11 Essential Cocktails to Make for the Holidays

This punch can be served either clean or spiked, making it a winner for full family affairs. Everyone at the kids’ table will enjoy the combination of cranberry juice, tart cherry juice, allspice, ginger and ginger ale, while the adults will especially love it with a touch of rum stirred in.

Get the recipe.

This sweet spin on a classic Hot Buttered Rum is a perfect substitute for dessert. Butter, sugar, honey and spices combine to make a rich batter that melts into hot water, rum and caramel vodka.

Get the recipe.

Step up your holiday celebration with this wine-based libation. Red burgundy wine lends its rich color and flavor to homemade spiced strawberry syrup, Pimm’s No. 1 Cup and Champagne for a simple cocktail that will impress your guests.

Get the recipe.

Throwing together a spur-of-the-moment shindig? This can help. When unexpected guests show up, you can throw this together with ingredients that are probably already in your pantry. Simply warm fruity red wine, bourbon or brandy, star anise, lemon peel and sugar, then serve in mugs with cinnamon sticks for ganish and extra spice.

Get the recipe.

Warm up with this sinfully steamy coffee cocktail. This combination of Armagnac, coffee liqueur, chestnut liqueur, génépy and coffee is the ideal companion for long cold nights. It’s also great for a walk around the neighborhood to enjoy the holiday lights. Just throw it in a thermos to take it with you.

Get the recipe.

It wouldn’t be a holiday season without Eggnog. And this recipe certainly delivers on flavor, with the combination of eggs, sugar, milk and cream getting a nice kick from both bourbon and spiced rum. A pinch of nutmeg is the only garnish you’ll need.

Get the recipe.

Cheers to the season with this chocolatey cocktail. Tequila, chocolate milk, agave nectar, cognac and ground nutmeg may seem like an unlikely combination, but they make for a sweet and rich nightcap that you can drink through the holidays and well into winter.

Get the recipe.

This sparkling cocktail is perfect for whatever you’re celebrating. Sparkling rosé wine is the fruity and bubbly base for elderflower liqueur, cranberry juice, orange bitters and a sugar cube. Garnish with a rock candy stick for a little extra sparkle.

Get the recipe.

Coffee, Campari and pineapple juice—they don’t sound like they’d go together, right? But when combined with amaro, lime juice, demerara syrup and a hint of sea salt, they create a cocktail that’s an ideal balance of bitter and sweet.

Get the recipe.

How have you behaved this year? Whether you fall on the nice list, the naughty list or somewhere in between, everyone can enjoy this festive cocktail. Two kinds of wine—pinot noir and chardonnay—combine with cognac, maraschino liqueur and ginger ale to make a big-batch cocktail suitable for everyone.

Get the recipe.

Nothing brings a crowd together like a full punch bowl. This punch pours on the holiday flair thanks to orange juice and homemade cinnamon-pear syrup. And it’s spiked with whiskey, dark rum and ale to get you rockin’ around the Christmas tree in no time.

Get the recipe.