The holiday season means gathering with friends and family… and of course, delicious snacks and drinks. We made (and taste-tested) a bunch of fun and festive cocktails and mocktails so we could share our favorites with you. Are you ready to be the best host you can be this year?

The Dirty Martini

No joke, Sarah’s favorite drink is a Dirty Martini… the dirtier the better. 

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Ingredients: 

• 2.5 oz Vodka or Gin
• 0.5 oz Vermouth (dry)
• 0.5 oz Olive Brine
• Ice
• Olives for garnish

Instructions:

Add your Gin or Vodka, Dry Vermouth, and olive brine over ice in a cocktail shaker (USA) (Canada) and shake for 40 – 60 seconds. Strain through a mesh strainer into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a few olives and voila, you are in a James Bond movie enjoying a dirty martini.

Cozy Sweater

There are a few different versions of a Cozy Sweater, but this is Sarah’s favorite. Best enjoyed around a fireplace.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Whiskey 
• .5 oz Maple whiskey 
• 1 oz Lemon juice 
• Red wine float (merlot)
• Ice
• Lemon slice for garnish

Instructions:

Combine Whiskey, Maple Whiskey, and lemon juice in your cocktail shaker (or a large glass). Stir, and pour in a short glass over ice. Slowly pour some red wine over the back of a spoon to float it on the top. Garnish with a lemon slice.

McAllister Magic

This is a fun drink brought to you by The McAllister Family. A simple sweet drink for watching Christmas movies and wrapping presents.

Ingredients: 

• 3 oz Bailey’s 
• Chocolate Milk – free pour
• Ice
• Whipped cream
• Maraschino cherry (optional)

Instructions:

Place ice into a glass. Pour in Bailey’s, top off with chocolate milk and whipped cream. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Rudolf’s Boozy (or Non Boozy) Spritzer

This one can be a boozy adults-only drink OR leave out the vodka to keep it a family-friendly mocktail. You can make a big punch bowl or keep it clean in a jug. Recipes for both are below.

Single Serving: 

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Cranberry juice
• 1.5 oz Ginger ale
• 2 oz Orange juice 
• Splash Lemon juice
• 1.5 oz Vodka (omit for mocktail)
• Cranberries or maraschino cherries and rosemary sprig to garnish

Instructions:

Mix ingredients in a shaker or large glass (stir, don’t shake), pour over ice in a short glass and then garnish with some festive cranberries or maraschino cherries and a rosemary sprig. 

Large batch (for a punch bowl or juice pitcher):

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups Cranberry juice, chilled
• 2 cups Ginger ale
• 2 ½ cups Orange juice
• 2 cups Vodka (omit for mocktail)
• Juice of one large lemon (about 1/4 cup)
• Cranberries or maraschino cherries and rosemary sprigs to garnish

Instructions:

Mix ingredients and chill.

Santa’s Hat

Kids love these because they are so fun-looking. You can add vodka for the adults or leave it out for a fun mocktail. These are basically a Christmassy Shirley Temple.

Ingredients: 

• Vanilla frosting & coconut flakes for rim
• 2 oz Vodka (omit for mocktail)
• 1 oz Red Grenadine
• 2 oz Fresh lime
• ½ cup Lemon-lime soda

Instructions:

First, spread a small layer of icing around the rim of a martini glass. Then pour some coconut flakes onto a plate and dip the lip of the glass to rim it. 

Mix your vodka, grenadine, fresh lime and soda into a cocktail shaker or glass and give it a stir (don’t shake). Pour it into the glass and tada! An adorable Santa’s Hat.

Baileys Candy Cane Cocktail

This is an adults-only drink. We don’t think you can ever go wrong with Bailey’s.

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz Creme de cacao
• 1 oz Creme de menthe
• 2 oz Baileys
• Chocolate sauce
• Candy canes
• Grated chocolate for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Crush some candy canes using a blender (USA) (Canada) or a sandwich bag and a rolling pin until you have fine candy cane dust.

Next, pour the chocolate sauce onto one plate and the candy cane dust on another. Rim the lip of the glass with chocolate and then dip it into the candy cane dust to create a tasty mint chocolate rim.

Pour all your liquids into a shaker over ice. Give it a good shake, and then pour it into your glasses. If you want to get even fancier, grate some chocolate on top.

Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini 

This one can also be a delicious mocktail.

Ingredients: 

• 3 cups Milk 
• 8 tbsp Hot cocoa mix
• 6 cups Ice
• 0.75 oz Vanilla vodka (omit for mocktail)
• Squirt of chocolate syrup – 3 tbsp  
• Mini marshmallows for garnish

Instructions:

Pour some hot cocoa mix onto one plate and a circle of chocolate syrup on another. Dip the rim of the glass into chocolate syrup and then in the cocoa for a tasty cocoa rim.

Next, pour all of your ingredients into a blender and blend. Taste, then add more hot cocoa mix or chocolate syrup if desired (we did).

Pour into glasses and garnish with mini marshmallows.