25 Festive Christmas Drinks: Hot, Cold, Alcoholic & Family-Friendly
Christmas is a season of sparkle, warmth, and celebration — and the right drink in hand makes those moments even more special. Whether you’re gathered by the fire, hosting a party, or simply enjoying a quiet evening under the glow of the tree, festive drinks can turn ordinary evenings into magical memories.
Here are 25 Christmas drinks — hot and cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic — to bring joy and flavour to your holiday season.

Hot & Cozy Classics
- Mulled Wine 🍷
Red wine simmered with cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and orange slices. Add a dash of brandy for extra depth. - Spiced Apple Cider 🍎
Warm apple juice with cinnamon, cloves, and fresh ginger. Enjoy as is or add a splash of dark rum. - Luxury Hot Chocolate ☕
Melt real chocolate into hot milk, topped with cream, marshmallows, and crushed candy canes. - Hot Buttered Rum 🧈
Dark rum mixed with spiced butter (butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg) in hot water. Rich and indulgent. - Mulled Cranberry Punch 🍒
Cranberry juice simmered with orange peel, cloves, and honey. Serve warm with or without vodka. - Gingerbread Latte ☕🍪
Strong coffee, steamed milk, and gingerbread syrup topped with whipped cream and nutmeg. - Irish Coffee ☘️
Hot coffee sweetened with sugar and Irish whiskey, finished with cream floated on top. - Eggnog (Traditional or Vegan) 🥚🥛
Creamy, spiced custard drink made with eggs, milk, sugar, and nutmeg. Add rum or bourbon — or make a dairy-free version with almond milk. - Peppermint White Hot Chocolate 🍬
White chocolate melted into hot milk with a drop of peppermint extract, topped with whipped cream and candy cane sprinkles. - Chai Latte with a Festive Twist 🌿
Brew strong chai tea, add steamed milk, honey, and a pinch of cinnamon. Comfort in a mug.

Festive Cocktails & Fizz
- Christmas Negroni 🍊
Equal parts gin, Campari, and vermouth with a slice of orange and rosemary sprig. - Sparkling Pomegranate Fizz 🥂
Prosecco over pomegranate juice with fresh pomegranate seeds. Jewel-like and festive. - Cranberry Moscow Mule 🍹
Vodka, cranberry juice, lime, and ginger beer served in copper mugs. - Baileys Espresso Martini 🍸
A decadent blend of Baileys, vodka, and espresso shaken with ice. - Gingerbread Martini 🍪
Vodka, Kahlua, cream, and gingerbread syrup with a crushed biscuit rim. - Cranberry Gin & Tonic 🍸
Classic G&T with cranberry juice and a sprig of rosemary. - Holiday Sangria 🍷🍊
Red wine, brandy, cranberry juice, oranges, and apples. Chill for a refreshing party drink. - Christmas Mimosa 🍾
Champagne mixed with cranberry juice and garnished with frozen cranberries. Perfect for Christmas morning. - Spiced Rum Punch 🍹
Spiced rum, orange juice, cranberry juice, and ginger ale for a crowd-pleasing punch. - Sloe Gin Fizz 🍒
Sloe gin, lemon juice, and soda water. Light, fruity, and perfect for December evenings.

Non-Alcoholic & Family-Friendly
- Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail 🥤
Cranberry juice topped with soda water and lime. Garnish with frozen cranberries. - Apple & Cinnamon Spritz 🍏
Chilled apple juice with sparkling water and a cinnamon stick for garnish. - Orange & Rosemary Fizz 🍊🌿
Fresh orange juice and tonic water with a rosemary sprig. Sophisticated and refreshing. - Frozen Berry Smoothie 🍓
Frozen berries blended with yogurt and apple juice — colourful, healthy, and fun. - Candy Cane Milkshake 🍦🍬
Vanilla ice cream blended with milk and peppermint extract, topped with cream and crushed candy canes. A festive treat for kids and grown-ups alike.
Wrapping Up
Whether you prefer something hot and spiced, sparkling and sophisticated, or colourful and family-friendly, these Christmas drinks will add a little extra magic to your season.
So raise a glass — to cosy nights, joyful gatherings, and the simple pleasure of being together. Cheers to Christmas! 🥂✨
Chat soon,
Ciara x
📖 Winter Reading & Seasonal Inspiration
If you’re drawn to the quieter, slower rhythms of the colder months, these are some of the books I return to again and again during winter. They explore themes of seasonal living, rest, reflection, hygge, and finding joy in simpler days. I’ll leave the links below if you’d like to explore any of them further.
Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work.
📚 Winter & Seasonal Reading
- The Christmas Chronicles – Nigel Slater
- The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2026 – Lia Leendertz
- The Joy of Wintering – Erin Niimi Longhurst
- How to Winter – Kari Leibowitz
- Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year – Beth Kempton
- My Hygge Home – Meik Wiking
- The Art of Danish Living – Meik Wiking
- The Little Book of Hygge – Meik Wiking
- The Little Book of Lykke – Meik Wiking
- Wintering – Katherine May
- The Self-Care Year – Alison Davies
- The Happiness Year – Tara Ward
- The Wheel of the Year – Fiona Cook & Jessica Roux


