Christmas cocktail recipes to get the party started

Christmas party season is now in full swing which no doubt means mountains of mince pies will be consumed, Wham will be played on repeat and your colleagues will start wearing garish jumpers to work.

Every year we go through the same process until these events become more of a pain than a party.

Fortunately we have a few ideas to refresh the festive season a little bit… Christmas cocktails with not a Snowball or Eggnog in sight!

We’ve pushed aside the traditional sickly sweet and creamy beverages that are so often rolled out at Christmas in favour of something a little more modern.

Choosing from our range of luxury spirits – which includes perfectly aged whiskies, spiced rums and craft gins – we’ve added a wintery twist to some classic cocktail recipes.

If you fancy something a bit more traditional take a look at our tips to make the perfect mulled wine.

Merry Manhattan

You will need:

• 50ml Few Bourbon Whiskey
• 25ml sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes of bitters
• Orange peel
• Star anise

Method:

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1. Mix the first three ingredients together in a mixing jug filled with ice until the liquid is cooled (around 20 secs).
2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
3. Garnish with the orange peel and star anise

Snow-groni

You will need:

• 25ml Chase GB Gin
• 25ml sweet vermouth
• 25ml Campari
• Orange segment
• Cloves

Method:

1. Stud the orange segment with cloves and set to one side
2. Mix the first three ingredients together in a mixing jug filled with ice until the liquid is cooled (around 20 secs).
3. Strain into a chilled short glass.
4. Garnish with the Christingle orange segment.

Festive 75

You will need:

• 37.5ml Chase GB Gin
• 12.5ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1tsp simple syrup
• Wyfold Vineyard Brut 50th Anniversary 2014
• Sugar

Method:

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1. Rub a lemon segment around the rim of a Champagne flute and then dip in sugar – set to one side.
2. In a cocktail shaker pour the gin, lemon juice and sugar and fill to ¾ with ice – shake together for around 30 seconds.
3. Fine strain the liquid into the flute to ensure no ice is included.
4. Top up (carefully!) with English Sparkling Wine.

Bathtub Winter G&T

You will need:

• 50 ml Bathtub Gin 
• 30 ml Cranberry juice 
• 120ml Tonic water
• Orange slices
• Cranberries

Method:

1. Add all ingredients to a large rocks glass. 
2. Fill with ice.
3. Stir to chill, mix and dilute. 
4. Add more ice.
5. Garnish with an orange slice
6. Say cheers with a friend then sip and enjoy.

Rudolph’s Rhubarb Spritz

You will need:

• 25ml Rhubarb triangle gin 
• 50ml Soda water 
• 75ml Sparkling wine 
• Strawberries

Method:

1. Add all ingredients to a large wine glass with ice, garnish with a few slices of fresh strawberry and enjoy!

Cranberry Mojito

For the drink:

• 50ml Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum
• soda water
• 20 fresh mint leaves
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 lime
• handful of ice

For the cranberry syrup:

• 200g caster sugar
• 225ml water
• 200g fresh cranberries

Method:

1. Begin making the cranberry syrup by placing the cranberries, sugar and water in a pan and allowing to gently simmer for 10 minutes. Once all the sugar has dissolved remove the cranberries from the syrup and leave both to one side to cool. This is enough for about five mojitos.
2. Get two shallow bowls, one filled with water and the other with sugar. Dip the rim of a tall glass into the water and then the sugar.
3. Next place the lime, sugar and mint in the bottom of the glass and mash it all with a bar muddler (the end of a rolling pin works well if you don’t have one).
4. Now add the ice and pour over the rum and 50ml of the cranberry syrup then top up with soda water.
5. Garnish with a couple of cranberries and a few mint leaves and enjoy immediately.

Sloe Royale

You will need:

• 25ml Sipmith Sloe Gin
• Your choice of Prosecco, Champagne or sparkling wine

Method:

1. Pour the sloe gin into the bottom of a Champagne flute
2. Top up with sparkling wine and enjoy cold.

Yule Mule

You will need:

• 50ml Chase Vodka
• 50ml cranberry juice
• 100ml ginger beer
• 1 lime
• handful of ice

Method:

1. Squeeze the juice of half a lime into a cocktail shaker and pour in the vodka, cranberry juice and ice. Give it all a good shake.
2. Place some more ice into a mug and strain over the cocktail mixture.
3. Top up with ginger beer, garnish with the other lime half and serve.

Toffee Fudge White Russian

You will need:

• 50ml V Gallery Toffee Fudge Vodka
• 2tbsp coffee liqueur
• 1tbsp cream
• handful of ice
• a spring of rosemary

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients together being careful not to let the cream split.
2. Place the ice cubes in a short tumbler style glass and pour the mixture over.
3. Garnish with a spring of rosemary and enjoy while cold.

Now you’ve got the cocktails sorted it’s time to stock up on those last minute gifts. Take a look at our blog homepage where you’ll find some suggestions to help you find the perfect Christmas gift.