From Mai Tai To Not A Cosmo, These 24 Cocktail Recipes Are A Must-Try For A Merry Holiday Season

Get ready to infuse your holidays with a burst of flavour and festivity! These captivating cocktail recipes are designed to elevate your seasonal celebrations with a symphony of tastes and aromas. From classic blends to innovative concoctions, each recipe promises an unforgettable journey through the artistry of mixology, offering a diverse range of flavours to suit every palate. Unleash your inner bartender and savour the essence of the holidays with these tantalising cocktail recipes, perfect for sharing joy and creating cherished moments with friends and loved ones.

Best Cocktail Recipes For The Holiday Season

1. Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Scarlet Spritz

Ingredients:

• 75 ml Jacob’s Creek Sparkling
• 25 ml of Pomegranate Juice
• 25 ml Cranberry Juice
• Simple Syrup (Optional)
• Pomegranate Jewels (Garnish)
• Cranberry (Optional)

Method:

1. Let the juices and sparkling wine cool.
2. Transfer the juice of pomegranates and cranberries into a chilled flute.
3. Slowly pour the sparkling wine from Jacob’s Creek.
4. After adding cranberries and pomegranates as garnish, serve.

2. Ballantine’s Cinnamon Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 50ml Ballantine’s 7 American Barrel Whisky
• 10ml Cinnamon syrup
• 4 dashes of orange bitters
• Ice Cubes
• Orange peel (Garnish)

Method:

1. Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice and mix whisky and cinnamon syrup.
2. Mix in the bitters for 30 seconds.
3. Add some orange peel as a garnish.

3. Longitude77 Kashmiri Saffron Sour

Ingredients:

• 60ml Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt Whisky
• 30ml Kashmiri Saffron Syrup
• 20ml Lime Juice
• 3 drops Egg White / Magic Velvet
• 1 Lemon Green
• Grapes
• Kashmiri Chilli Oil and Saffron Strands (Garnish)

Method:

1. Pour all the ingredients (except the garnish) into a shaker and shake well.
2. Shake thoroughly after adding the ice.
3. Lightly strain into a chilled glass.
4. Use a dropper to garnish with saffron or chilli oil.

4. Longitude77 Ratnagiri Alphonso Mango Smash

Ingredients:

• 60ml Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt Whisky
• 20ml Alphonso Mango Juice (aamras)
• 15ml Lime Juice
• 20ml Mint Syrup
• 30ml Cow Milk
• Slice of Ratnagiri Alphonso Mango/Mango Leather (Garnish)

Method:

1. Put all of the ingredients (milk excluded) in an ice-filled shaker and give it a good shake.
2. Add milk to the strainer, let it settle, and then filter through a coffee filter.
3. Pour into an Old Fashioned glass, top with an Aam Papad garnish, and serve.

5. White Russian

Ingredients:

• Ice Cubes
• 40ml Absolut Vodka
• 40ml Kahlua
• 40ml Cream

Method:

1. Place ice cubes in a rock glass.
2. Pour in the Absolut Vodka and Kahlua, then use the back of a spoon to layer the cream on top.
3. Stirring works just as well if layering is not perfect.

6. Vodka Espresso

Ingredients:

• Ice Cubes
• 40ml Absolut Vodka
• 20ml Kahlua
• 20ml Espresso
• 1 whole Coffee Bean (Garnish)

Method:

1. Put some ice cubes in a shaker.
2. Combine all components, shake it well, and strain it into a cocktail glass.
3. Add a coffee bean as a garnish.

7. Jacob’s Creek Unvined Riesling Strawberry Fling

Ingredients:

• 2 fresh strawberries
• 1 tsp sugar
• 30mL lime juice
• 120mL Unvined Riesling
• Hibiscus flower or half strawberry (Garnish)

Method:

1. Add the sugar and strawberry to a muddle, then add the Unvined Riesling and lime juice and shake.
2. Pour the mixture twice through a strainer onto a hibiscus flower-topped martini glass.
3. Top off the glass with a strawberry.

