The winter holiday season is a time to put on your party hat and sample some of the best winter holidays drinks. These are the cocktails that only come out once per year and are ideal for the festive season.
But in a world where 47% of men and 40% of women drink with gusto over the new year, where should you start?
This guide provides you with the best winter holidays drinks to sample with friends and family in 2023.
5 of the Top Winter Holidays Drinks 2023 to Try Right Now
Adding different spirits to make a cocktail is a favorite part of American culture, whatever your religion or background.
According to Bacardi, 75% of Americans say high-quality cocktails are important to them, so it makes sense to opt for higher-quality spirits this coming holiday season.
With that in mind, here are a selection of winter holidays drinks to make at home.
1. Spiced Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a festive classic. It may surprise you that it dates back to the 2nd century, with the history of mulled wine beginning with Romans to protect their bodies against cold winters.
Whether or not you’re getting ready for wine season, throwing in a favorite red and adding some spice is the best way to kick off those cold nights.
· Prep Time – Five minutes
· Cook Time – 25 minutes
· Total Time – 30 minutes
· Serves – Four to six people
· Calories – 195 kcal
Ingredients
· One medium orange
· 8-10 whole cloves
· Two teaspoons of ground ginger
· 1/3 of a cup of honey
· ¼ cup of brandy
· 750 ml of red wine
· Three cinnamon sticks
Instructions
1. Combine all of the ingredients in a pot or slow cooker.
2. Warm the ingredients on low to medium for 20-25 minutes.
3. Ensure there’s no boiling or simmering, and stir occasionally.
4. Ladle the wine into mugs when the wine is steaming.
5. Serve and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Notes
· Watch the time carefully, or you’ll risk destroying the delicate flavors.
· Budget wine works as well as premium wine here.
2. Candy Cane Cocktail
Among the most popular cocktails is the fun candy cane cocktail. It’s sweet, simple, and goes best with premium vodka brands.
This cocktail is such a favorite because it combines and captures the season’s flavors, making it a holiday drink like no other.
· Prep Time – Three minutes
· Cook Time – 0 minutes
· Total Time – Three minutes
· Serves – One person
· Calories – 309 kcal
Ingredients
· ¾ ounces of berry vodka
· ¾ ounce of peppermint schnapps
· ¾ ounce of white creme de cacao
· ¼ ounce of grenadine
· One ounce of half-and-half
· Splash of soda water
· Crushed peppermint candy
Instructions
1. Rim a cocktail glass with your candy. Use any liquid ingredient to wet the rim.
2. Pour your schnapps, crème de cacao, and grenadine into an iced cocktail shaker.
3. Shake well.
4. Strain into a cocktail glass.
5. Add half-and-half and soda water before serving.
Notes
· Jazz it up by choosing a strawberry or blueberry vodka.
· Get a more potent drink with a higher-proof schnapps brand.
3. Eggnog Cocktail
Kick up your Christmas party a notch with an eggnog cocktail. This flavor skips the dark spirits and opts for vanilla flavors to create a nutty sweetness that’ll leave your guests begging for more.
As far as vodka cocktails go, this is one of the best for the festive season.
· Prep Time – Three minutes
· Cook Time – 0 minutes
· Total Time – Three minutes
· Serves – One person
· Calories – 262 kcal
Ingredients
· 1.5 ounces of vanilla vodka
· One ounce of amaretto liqueur
· Two ounces of eggnog
· Ground nutmeg
· Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
1. Add your liquids to a chilled cocktail shaker.
2. Mix for at least 20 seconds.
3. Strain into a cocktail glass.
4. Dust with ground nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
5. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
· Place your glasses in the freezer to keep the eggnog colder for longer.
· Substitute Frangelico for amaretto for a nuttier flavor.
4. Hot Toddy
Take a page straight out of Oliver Twist by making your own hot toddies at home. What’s great about this is you can use any premium whisky, brandy, or rum to assemble your own variations on a winter classic from Merry Old England.
· Prep Time – Five minutes
· Cook Time – Five minutes
· Total Time – Ten minutes
· Serves – One person
· Calories – 361 kcal
Ingredients
· One cup of water
· One teabag.
· One tablespoon of honey
· 1.5 ounces of brandy, whisky, or rum.
· One tablespoon of lemon juice
· Lemon wedge
Instructions
1. Heat the water to boiling.
2. Add a teabag and allow to steep for five minutes.
3. Heat your mug with warm water and discard when warm.
4. Coat the bottom with honey.
5. Add your liquids to the glass and stir.
6. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Notes
· Add extra lemon juice to increase the citrus notes.
· Black or green tea works equally well.
· Try other alcohols, such as making a tequila cocktail hot toddy.
5. Mudslide
If you’ve tried fall cocktails or Labor Day cocktails, the mudslide is ideal because it can be enjoyed during any season.
The mudslide can be served either on the rocks or as a milkshake. Either is delicious and contains a sweet mix of vodka, cream, and coffee. You’ll also notice similarities to the white Russian cocktail.
· Prep Time – Three minutes
· Cook Time – 0 minutes
· Total Time – Three minutes
· Serves – One person
· Calories – 311 kcal
Ingredients
· 1.5 ounces of vodka
· One ounce of coffee liqueur
· One ounce of Irish cream liqueur
· Ice
Instructions
1. Pour everything into an iced cocktail shaker.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into an old-fashioned glass with ice.
4. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
· Save your best vodka because the brand makes no difference here.
· Try a flavored vodka to manipulate the flavors.
· Double up on the cream for a thicker version.
Conclusion
Our top five festive cocktail picks work a romantic night in or at a rocking Christmas party. Whatever your flavor, Flavor Fix has everything you need, including weed strain pairings and lesser-known variations.
To learn more about winter holidays drinks, browse the Flavor Fix platform now.
