The Ultimate Holiday Cocktail Recipe List for Quarantine Tipples

We know that Christmas and cocktails go hand in hand. This year, we wanted something extra special to toast with as we say goodbye (or perhaps, good riddance) to 2020, so we consulted the experts. These 10 cocktails come from restaurants, bartenders, and distilleries that know what they’re doing. Cheers!

Cranberry Old-Fashioned from Fable Diner

Glassware: Old-Fashioned glass

Ingredients

5–7 sugared cranberries

1 ounce cranberry simple syrup

3 dashes Angostura Bitters

2 ounces Bulleit bourbon

Sugared cranberries and dehydrated orange wheel for garnish

Method

Muddle the 5–7 cranberries, simple syrup, and bitters in an Old-Fashioned glass. Add ice and bourbon. Stir gently.

Garnish with sugared cranberry skewer and dehydrated orange wheel.

The Perfect Storm from Cardero’s

Glassware: 10-ounce rocks glass

Ingredients

3–4 ounces ginger beer (to fill the glass)

1/2 ounce lime juice

2 ounces Kraken Black Spiced Rum

Mint sprig and lime wedge for garnish

Method

In the glass, combine ginger beer, lime juice, and ice. Top with Kraken and stir until mixed well.

Garnish with mint sprig and lime wedge.

Partridge in a Pear Tree from Straight and Marrow

Glassware: Coupe or similar

Ingredients

For the holiday poached pears and poached pear mulled wine:

1 bottle red wine

1/2 cup honey

1 cinnamon stick

1/3 cup crushed ginger

1 tablespoon whole allspice

1 tablespoon black peppercorn

4 bay leaves

1 tablespoon nutmeg

2 peeled and cored pears

For the partridge in a pear tree:

1 ounce Famous Grouse blended scotch (not a partridge, but close)

1 ounce poached-pear mulled wine

1/2 ounce port

8 millilitres Odd Society Spirits crème de cassis

Fresh rosemary for garnish

Method

For the mulled wine:

Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Simmer on stove for 20 minutes.

Separate the pears and strain all other solids from the mulled wine.

For the partridge in a pear tree:

Pour all ingredients except rosemary into a mixing glass. Stir to desired dilution. Strain neat into a coupe or similar cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of holiday poached pear and fresh rosemary.

Noël Blanc from The Victor

Ingredients

1/2 ounce Jameson

1 ounce Frangelico

1 ounce Baileys

2 ounces cream

Marshmallow and cinnamon for garnish

Method

Shake Jameson, Frangelico, Baileys, and cream on ice and double strain into a glass. Torch marshmallow and use to garnish on top of the cocktail. Finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Gotham Girl from Gotham Steakhouse and Bar

Glassware: Flute

Ingredients

1 ounce Bombay Sapphire gin

3/4 ounce lemon juice

3/4 ounce hibiscus syrup

1 dash Scrappy’s cardamom bitters

Chandon

Speared brandied cherry for garnish

Method

Combine all ingredients (except Chandon and cherry) into shaker. Shake, then double strain. Top with Chandon.

Garnish with speared brandied cherry resting on rim.

Brandy Alexander from Glowbal Restaurant

Glassware: Coupe glass

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces Remy VSOP

1 ounce crème de cacao

1 ounce single cream

Fresh grated nutmeg for garnish

Method

Combine all ingredients except nutmeg into shaker and shake vigorously, then fine strain into the glass.

Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg.

Peppermint Espresso Martini from Honey Salt

Glassware: Martini glass

Ingredients

Candy canes for rim

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce kahlua

1/4 ounce menthe de pastille

2 ounces espresso

Espresso beans for garnish

Method

Crush some candy canes, wet the rim of a martini glass, and dip in the candy canes. Take remaining ingredients except espresso beans and shake over ice until mixed. Pour into martini glass and garnish with espresso beans.

Midnight Fields from Minami Restaurant

Glassware: Coupe

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces lavender-infused Northern Keep vodka (Note: You can infuse your own by placing dried lavender leaves with vodka in a sealed jar for two days in the fridge.)

1/2 ounce bitter bianco white vermouth

Bar spoon of crème de violette

5 millilitres B’lure butterfly pea extract

Optional: viola flowers for garnish

Method

Stir all ingredients except garnish over ice, then strain into a coupe glass.

Optional: Garnish with edible viola flowers.

Stephen’s Hot Toddy from Dachi

Glassware: Mug or old-fashioned glass (seen above)

Being from Northern Ireland, Bushmills is the choice base. You can start with less hot water and slowly add it to your desired dilution.

Ingredients

2 ounces green-tea-infused Bushmills (throw some sencha green tea into your whisky to infuse for 2 hours minimum)

1/2 ounce honey

1/2 ounce lemon juice

5 ounces hot water

Cinnamon stick

Optional: clove-studded lemon wedge

Method

Mix together everything except lemon wedge. Garnish if desired.

Tequila Sparkler from Hornitos

Glassware: Cocktail glass

Ingredients

1 part Hornitos Reposado tequila

½ part lime juice

½ part simple syrup

4 parts champagne

Method

Add Hornitos tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into glass.

Top with champagne.