8. Jacob’s Creek Unvined Shiraz Sangria

Ingredients:

• 0.75 cup Unvined Shiraz
• 1 Star Anise
• Cinnamon quill
• 2 Cardamom pods
• 0.25 cup Orange Juice
• Palm sugar to taste
• Orange and apple slices (Garnish)

Method:

1. Heat the wine and spices to a gentle simmer and let it settle.
2. Add sugar and orange juice to taste.
3. Garnish with orange, apple, and cinnamon, and serve over ice.

9. EATDRINKREPEAT

Ingredients:

• 60ml Black And White Scotch Whisky
• 60ml Fresh Orange Juice
• A Few Mint Leaves
• 30ml Cranberry Juice
• Soda Water for Top-Up
• 15ml Lime Juice
• Glassware: Highball
• Garnish: Orange Slice and Mint Sprig

Method:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a tall glass with a couple of ice cubes.
2. Finally, serve with garnish and try it with your preferred platter of kababs!

Cocktail Recipe by Arun Kumar, Brand Ambassador, Diageo

10. JOHNNIE FESTIVE HIGHBALL

Ingredients:

• 45ml Johnnie Walker Black Label
• 30ml Ginger Juice
• 20ml Honey
• 15ml Lime Juice
• Soda Water
• Glassware: Highball
• Garnish: Ginger slice or ginger candy

Method:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a tall glass with a generous amount of ice cubes.
2. Finally, serve with garnish and enjoy with a plate of Mutton Boti Kebab!

Cocktail Recipe by Arun Kumar, Brand Ambassador, Diageo

11. Black Coffee Twist

Ingredients:

• 45ml Black Dog
• 1 cup of black coffee
• 3 star anise
• 3 cloves
• Cinnamon stick
• 30ml sugar syrup
• Garnish: Cinnamon Stick and Orange Zest

Method:

1. After adding sugar syrup and spices to a pan of heated black coffee, reduce the heat to a low simmer.
2. Pour it through a strainer into a coffee cup, top with Black Dog, and decorate with an orange zest and cinnamon stick.

12. KAAPI MARTINI

Ingredients:

• 50 ml Godawan 01 Rich & Rounded 
• 40 ml Coffee/Cold brew
• 20 ml Brown sugar/Honey

Method:

1. Combine the ingredients, give it a good shake or blend it with ice, and then serve it in the glassware of your choice:
2. Add nutmeg, coffee beans, or cacao powder as a garnish—anything goes!

Also Read: From Award-Winners To Festive Delights, 18 Best Alcohol Bottles Perfect For Year-End Gifting

13. Not A Cosmo

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Smirnoff
• 30 ml Strawberry crush
• Triple sec
• 10 ml Lime juice
• Strawberry or orange twist for garnish

Method: 

1. Blend all the components in a shaker, give it a good shake, and then pour it over ice into a martini glass.

14. Chicago Smash

Ingredients:

• 50 ml Royal Challenge American Pride Bourbon
• 30 ml Orange juice
• 15 ml Lime juice
• 15 ml Sugar Syrup
• Orange Chunks
• Basil Leaves

Method:

1. In a glass, crush the orange chunks and basil leaves.
2. Pour in the ice, sugar syrup, orange and lime juices, and Bourbon. Pour soda and crushed ice on top.

Cocktail Recipe by Minakshi Singh, Brand Ambassador, Diageo

15. CHIVAS XV: XV Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 15ml Chivas XV
• 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• Top with champagne

Method:

1. Place sugar cubes in a flute with champagne and pour Angostura bitters over the top.
2. Fill it with 15ml of Chivas XV.
3. Before serving, drizzle some champagne over it.

16. Boulevardier

Ingredients:

• 30 ml Jameson Black Barrel
• 30 ml Red Vermouth
• 30 ml Bitter Apertif

Method:

1. Transfer Jameson Black Barrel and all other ingredients into an ice-filled mixing glass.
2. Stir thoroughly and pour into a cocktail glass.
3. Serve your Boulevardier with a twist of lemon.

