Holiday-Ready Cocktail Recipes For Christmas Dinners And New Year’s Toasts
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From golden-hour aperitifs to after-dinner pours, these cocktails move seamlessly through the many moods of the holiday season.
These recipes feature festive flavours like citrus, herbs, and spices, perfect for Christmas and the New Year.
The holidays call for cocktails that feel as celebratory as the season itself – bright yet comforting, elegant yet easy to sip. From citrus-laced sours and herb-driven refreshers to tropical twists warmed with festive spice, these cocktails are designed to elevate Christmas dinners, intimate house parties and New Year’s toasts alike.
Each recipe balances freshness with depth, allowing premium spirits to shine while seasonal flavours add just the right touch of indulgence. Whether you’re hosting a formal gathering or mixing drinks for a relaxed evening in, these winter-ready cocktails promise to bring sparkle, sophistication and effortless cheer to every glass.
The Wreath – Holiday Citrus Sour
Ingredients:
- 50 ml TERAI India Dry Gin
- 25 ml fresh lemon juice
- 15 ml sugar syrup
- Dash of orange bitters
- Garnish: Lemon peel
Method: Shake all ingredients with ice for a frosty, festive chill. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a bright twist of lemon peel.
Weller Special Reserve’s Paper Plane Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 30ml Weller Special Reserve Bourbon
- 30ml Aperol
- 30ml Amaro Nonino
- 30ml fresh lemon juice
Method: Add ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a coupe glass.
Grant’s Basil Smash
Ingredients:
- 60 ml Grant’s TripleWood Whisky
- 4–5 fresh basil leaves
- 25 ml cucumber syrup
- 20 ml fresh lime juice
- Garnish: Fresh basil leaf
Method: Add Grant’s TripleWood, basil leaves, cucumber syrup, and lime juice into a shaker. Muddle gently to release the basil aroma. Shake well over ice. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with a fresh basil leaf.
Monkey Shoulder: Winter Citrus Sour
Ingredients:
- 50 ml Monkey Shoulder
- 25 ml fresh lemon juice
- 15 ml orange marmalade syrup (marmalade mixed with warm water)
- 10 ml spiced ginger syrup (ginger infused with cinnamon and cloves)
- 1 egg white (optional, for a frothy texture)
- Garnish: Orange wheel and grated nutmeg
Method: Dry shake all ingredients without ice to emulsify the egg white. Add ice and shake again until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange wheel and a light dusting of nutmeg.
Hendrick’s Oasium Pegu Club: A Sophisticated Citrus Elixir
Ingredients:
- 45 ml Hendrick’s Oasium
- 20 ml orange liqueur
- 10 ml lime juice
- 1 dash aromatic bitters
- Citrus peel twist
Method: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled glass and finish with a citrus twist.
Tropical Whisky Sour
Ingredients:
- 60 ml Doaab Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky
- 20 ml Monin passion fruit purée
- 15 ml fresh lime juice
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- Dash of Angostura bitters
- Garnish: Fresh rosemary sprig
Method: Muddle the rosemary gently in a shaker to release its aromatic oils. Add Doaab whisky, passion fruit purée, lime juice, bitters, and ice. Shake briskly for a chilled, festive finish. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a rosemary sprig for a wintery aromatic lift.
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December 13, 2025, 16:34 IST
