10 Birthday Cocktails for a Boozy Bash

Published February 24, 2022
Candles burning on slice of cake with sprinkles near champagne

Celebrating your birthday or anyone's birthday is a great chance to enjoy a few special or unique cocktails you wouldn't ordinarily get the chance to shake up or sip. From sparkling to cake in a glass, there are plenty of ways to say "Happy Birthday!" with a few birthday cocktails.

Birthday Cocktails to Replace Cake

It's your birthday - drink your calories! If you like the idea of cake in theory but find it too sweet or just not your jam, then enjoy these fabulous cake-like cocktails instead...or have both. Go ahead. It's your birthday.

Pink Birthday Cake Cocktail

Pink Birthday Cake

You can skip the sprinkles on this rim, but why not enjoy a little extra merriment?

Ingredients

  • Lemon wedge and sprinkles for rim
  • 2 ounces vanilla vodka
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • ¼ ounce grenadine
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
  3. With the sprinkles on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sprinkles to coat.
  4. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and grenadine.
  5. Shake to chill.
  6. Strain into prepared glass.

Chocolate Cake Martini

Chocolate Cake Martini

Just one of many birthday cake martinis, don't let the color fool you, and this martini tastes exactly like a piece of rich chocolate cake.

Ingredients

  • Lemon wedge and salt for rim
  • 1 ounce vanilla vodka
  • 1 ounce hazelnut liqueur
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ ounce white creme de cacao
  • Ice
  • Lemon ribbon for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
  3. With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
  4. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, hazelnut liqueur, lemon juice, and white creme de cacao.
  5. Shake to chill.
  6. Strain into prepared glass.
  7. Garnish with lemon ribbon.

Cake Batter Martini

Cake Batter Martini

Remember those days of being asked if you wanted to lick the cake batter spoon? It's exactly like that.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces cake vodka
  • 1 ounce white chocolate liqueur
  • ¾ ounce heavy cream
  • ½ ounce white creme de cacao
  • ¼ ounce almond liqueur
  • Ice
  • Lemon wheel for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, white chocolate liqueur, heavy cream, white creme de cacao, and almond liqueur.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lemon wheel, if desired.

Mudslide

Mudslide

Skip the blender with this classic and tasty mudslide. After all, birthdays are for treating yourself.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces chocolate vodka
  • 1½ ounces Irish cream
  • 1 ounce coffee liqueur
  • 2 ounces heavy cream
  • Ice
  • Chocolate syrup for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, chocolate vodka, Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
  4. Swirl chocolate syrup over top.

Chocolate Martini

Chocolate Martini

If you're looking for a creamy chocolate drink to be your dessert or go hand in hand with your dessert, the chocolate martini is the way to go. Go big by using chocolate vodka and a few dashes of chocolate bitters.

Ingredients

  • Chocolate syrup for swirl
  • 1½ ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce chocolate liqueur
  • ¾ ounce creme de cacao
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. Swirl chocolate syrup inside of glass.
  3. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, chocolate liqueur, and creme de cacao.
  4. Shake to chill.
  5. Strain into prepared glass.

Red Velvet Martini

Red Velvet Martini

The best of delicious red velvet but in a glass, meaning that there's no tedious baking involved.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces red velvet Irish cream
  • ¾ ounce whipped cream vodka
  • ½ ounce raspberry liqueur
  • ¼ ounce white creme de cacao
  • Ice
  • Cherry and lemon wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, red velvet Irish cream, whipped cream vodka, raspberry liqueur, and white creme de cacao.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with cherry and lemon wheel.

Fancy and Festive Cocktails for a Happy Birthday

Make sure you have a happy birthday by sipping on these fancy and festive drinks.

Kir Royale

Kir Royale

Make your birthday, or the one's you love, a royal occasion with this elevated cocktail.

Ingredients

  • ½ ounce crème de cassis
  • Prosecco to top off
  • Lemon ribbon for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a Champagne flute.
  2. Add crème de cassis.
  3. Top off with prosecco.
  4. Garnish with lemon ribbon.

Champagne and Flowers

Champagne and Flowers

A sparkling wine cocktail with floral notes, it's like two birthday gifts in one.

Ingredients

  • ½ ounce honey liqueur
  • ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Ice
  • Prosecco to top off
  • Lemon peel for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a coupe glass.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, honey liqueur, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Top off with prosecco.
  6. Garnish with lemon peel.

Nutty Old-Fashioned

Nutty Old-Fashioned

An old-fashioned is a great drink not only for everyday sipping but celebrations as well, especially when you add some flavors.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • ½ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
  • 3-4 dashes walnut bitters
  • 2-3 dashes aromatic bitters
  • Ice
  • Orange twist

Instructions

  1. In a mixing glass, add ice, bourbon, cinnamon simple syrup, walnut bitters, and aromatic bitters.
  2. Stir rapidly to chill.
  3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice or king cube.
  4. Garnish with orange twist.

Piña Colada

Piña Colada

Celebrate your birthday in style with a tropical cocktail, even if you're just dreaming of your next birthday in the sunshine.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces white rum
  • 2 ounces pineapple juice
  • 1½ ounces cream of coconut
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Orange slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and lime juice.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with orange slice.

Birthday Cocktails Worth Wishing For

A birthday is a festive occasion; even if it's as simple as celebrating with one other friend, you can still make a toast using a beautiful birthday cocktail. Or, if pudding's more your thing, try these yummy birthday cake pudding shots. You may even want to share a few extra happy birthday cocktails and make it a whole birthday week. It's your birthday, do what you want.

10 Birthday Cocktails for a Boozy Bash