17. Polar Express

Ingredients:

• 20 ml Absolut Raspberry
• 40 ml Kahlua
• 15 ml Cream
• 15 ml Milk
• Mint Syrup

Method: 

1. Combine all the ingredients in a shaker, shake it well, and strain into an old-fashioned glass.

Cocktail Recipe By Aditya Solanki, Head Bartender and Mixologist At Someplace Else, BKC

18. Tipsy Rudolf

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Gin
• 45 ml Cranberry Juice 
• 40 ml Sweet & Sour
• Garnish: Orange and Rosemary

Method: 

1. Put all the ingredients into a shaker, shake it well, and pour it into a wine glass.

Cocktail Recipe By Aditya Solanki, Head Bartender and Mixologist At Someplace Else, BKC

19. Devil’s Fiction Royale

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Lucifer’s Gold Whisky
• 1 oz Amaretto
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• 2 oz Laurent Perrier La Cuvee Brut Champagne

Method:

1. Combine Lucifer’s Gold, amaretto, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add some ice and give it a good shake. 
3. Pour the contents through a strainer into a chilled flute glass.
4. Pour Champagne La Cuvee Brut by Laurent Perrier on top.

Cocktail Recipe by Monika Alcobev

20. Blue Sparkles

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Russian Standard Vodka
• 1 oz Blue Curaçao
• 0.5 oz Lime Juice
• 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
• Top up of Villa Sandi Il Fresco Prosecco Treviso Brut
• Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Method: 

1. Blend the blue curaçao, lime juice, simple syrup, and Russian Standard Vodka using a shaker. 
2. Pour the contents through a sieve into a glass, and pour some prosecco on top. 
3. As a garnish, add a lime wheel and mint.

Cocktail Recipe by Monika Alcobev

21. 1800 Yuzu Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz 1800 Tequila Blanco
• 1 oz Yuzu Juice
• 1/2 oz Simple syrup
• Lime wheel for garnish

Method:

1. Put some ice in the glass. Put the yuzu juice, simple syrup, and 1800 Blanco Tequila in a shaker with ice.
2. Pour into the glass after shaking and straining. 
3. Add a lime wheel as a garnish.

Cocktail Recipe by Monika Alcobev

22. Mai Tai

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Viva El Ron White Rum
• 1/2 oz Cointreau (Orange Liqueur)
• 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/4 oz Orgeat Syrup
• 1/4 oz Simple Syrup
• Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Method:

1. Put the Cointreau, orgeat syrup, lime juice, Viva El Ron White Rum, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
2. Thoroughly shake and strain into a tiki mug. 
3. Add a lime wheel and a sprig of mint as garnish.

Cocktail Recipe by Monika Alcobev

23. Monsoon Martini

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Hapusa gin
• 15 ml fresh lime juice
• A handful of fresh basil leaves
• A pinch of black salt

Method:

1. In a mixing glass, combine 60 ml of Hapusa gin.
2. Squeeze in 15 ml of fresh lime juice for a citrusy kick.
3. Add a handful of fresh basil leaves to infuse the cocktail with aromatic notes.
4. Finish with a pinch of black salt to enhance the tangy and refreshing flavours.
5. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir the ingredients well to chill the mixture.
6. Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass for a crisp and cold serving.

Cocktail Recipe By Ms. Poonam Chandel, MD, Neuworld Spirits

24. Tranquil Toddy

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Mansion House brandy
• 120 ml fresh apple juice
• 15 ml honey
• A sprinkle of cinnamon

Method:

1. In a saucepan, heat 120 ml of fresh apple juice over low-medium heat.
2. Once the apple juice is warm, add 60 ml of Mansion House brandy to the saucepan.
3. Stir in 15 ml of honey, allowing it to dissolve into the mixture.
4. Continue heating the mixture until it reaches your desired temperature; do not let it boil.
5. Once heated, pour the mixture into a heat-resistant glass or mug.
6. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top for a comforting and aromatic touch.
7. Stir gently to combine the ingredients.

Cocktail Recipe By Ms. Poonam Chandel, MD, Neuworld Spirits

May these flavourful and festive cocktail recipes add sparkle to your holiday celebrations!

PS: “Consumption of alcohol is injurious to health. Be safe-don’t drink and drive”.

Cover Image Courtesy: Press Release

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