9 Cocktail Recipes for the Holiday Season

Find a festive drink for all your holiday needs, from a nightcap to a dinner pairing

Written by Annie Caminiti

For a seasoned nightcap

Appleton Estate Cocktail
At the end of a long family-filled day with possible holiday-induced stress, take a seat and sip on this warming nightcap.

Ingredients:
1 oz. Appleton® Estate Reserve Blend
.25 oz. Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
.25 oz. Campari

Preparation: Stir all ingredients and top with 1-1.5 oz. of Prosecco. Finish with a grapefruit twist.

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Photo Courtesy of Max Flatow

9 Cocktail Recipes for the Holiday Season

Find a festive drink for all your holiday needs, from a nightcap to a dinner pairing

Written by Annie Caminiti

For the guest looking for less calories

Cîroc Skinny Cosmo
The holiday season is filled with temptation, but this Cîroc cocktail won’t inflict any guilt.

Ingredients:
30 ml. Cîroc Red Berry vodka
3 ml. Cranberry Juice
1 Lime

Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass and top with a splash of tonic water.

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Photo Courtesy of Cîroc

9 Cocktail Recipes for the Holiday Season

Find a festive drink for all your holiday needs, from a nightcap to a dinner pairing

Written by Annie Caminiti

For the Rosé-obsessed

NOLET’S Silver Pink Peppercorn Rosé Spritz
Rosé is no longer restricted to summer days. Freshen up with this sweet treat that will fit your holiday Instagram aesthetic with ease.

Ingredients:
12 oz. NOLET’S Silver Gin
24 oz. Rosé
12 oz. White Grape Juice
4 oz. Cranberry or Cherry Liqueur
3 oz. Pink Peppercorn Syrup*

Preparation: Stir all ingredients and pour over rosemary ice cubes. Top with club soda and garnish with sugared fresh cranberries.

*Pink Peppercorn Syrup:
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Water
2 tbsp. Pink Peppercorns

Preparation: Simmer all ingredients, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves and peppercorns begin to break down. Cool and strain into a storage container.

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Photo Courtesy of NOLET’S

9 Cocktail Recipes for the Holiday Season

Find a festive drink for all your holiday needs, from a nightcap to a dinner pairing

Written by Annie Caminiti

For a savory food pairing

Autumn Cobbler
Are you shocked that the saying ‘sweet as pie’ can be applied to whiskey cocktails too? The sweetness from the pear and apple will cut your savory dishes perfectly this season. Created By Head Bartender, Jeremy Strawn for Industry Kitchen, NYC.

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Lairds Apple Jack Whiskey
.5 oz. Pear Liquor
.75 oz. Lemon Juice
.5 oz. Cinnamon Bark

Preparation: Muddle 2 pieces of apple and 2 pieces of pear. Shake and strain into rocks glass.

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Photo Courtesy of Industry Kitchen

9 Cocktail Recipes for the Holiday Season

Find a festive drink for all your holiday needs, from a nightcap to a dinner pairing

Written by Annie Caminiti

For a mid-meal palate refresher

Oaxacan Mule
The hotness complements the refreshing ginger beer to refresh both your palate and keep your stomach relaxed for the next course coming.

Ingredients:
2 oz. Union Mezcal Joven
1/4 oz. Habanero Tincture (Habanero and Red Bell pepper steeped into 1:1 simple syrup)
3/4 oz. Lime juice

Preparation: Shake all ingredients and strain into Collins Glass over Ice. Top with Belvoir Organic Ginger Beer and three dashes of Angostura Bitters. Garnish with a lime wedge.

9 Cocktail Recipes for the Holiday Season

Find a festive drink for all your holiday needs, from a nightcap to a dinner pairing

Written by Annie Caminiti

For the budding lovebirds

Mistletoe Margarita
Whether you’re looking for some loving or you’re just a big fan of margaritas, the Mistletoe Margarita has your name written all over it.

Ingredients:
2 oz. Tequila
2 oz. Napa Hills Lemon Chardonnay
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. White Cranberry Juice
1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice

Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake until well combined. Pour in a glass and garnish with lime peel, fresh rosemary sprig and cranberry.

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Photo Courtesy of Napa Hills

9 Cocktail Recipes for the Holiday Season

Find a festive drink for all your holiday needs, from a nightcap to a dinner pairing

Written by Annie Caminiti

For the one with a sweet tooth

S’mores Tini
While this libation looks a bit intimidating, crafting it at home is almost as easy to make as it is to drink. Created by Adam Koelb, Beverage Director at Midwinter Night’s Dream at PHD Terrace at Dream Downtown.

Ingredients:
2 oz. Stoli Vanilla
1 oz. Crème De Cacao
.5 oz. Heavy Cream

Preparation: Shake all ingredients in an iced cocktail shaker and strain into a martini glass. Add preferred chocolate syrup down the edge of glass and coat the rim with chocolate syrup and graham crackers. Toasted marshmallows are optional (but recommended).

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Photo Courtesy of PHD Terrace at Dream Downtown

9 Cocktail Recipes for the Holiday Season

Find a festive drink for all your holiday needs, from a nightcap to a dinner pairing

Written by Annie Caminiti

For an afternoon sip for the whole group

Satsuma Paloma
As the ultimate holiday centerpiece, the indulgent recipe below serves four. And we’re certain you’ll want more than just one.

Ingredients:
6 oz. DeLeon Platinum Tequila
4 oz. Satsuma Orange Juice
2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
4 oz. Club Soda
4 Tsp. Agave

Preparation: Mix all ingredients and garnish with a salted rim and candied ginger.

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Photo Courtesy of DeLeon

9 Cocktail Recipes for the Holiday Season

Find a festive drink for all your holiday needs, from a nightcap to a dinner pairing

Written by Annie Caminiti

For the late-night caffeine fix

The Lumineer
If you’ve never tried infusing a liquor, now is your time to impress your friends and family with a coffee infused mezcal. Created by The Wild Son, NYC.

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Coffee Infused Mezcal
1.5 oz. Cynar
Two Dashes of Chocolate Bitters

Preparation: Mezcal is infused with whole coffee beans for about 24 hours and then strained to create the coffee infused mezcal. Stir all ingredients and strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with three whole coffee beans and a lemon twist, discarded.

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Photo courtesy of The Wild Son