chocolate Peppermint Martini recipe from Inspired by Charm makes the perfect fireside toast after a night of caroling. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and creamy and looks gorgeous with a peppermint candy rim.

What you’ll need to make this cocktail:

1.5 ounces white chocolate liqueur - (Godiva)
1.5 ounces vanilla vodka
1-ounce creme de cacao - (clear/white)
1 ounce half and half
.5 ounce peppermint schnapps
White chocolate syrup and crushed peppermints to garnish

Try the recipe here.

Holiday Sangria

If you’re entertaining, this holiday sangria by Modern Proper brings the very merry to your party. This delicious blend of wine, brandy, fruit, spices, and herbs is easy to make ahead of time and develops more decadent flavors the longer it steeps.

What you’ll need to make this sangria:

1 (750 ml) bottle red wine
1 cup brandy
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups cranberries
1 orange, sliced
1 apple, cubed
2-3 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise
4 sprigs rosemary, plus more for garnish
1 bottle sparkling apple cider, chilled
Equal parts cinnamon and sugar, for rimming the glasses, optional

Try the recipe here.

Holiday Cheermeister Bourbon Punch

Nothing warms you up for the holidays better than bourbon. This bourbon punch by Half Baked Harvest is the perfect drink for an intimate Christmas Eve toast, and looks gorgeous when you dress it up with the fruit and herb ice cubes suggested in the recipe.

What you’ll need to make this punch:

4 ounces (1/2 cup) bourbon
1 cup pomegranate juice
Zest of 1 orange
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 (750 ml) bottle Prosecco or sparkling wine, chilled
Arils from 1 pomegranate

Try the recipe here.

Mistletoe Mule Mocktail

This festive non-alcoholic, mistle mule mocktail by My Sequined Life is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. It comes together in minutes and is a great way for kids and adults alike to ring in the New Year.

What you’ll need to make this mocktail:

Two cans of lime bubly sparkling water
Four ounces of ginger beer
Four ounces of apple cider
Fresh limes (for squeezing and garnishing)
Ice

Try the recipe here.

Ginger Basil Grapefruit Spritzer

Try this Ginger Basil Grapefruit Spritzer from 1-2 Simply Cooking if you want to get a little fancier. You’ll want to make the basil simple syrup ahead of time to ensure the flavors develop.

What you’ll need to make this spritzer: