It’s beginning to look a lot like…THE HOLIDAYS! Now I don’t know about you, but this time of year is one of my favorites. From Christmas parties to family gatherings, the more holiday cheer, the better. Each year, the Chesapeake Bartenders team curates a list of customized, festive cocktails and mocktails that we serve during corporate holiday parties, Christmas parties and various events. Below you will find a list of fun, crafty and unique cocktail ideas that check all the “holiday cheer” boxes. I hope you enjoy these recipes, please let me know if you make them in the comments below. Also, we have included some links to Amazon products we use regularly in our bartending services and at home when making up signature drink menus – we earn a very small commission if you purchase items based on the included links (which really help support our business).
Cheers!
Courtney
Smoked Cinnamon Old Fashioned
A sophisticated twist on the classic Old Fashioned with a smoky cinnamon flair.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz rye whiskey or bourbon
- 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup (made by simmering cinnamon sticks with sugar and water or you can buy Monin cinnamon syrup)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Cinnamon stick (for smoking) – you can light this with a lighter and then blow out the flame, or use a cocktail smoker and dome
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
- In a mixing glass, combine whiskey, cinnamon syrup, and bitters with ice.
- Stir until well-chilled, then strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
- To create smoke, light the cinnamon stick with a torch until it starts to smolder. Place it under a glass dome or cover it with a rocks glass to trap the smoke.
- Once the glass has filled with smoke, lift the dome or glass and garnish with the smoked cinnamon stick and orange peel.
Tip: The cinnamon syrup can be made in advance by simmering cinnamon sticks with equal parts water and sugar until the syrup is infused with the spice.
*You can also do it the easy/fast way and buy Monin Syrup from Amazon which is what I do!
2. Fig & Sage Sour
A unique, herbaceous, and fruity twist on a classic whiskey sour, featuring fig and fresh sage.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz fig syrup (made by simmering dried figs with water and sugar or purchase an already made fig syrup like the one I use here)
- 1/4 oz simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Fresh sage leaves for garnish
Instructions:
- In a shaker, combine bourbon, lemon juice, fig syrup, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake (shake without ice) to emulsify the egg white and create foam.
- Add ice and shake again until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a fresh sage leaf.
Tip: If you want a more pronounced sage flavor, you can lightly muddle the sage leaves in the shaker before adding the other ingredients.
3. Maple-Pecan Butter Sour
A rich and decadent cocktail combining the flavors of maple syrup, pecans, and bourbon, with a buttery mouthfeel.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 3/4 oz maple syrup
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz pecan butter (blend toasted pecans with a bit of oil to make a smooth paste)
- 1 egg white
- Toasted pecans for garnish
Instructions:
- In a shaker, combine bourbon, maple syrup, lemon juice, pecan butter, and egg white.
- Dry shake first to emulsify the egg white and pecan butter.
- Add ice and shake vigorously to chill.
- Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with toasted pecans on top or around the rim.
Tip: You can create your own pecan butter by blending toasted pecans with a small amount of vegetable oil or neutral oil until smooth and creamy.
Easy/Fast Tip: Use this pre-made pecan syrup in lieu of the homemade version
4. Mulled Wine Negroni
A holiday twist on the classic Negroni, incorporating mulled wine flavors for a spiced and aromatic cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 oz mulled wine (warm red wine simmered with cloves, cinnamon, and orange peel)
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
- In a mixing glass, combine gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and mulled wine.
- Add ice and stir gently to combine.
- Strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
- Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
Tip: To make mulled wine, simmer red wine with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise, along with orange slices and a bit of sugar. Strain before using it in cocktails.
5. Winter Spice Highball
An elevated highball cocktail that combines the spiciness of rye whiskey with the bright flavors of ginger beer and citrus.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 1/2 oz ginger syrup (make a spiced ginger syrup with ginger root, sugar, and water)
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- Club soda
- Fresh thyme and crystallized ginger for garnish
Instructions:
- In a mixing glass, combine rye whiskey, ginger syrup, and lemon juice.
- Add ice and stir to chill.
- Strain into a tall glass filled with ice and top with club soda.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme and a piece of crystallized ginger.
Tip: For a stronger ginger flavor, you can muddle fresh ginger in the shaker before adding the liquids.
Easy/Fast Tip: Use this Monin ginger syrup instead of the DIY version. Trust me, it works really well!
6. Cranberry Sage Julep
A holiday twist on the traditional Mint Julep, featuring tart cranberry and aromatic sage.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/4 oz cranberry syrup (made with fresh cranberries, sugar, and water)
- 1/4 oz simple syrup
- 4-5 fresh sage leaves
- Crushed ice
- Fresh cranberries and sage sprig for garnish
Instructions:
- In a julep cup or glass, muddle the sage leaves with cranberry syrup and simple syrup.
- Fill the cup with crushed ice, then pour in the bourbon.
- Stir well to chill and combine.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of sage.
Tip: For an extra touch of flavor, lightly torch the sage leaves before garnishing to release the oils and add a smoky aroma.
These crafted cocktails are perfect for elevating your holiday menu with complexity and creativity. They incorporate techniques such as smoking, shaking, and muddling, along with seasonal ingredients that will surely impress guests at your events. Don’t feel like making these drinks, and prefer our team of certified bartenders does it for you?
* some products contain affiliate links and we earn a small commission if you make a purchase.