18 Winter Cocktail Ideas

Winter cocktails provide a wonderful way to warm up when the weather turns frosty. A Kahlua coffee is one great example.

Ingredients

• 4 to 6 ounces freshly brewed coffee
• 1 shot of Kahlua
• Whipped cream for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mug, combine the coffee and Kahlua. Stir to mix.
2. Top with whipped cream.

This German coffee drink is perfect for sipping as you stare out the window at a winter wonderland.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces strong coffee
• 1 shot of dark rum
• 2 sugar cubes (or to taste)
• Whipped cream
• Freshly grated nutmeg for garnish

Instructions

1. Add the coffee and sugar to a tall coffee mug; stir to dissolve the sugar
2. Stir in the rum.
3. Top with whipped cream.
4. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg

This delicious coffee cocktail can be made with your choice of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.

Ingredients

• 4 to 6 ounces freshly brewed coffee
• 1 teaspoon of brown sugar (or to taste)
• 1 ounce of Irish whiskey
• Whipped cream for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mug, combine the coffee, sugar, and whiskey. Stir to combine.
2. Garnish with the whipped cream.

This is a lightly fizzy, celebratory holiday cocktail with classic winter flavors.

Ingredients

• 1 shot cranberry juice
• 4 ounces Moscato d'Asti wine
• 1/4 teaspoon rosemary cocktail flavoring
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 4 fresh cranberries
• Ice

Instructions

1. Fill a collins glass 1/4 full with ice.
2. Add the cranberry juice, Moscato d'Asti, and rosemary flavoring. Stir to combine.
3. Garnish with the cranberries and a rosemary sprig.

Sangria is a fruity Spanish wine punch. While most people enjoy Sangria as a refreshing summer punch, this version uses winter flavors such as cranberry, spice, and Beaujolais Nouveau wine, a wine that releases the third Thursday of November and disappears from shelves quickly. It serves about 10.

Ingredients

• 1 750 mL bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau wine
• 1 orange, sliced
• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 star anise
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 cup Armagnac or Cognac
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• Club soda
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a large pitcher, combine the wine, sliced orange, cranberry juice, orange juice, star anise, cinnamon, Armagnac, and cranberries. Stir to mix and refrigerate overnight.
2. Before serving, add club soda to fill the pitcher. Serve over ice.

Chambord has flavors of dark berries, while gin's juniper aromatics are reminiscent of a winter pine tree. This cocktail evokes tasty winter flavors in a refreshing beverage.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 1 1/2 ounces gin
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 ounce Chambord liqueur
• Club soda
• Rosemary sprig and blackberries for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, and Chambord. Shake to chill.
2. Strain into a rocks glass. Pour to the top with club soda.
3. Garnish with blackberries and rosemary sprigs.

Nothing evokes winter mornings more than the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and coffee, which is the flavor and aromas this cocktail uses.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 1/2 ounce cinnamon whiskey
• 1/2 ounce Kahlua
• 2 ounces RumChata
• 1 ounce heavy cream
• Ground cinnamon for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the whiskey, Kahlua, RumChata, and cream. Shake to chill.
2. Strain into a rocks glass. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Figs have a dark, spicy flavor profile that, when combined with thyme, offers delicious winter flavors. Try this simple fig and thyme martini for a flavor-packed winter cocktail.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 1 1/2 ounces fig vodka
• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 1 sprig thyme, plus additional for garnish
• Sliced fresh figs for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker half-full with ice.
2. Add the fig vodka, vodka, and thyme sprig. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with sliced figs and a sprig of thyme.

Bring your favorite campfire food to your next winter gathering in the form of a tasty hot chocolate cocktail.

Ingredients

• 1 graham cracker, crushed
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 6 ounces hot chocolate
• 2 ounces Godiva chocolate liqueur
• Marshmallows for garnish

Instructions

1. Place the graham cracker crumbs on a shallow plate with the brown sugar and mix well. Wet the rim of a mug and dip it upside down in the crumbs to rim the mug.
2. Add the hot chocolate and chocolate liqueur. Mix gently with a spoon.
3. Garnish with the marshmallows. Use a kitchen torch to brown the marshmallows.

