There's a world of winter cocktails to choose from. It can be overwhelming deciding between a warm drink to get the chill out of your bones, or maybe something iced since the fire already has you warmed up. Whatever the reason, there's a winter cocktail for any sipping need.
Winter's Smash
If you haven't yet tired out from dealing with snow removal, or you're in need of taking out some aggression, this smash is a reward for persevering through the winter.
Ingredients
- Lemon slice
- Brown sugar cube
- 1½ ounces vodka
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce allspice dram
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig, lemon slice, and blood orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle brown sugar cube, lemon slice, and splash of simple syrup.
- Add ice, vodka, cranberry juice, lemon juice, allspice dram, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Pour into rocks glass.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig, lemon slice, and blood orange wheel.
Snowbank Eggnog
It's not always necessary to warm up eggnog, in fact this is best enjoyed while you watch the snowbanks grow while warm under some blankets.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces eggnog
- 2 ounces spiced rum
- ¾ ounce cinnamon schnapps
- Ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, eggnog, spiced rum, and cinnamon schnapps.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass.
- Garnish with ground cinnamon.
Spruce Martini
A classic martini riff that encompasses the best herbaceous of winters with just a touch of sweetness.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ½ ounce dry vermouth
- ¼ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig and olives for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add gin, dry vermouth, and rosemary simple syrup.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and olives.
Cozy Coffee
Some coffee cocktails can feel overly boozy, especially if you're just looking for something to sip with brunch or after dinner. This recipe offers a lighter option. Feel free to add a splash of regular or Irish cream.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vanilla schnapps
- ¾ ounce almond liqueur
- ¼ ounce cinnamon schnapps
- Coffee to top off
- Whipped cream for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In mug, add vanilla schnapps, almond liqueur, and cinnamon schnapps.
- Top off with freshly brewed coffee.
- Garnish with whipped cream.
Cranberry Fizz
Winter flavors meet bubbles in this easy-to-make and even easier-to-drink cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Lime club soda to top off
- Rosemary sprig and cranberries to garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, gin, cranberry juice, and orange liqueur.
- Top off with lime club soda.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and cranberries.
Jack Frost's Sour
A sour with a winter bite, the bourbon warming you from the inside out.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig, grapefruit peel, and bitters for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, lemon juice, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and grapefruit peel. Drop bitters to create design.
The Last Word
A classic cocktail, this herbaceous libation fits in well with the winter celebrations and decorations.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce gin
- ¾ ounce green chartreuse
- ¾ ounce maraschino liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Dehydrated lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with dehydrated lime wheel.
Red Bauble Martini
A martini that easily captures the flavor and colors of everything winter, whether early winter holidays or Valentine's Day, this martini is great all season long. Vodka can easily be substituted for gin, as well.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- ¾ ounce cranberry juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig.
Rosemary Fizz
Herbs are a tasty part of the winter season, and the piney notes of rosemary make a great flavor in just about any cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- Grapefruit club soda to top off
- Grapefruit wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball or rocks glass, add ice, gin, orange liqueur, and rosemary simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with grapefruit club soda.
- Garnish with grapefruit wedge.
Winter Warmer Bubbles
A great drink to enjoy over brunch or celebrations, this fizzy libation is a hit.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vanilla vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 dashes cardamom bitters
- Prosecco to top off
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a champagne flute, add vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Flannel Negroni
A warmer twist on the classic Negroni, its flavors will keep drawing you back in.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce Campari
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Ice and king cube
- Lemon peel
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice or king cube.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Spiced Cranberry Old-Fashioned
A classic old-fashioned might be spirit forward with the bourbon as the star, but this adds some spice and extra warmth to the classic.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1½ ounces cranberry juice
- ½ ounce allspice dram
- ¼ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 2 dashes walnut bitters
- Ice and king cube
- Orange wheel and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, bourbon, cranberry juice, allspice dram, cinnamon simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice or king cube.
- Garnish with orange wheel and cinnamon stick.
January's Aperol Spritz
Typically a spring or summer indulgence, the Aperol spritz can certainly take on a new flair to match the winter weather and mood.
Ingredients
- 1¼ ounce Aperol
- ¾ ounce unsweetened cranberry juice
- ½ ounce blood orange liqueur
- 2½ ounces prosecco
- Club soda to top off
- Ice
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a wine glass, add ice, Aperol, cranberry juice, blood orange liqueur, and prosecco.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with orange wedge.
Spiked Cocoa
It wouldn't be winter without an adult hot chocolate to sip on. This recipe allows for just about any spirit in place of bourbon, so customize to your heart's content.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces caramel whiskey
- ½ ounce almond liqueur
- ¼ ounce vanilla schnapps
- Hot chocolate to top off
- Marshmallows and ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In mug, add caramel whiskey, almond liqueur, and vanilla schnapps.
- Top off with hot chocolate.
- Garnish with marshmallows and ground cinnamon.
Take It Easy, Toddy
The classic hot toddy is usually served nice and warm, but this chilled version is great if you're already warm under blankets but want those familiar flavors.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces whiskey
- ¾ ounce honey liqueur
- ¾ ounce water
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, whiskey, water, honey liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
First-Class Toddy
If you wanted to see your hot toddy get an upgrade, this winter cocktail is loaded with flavors.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce honey
- ½ ounce cinnamon schnapps
- ½ ounce almond liqueur
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur
- 2 dashes walnut bitters
- Hot water to top off
- Orange slice, cinnamon stick, and dehydrated apple for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In mug, add bourbon, lemon juice, honey, cinnamon schnapps, almond liqueur, orange liqueur, and walnut bitters.
- Top off with hot water.
- Stir carefully to mix.
- Garnish with orange slice, cinnamon stick, and dehydrated apple.
Hopeful Spring
The perfect cocktail for those premature spring days in January when the sun is sending reminders of the spring and summer to come.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces tart cherry juice
- 1½ ounces lime vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- 1 ounce prosecco
- Rosemary sprig and lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tart cherry juice, lime vodka, lemon juice, and rosemary simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and lime wheel.
Lake Effect Martini
Sometimes lake effect snow comes along and throws a wrench into plans. Accept your fate and enjoy a special and unique martini on those mornings.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bourbon or vodka
- ¾ ounce chocolate liqueur
- ¾ ounce coffee liqueur
- ½ ounce cinnamon schnapps
- ½ ounce chilled coffee or espresso
- Ice
- Bacon strip for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, chocolate liqueur, coffee liqueur, cinnamon schnapps, and espresso.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with bacon strip.
The Good Winter Blues
Wintertime can stir up some blues, and cabin fever can start to feel all too real. So whether you're warming up, cooling down, or want a drink in hand as you navigate the season, there's a winter cocktail or nonalcoholic winter mocktail that'll check that box. And if you want a warm warming drink, try a tasty cocoa add-in, such as amaretto hot chocolate.
