Host Guide: These Are The Best Holiday Cocktails To Put Cheer In Your Season

We are in full holiday mode, where tis the season for holiday parties, friends and family gatherings, and everything else in between. Surviving the holiday marathon can be quite challenging, but boozy winter drinks can help. In the spirit of giving, we wanted to share our list of holiday cocktails for the host that blends a taste of the old and new. These festive libations are feature classics like the eggnog, or hot toddy, that have been spruced up for modern tastes. Below are 15 cocktails for any holiday gathering- Whether hosting a merry houseful of guests, an intimate dinner party, or a quiet evening by the fireplace, these concoctions are the glass are tailor-made for all your winter festivities. Happy Holidays!

Laphroaig® Scotsman’s Spice

By Devon Tarby

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 parts Laphroaig® 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky
  • 1 part Amaretto
  • 3/4 part Lemon Juice
  • 1/4 part Simple Syrup
  • 1 Medium Egg White
  • Fresh Cinnamon (for garnish)

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin and shake first without ice to emulsify the egg white. Open tin, carefully add ice and shake hard until cold and frothy. Double strain into a stemmed cocktail glass. Garnish with freshly grated cinnamon.

Islay Have Another

By Miguel Buencamino

Ingredients:

  • 1½ parts Laphroaig Select
  • ½ part Apple Jack
  • ¾ part Banana Liqueur
  • ¼ part Honey Syrup
  • 3 Dashes Black Walnut Bitters (optional)
  • Baked Pumpkin Spice Apple Slice

Method:

Combine all ingredients except for the baked apple into a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with the baked pumpkin spice apple slice, serve and enjoy!

East Indian Gimlet

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz Jaisalmer Gin
  • 1.5 oz. lime juice
  • .75oz Ginger Simple Syrup
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup chopped peeled ginger
  • .25oz St. Germain
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, for garnish

Directions For Ginger Simple Syrup:

Bring sugar, ginger, and ¾ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and let sit 20 minutes. Strain into a jar, cover, and chill.

Method:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the gin, lime juice and ginger syrup. Shake until well chilled. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh rosemary.

Proper Old Fashion

Created by Nick Fogel, Beverage Director, The Late Late Bar & Spirit Grocer

Ingredients:

Directions for Guinness Demerara Syrup:

Ingredients:

  • 5 quart Guinness
  • 1 quart Demerara
  • 2 sticks of cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons of pink peppercorn

Bring the Guinness to a simmer in a saucepan and allow to reduce by approximately half. Add cinnamon and pink peppercorn. Whisk in demerara sugar. Stir and simmer for five min allowing the mixture to thicken. Stain and cool.

Method:

Method: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, stir to chill. Strain into a rocks glass.

Knock Out

Created by Sonny Verdini, Bar Manager, TRADE (Boston, MA)

Ingredients:

Method:

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and then strain mixture into a single rocks glass. Garnish with a dehydrated cinnamon sugar and lemon wheel

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A Notorious Cobbler

Created by Kevin Hooshangi & Tracey Eden of American Whiskey and Distilled NY

Ingredients

Method:

Muddle two lemons then mix all ingredients together in a Collins glass, stir and add ice. Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.

Melbourne Apple Sour

Ingredients:

Method:

Combine ingredients except for the apple cider in a shaker without ice. Shake vigorously to whip up the egg whites. Then add ice and shake again until very cold. Double strain into a coupe glass and float apple cider on top.

Tramontana Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz. Gin Mare
  • .5 oz. hibiscus liqueur
  • .25 oz. yellow Chartreuese
  • 1.5 oz. pomegranate juice
  • .25 oz. vanilla syrup
  • 4 raspberries
  • 2 thyme leaves

Method:

Add the ingredients into a cocktail shaker muddle and shake well. Then strain in a Flute glass. Garnish with Raspberry powder crusta

Brandy Eggnog

Ingredients:

Method:

Pour the milk, brandy, egg yolk, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a stemmed coffee mug. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg on top.

Nutty Holiday

Ingredients:

Method:

Combine the brandy and hazelnut liqueur into a double old-fashioned rocks glass and stir lightly. Add ice and garnish with a bonbon.

Captain’s Sleigh Ride Cider

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. CM Gingerbread Spiced
  • 6 oz. Fresh Apple Cider
  • Garnished with a cinnamon stick, fresh apple and whipped cream

Method:

Combine Captain Morgan and apple cider in small pot and heat over stove. Next, being careful not to spill or burn yourself, pour hot drink into mug and garnish with cinnamon stick and apple slice.

Toddy Tidings

Ingredients:

Method:

Add Captain Morgan, honey, and hot water in small pot and heat over stove. Next, pour hot drink into mug and garnish with lemon wheel.

The Merry Captini

Ingredients:

Method:

Add all ingredients above in a cocktail shaker and pour into clear glass. Garnish with shaved chocolate.

Pomarita

Ingredients:

  • 1. 5oz. JAJA Blanco Tequila
  • ¾ oz. pink peppercorn grenadine
  • ¾ oz. lime juice
  • Thin slice of habanero
  • Dash of bitters
  • Soda water

Method:

Include all ingredeints except for soda water into cocktail shaker. Shake vigoursly. Strain mixtue into coupe glass, and top with soda water.

Fall-for-It

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. JAJA Añejo Tequila
  • 1 oz. Orgeat
  • 1/2 oz. cinnamon
  • 2 oz. pear puree
  • Dehydrated lemon (for Garnish)

Method:

Combine JAJA, Orgeat, cinnamon and pear puree in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and chill. Pour mixture over ice and garnish with a dehydrated lemon and cinnamon stick to swirl.

Blood Orange Spritzer

Ingredients:

  • 5 oz. JAJA Blanco Tequila
  • 2 oz. Blood Orange puree
  • ½ oz. fresh lime juice
  • Seltzer
  • Dehydrated (or fresh!) orange slice, round for garnish

Method:

Include all ingredients except for seltzer into cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Next, strain into a coupe glass and add a splash of seltzer. Garnish with an orange slice (either dehydrated or fresh).

Photos: Courtesy