If you like Scotch whiskey, you'll love the dark and mysterious flavors in this warming coffee and Drambuie cocktail.

Ingredients

• 4 to 6 ounces strongly brewed coffee
• 1 ounce Drambuie
• 1 ounce Grand Marnier or Cointreau
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. In a large coffee mug, stir the orange liqueur and Drambuie into the coffee.
2. Top with the whipped cream.

This minty cocktail will make you feel like a kid at Christmas again.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 1 1/2 ounces peppermint vodka
• 7 ounces soda
• 1/2 ounce grenadine
• Candy canes for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a rocks glass half full with ice.
2. Add the vodka, soda, and grenadine. Stir to mix.
3. Garnish with the candy cane.

With its ruby red color, pomegranate is a popular winter flavor. This festive drink is perfect for a winter brunch and a nice twist on the standard mimosa.

Ingredients

• 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 ounce pomegranate juice, chilled
• 6 ounces dry sparkling wine, such as Champagne or Prosecco, chilled
• Pomegranate arils for garnish

Instructions

1. In a Champagne flute, combine the orange juice, pomegranate juice, and Champagne. Stir gently.
2. Garnish with the pomegranate arils.

Eggnog is available on grocery store shelves as early as Halloween, which gives you several months to enjoy this tasty winter cocktail.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
• Ice
• 6 ounces eggnog
• 1 ounce Kahlua
• 1 teaspoon molasses
• 1 ounce ginger flavored vodka

Instructions

1. Put the cinnamon sugar in a thin layer on a shallow dish. Wet the rim of a rocks glass and dip it in the sugar and cinnamon.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the eggnog, Kahlua, molasses, and ginger-flavored vodka. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into the rimmed glass.

In early winter, you'll find boxes of tangerines or Satsumas readily available, and these make the perfect spicy winter cocktail.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 6 ounces freshly squeezed juice from tangerines
• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Pinch of ground cloves
• Tangerine slices and rosemary sprigs for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the tangerine juice, vodka, maple syrup, fresh nutmeg, and ground cloves. Shake to chill.
2. Strain into a collins glass. Garnish with tangerine slices and rosemary sprigs.

While mojitos are traditionally thought of as warm weather cocktails, when you add classic winter flavors you wind up with a drink that works well when the weather is chilly.

Ingredients

• 10 mint leaves
• 1/2 ounce pomegranate syrup
• Ice
• Juice of one orange
• 2 ounces rum
• Soda water
• Mint sprigs and pomegranate arils for garnish

Instructions

1. In a highball glass, combine the mint leaves and pomegranate syrup. Muddle.
2. Fill the glass 1/4 full with ice. Add the orange juice and rum, filling the rest of the glass with soda water.
3. Garnish with the mint sprigs and pomegranate arils.

This recipe serves 12 to 15 people. It's a lovely take on eggnog using warming Port wine to add a boozy punch.

Ingredients

• Ice ring
• 750 mL tawny Port
• 2 quarts of eggnog
• Freshly ground nutmeg for garnish

Instructions

1. Place the ice ring in a punch bowl.
2. Add the eggnog and Port. Stir to combine.
3. Garnish with freshly ground nutmeg.

This celebratory cocktail is a nice alternative to plain Champagne for all of your winter parties.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Prosecco
• 1/2 ounce amaretto
• 1/2 ounce Chambord

Instructions

In a Champagne flute, combine all three ingredients and gently stir to mix.

This old fashioned brings some winter flavors and spice to a classic cocktail.

Ingredients

• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon fig syrup, or to taste
• 2 dashes cardamom bitters
• 2 ounces bourbon
• Splash of water
• 2 ice cubes
• Orange twist for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, combine the fig syrup, cardamom bitters, bourbon, and water. Stir gently.
2. Add the ice cubes and garnish with the twist.

Whether you're looking for hot drinks or mixed drinks that warm your insides, you'll find plenty of winter cocktails to sip as you enjoy yourself by the fire. So gather your loved ones close and enjoy cozy cocktails throughout the winter season.