10 Holiday Cocktail Ideas For Your Next Party + Party Tips

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The holiday season is a time for celebration, and what better way to do that than by hosting a festive holiday cocktail party for your friends and family?

With a little planning and these helpful tips, you can create a truly merry and bright experience for your family and friends.

How To Host The Perfect Holiday Cocktail Party 

Set The Mood With Music

Choose a mix of festive tunes that will get your guests in the holiday spirit. Think classic Christmas carols, jazzy renditions of holiday songs, and upbeat pop hits with a holiday twist.

Create a playlist ahead of time and make sure to have enough music to last the entire party.

If you’re feeling a little extra you could hire a DJ or a live band.

Deck The Halls

Start by choosing a color scheme and stick to it throughout your decorations.

Traditional holiday colors like red, green, and gold are always a safe bet, but feel free to mix it up with some fun, colorful accents.

Decorate your space with twinkling lights, garlands, and wreaths to add a touch of sparkle and cheer.

Set the tables with holiday-themed tablecloths, napkins, and centerpieces.

And don’t forget the mistletoe!

Need ideas…be sure to visit This Worthy Life for beautiful holiday decorating ideas.

The Guest of Honor: Cocktails

Classic holiday cocktails (don’t forget the cocktail glasses) like eggnog, hot buttered rum, and mulled wine are always a hit. But don’t be afraid to get creative and offer some unique options like a cranberry mojito or a gingerbread martini.

To make things easier on yourself, set up a self-serve cocktail bar where guests can mix their own drinks (our favorite shaker)

Provide a selection of spirits, mixers, and garnishes, and let your guests have fun creating their own festive concoctions.

10 Holiday Cocktail Ideas

Here are some recipe ideas for holiday cocktails to serve at your party.

Bourbon Apple Cider Punch (for a crowd)

Ingredients:
2 cups of apple cider
1 cup of bourbon
1 cup of orange juice
1 cup of ginger ale in a large pitcher filled with ice.

Directions:
Stir well and garnish with sliced apples and cinnamon sticks.

Peppermint Eggnog

Ingredients:
1 oz rum
1 oz eggnog
1 oz peppermint schnapps
1 oz cream
Ice

Directions:
In a shaker, combine rum, eggnog, peppermint schnapps, and cream.

Shake to combine. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg or a candy cane.

Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned

Ingredients:
1 oz bourbon
1 oz maple syrup
3 dashes of orange bitters
1 orange peel
Ice

Directions:
In a shaker, combine bourbon, maple syrup, and orange bitters. Shake to combine.
Strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.

Spiced Apple Cider

Ingredients:
1 oz dark rum
1 oz apple cider
1 oz ginger ale
1 oz lemon juice
Ice

Directions:
In a shaker, combine dark rum, apple cider, ginger ale, and lemon juice. Shake to combine.
Strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or apple slice.

Cranberry Pomegranate Fizz

Ingredients:
1 oz gin
1 oz cranberry juice
1 oz pomegranate juice
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz club soda
Ice

Directions:
In a shaker, combine gin, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice. Shake to combine.
Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a sprig of cranberry or pomegranate seeds.

Spiced Eggnog 

Ingredients:
2 oz. spiced rum
1 oz. eggnog
1 oz. vanilla syrup
Dash of nutmeg

Directions:
Stir Eggnog and Spiced Rum and Vanilla Syrup in a rocks glass.
Sprinkle of nutmeg for garnish.

Spiced Iced Peppermint Mocha 

Ingredients:
2 oz. peppermint liqueur
1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. chocolate syrup
Splash of heavy cream
Ice

Directions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake until the shaker is cold to the touch.
Strain into a rocks glass.
Optional garnish crushed Candy Cane rim.

Gingerbread Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

2 oz. bourbon
1 oz. gingerbread syrup
Dash of angostura bitters

Directions:
Add all ingredients to a rock glass and stir.
Add large ice cube and serve.

Mulled Cider Margarita

Ingredients:

2 oz. tequila
1 oz. apple cider
1 oz. cranberry juice
Splash of lemon juice

Directions:
Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice.Shake until shaker is cold to the touch.
Strain into a glass of your choice. 
Optional garnish apple slice.

Cranberry Pomegranate Spritzer

Ingredients:

2 oz. vodka
1 oz. cranberry juice
1 oz. pomegranate juice
Splash of club soda
Ice

Directions:
Combine all ingredients into a stemless wine glass and give it a couple stirs.
Optional garnish Rosemary sprig and cranberry slice.

Love cranberry cocktails? Be sure to enjoy these delicious options as well:

• Cranberry Margarita
• Cranberry Gin Fizz
• Cranberry Whiskey Punch
• Cranberry Moscow Mule

PIN HOLIDAY COCKTAIL IDEAS + PARTY TIPS TO PINTEREST