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    Home » Cocktails

    Warm Up by the Fire with These 30+ Winter Cocktails

    Published: Nov 4, 2023 · Updated: Feb 2, 2025 by Tammilee · This post may contain affiliate links

    Whether you need a handheld libation to accompany you on a Christmas movie marathon, a sweet after-dinner drink to act as a finishing touch on a fantastic holiday meal shared with friends and family or need a festive and fizzy drink to toast to the New Year, we’ve got plenty of winter cocktails and shots fit for any occasion! Happy holidays!

    Collage of winter cocktails with hot chocolate, coffee, and a cranberry mule

    Warm Up by the Fire with These 30+ Winter Cocktails

    Contents show
    Warm Up by the Fire with These 30+ Winter Cocktails
    CrockPot Hot Buttered Rum
    The Perfect Storm Cocktail
    CrockPot Mulled Wine
    Spiced Cranberry Cocktail
    Mulled Cherry Cider Cocktail
    Maple Old Fashioned
    Baileys Hot Chocolate
    Baileys Coffee
    Cranberry Mimosa
    Fireball Eggnog
    RumChata Iced Latte
    Eggnog Mudslide
    Kahlúa Hot Chocolate
    Bourbon Eggnog
    Amaretto Eggnog
    Eggnog White Russian
    RumChata Eggnog
    RumChata Hot Chocolate
    Cranberry Moscow Mule
    Dirty Shirley Cocktail
    Tiramisu Martini
    Deal Closer Cocktail
    Strawberry Champagne Cocktail
    Caribbean Sunset Martini
    Boozy Grinch Cocktail
    Bacon Manhattan Cocktail
    Pomegranate Breeze Martini
    Bama Breeze Cocktail
    Peppermint Vodka
    Winter Shots
    Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot
    Broken Down Golf Cart Shot
    Grinch Jello Shots
    Fireball Jello Shots
    Cherry Bomb Shot
    RumChata Pudding Shots
    Peppermint Patty Shot
    Polar Bear Shot
    Three Wise Men Shot
    Red Snapper Shot
    Favorite Cocktail Tools
    Great Cocktail Recipe Collections

    Winter drinks are flavored with warm spices, citrus, honey, eggnog, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, Campari, and other great flavors. From a delicious hot toddy to hot chocolate cocktails, this list has something for everyone.

    Great for snow days, New Year's Eve, or when you want to warm up with a great drink.

    Hot Buttered Rum in glass coffee mugs with cinnamon sticks on a wood board

    CrockPot Hot Buttered Rum

    Ingredients: Unsalted Butter, Dark Brown Sugar, Dark Rum, Vanilla Extract, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Ground Cloves, Apple Cider

    This warming, make-ahead-friendly cocktail is easy to prep the day before your holiday party or gathering and is one of the coziest cocktails of the season!

    red martini in a stemless martini glass on a white napkin

    The Perfect Storm Cocktail

    Ingredients: Bacardi Rum, Bacardi Spiced, Monin Strawberry Syrup, Cranberry Juice, Lime Juice

    The weather outside may be Dark and Stormy, like the cocktail that inspires The Perfect Storm, but this ruby cocktail featuring spiced rum, cranberry juice, and strawberry syrup for sweetness is anything but.

    mulled white with an orange slice, cranberries, and cinnamon stick

    CrockPot Mulled Wine

    Ingredients: Merlot, Orange Juice, Fresh Whole Cranberries, White Sugar, Orange, Cloves, Cinnamon Sticks, Brandy

    This spiced mulled wine contains a bottle of Merlot and half a cup of brandy for a hot, boozy beverage to keep spirits lively and warm.

    red cocktail with cranberries and rosemary next to a bowl of cranberries and a glass cocktail shaker

    Spiced Cranberry Cocktail

    Ingredients: Cranberry Vodka, Cranberry Wine, Spiced Cranberry Cocktail, Whole Cranberries, Rosemary Sprig, Ice

    You can make this cheery red cocktail with a spiced cranberry cocktail or tarter and less sweet cranberry juice, depending on how sweet you like your drinks and how much you enjoy cranberry.

    Mulled Cherry Cider in a short glass with maraschino cherry garnish

    Mulled Cherry Cider Cocktail

    Ingredients: Vodka, Maraschino Cherry Juice, Cherry Cider, Mulled Cider, Maraschino Cherries, Ice

    Feel free to use an inexpensive vodka when making this cherry-forward holiday cocktail, as its role is to add alcohol and let the other ingredients shine.

    Maple old fashioned in a martini glass next to a bottle of Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum

    Maple Old Fashioned

    Ingredients: Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum, Maple Syrup, Angostura Bitters

    The specialty rum in this twist on an old-fashioned is finished in charred bourbon oak barrels, giving it the best of both worlds. If you want to add a cherry, we recommend using Luxardo Cherries, a staple at many bars with a quality bar program.

    Baileys Hot Chocolate in a glass mug with whipped cream and a snowflake marshmallow

    Baileys Hot Chocolate

    Ingredients: Hot Chocolate Mix, Milk, Baileys Irish Cream

    We love making this easy, three-ingredient Baileys Hot Chocolate as-is, but feel free to top it with a dollop of our homemade Baileys Whipped Cream for a decadent treat!

    Bailey’s Coffee in a glass coffee mug garnished with whipped cream

    Baileys Coffee

    Ingredients: Hot Coffee, Baileys Irish Cream

    Whether you use Baileys Original or one of its other flavors, such as Salted Caramel, Espresso Creme, or Vanilla Cinnamon, this two-ingredient hot cocktail is the perfect way to add some pep to your step at any winter brunch!

    green champagne bottle pouring into a champagne flute with cranberry mimosa

    Cranberry Mimosa

    Ingredients: Champagne, Cranberry Juice

    Ring in the holidays or the New Year with this delightful, two-ingredient take on the mimosa that celebrates a beloved winter fruit. Add our Sugared Cranberries to the bottom before pouring for an elegant treat!

    Fireball Eggnog in a crystal glass with cinnamon stick garnish in front of a bottle of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey

    Fireball Eggnog

    Ingredients: Eggnog, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

    Combining creamy eggnog with cinnamon-flavored whiskey in this eggnog cocktail gives it similarities to horchata, a Mexican refreshment made with rice milk, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.

    RumChata Iced Coffee with a cinnamon stick garnish on white coasters

    RumChata Iced Latte

    Ingredients: RumChata, Coffee

    This RumChata Iced Coffee works with homemade iced coffee or premade cold brew, depending on what you have in your kitchen and how much effort you would like to put into making it.

    Eggnog Mudslide in a glass on a white coaster garnished with whipped cream and nutmeg with a cinnamon stick

    Eggnog Mudslide

    Ingredients: Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur, Vodka, Eggnog

    Eggnog replaces the heavy cream found in a traditional mudslide for a festive twist that uses the wintertime’s most beloved dairy-based beverage!

    Kahlua Hot Chocolate in a glass coffee mug garnished with whipped cream and espresso beans

    Kahlúa Hot Chocolate

    Ingredients: Hot Chocolate Mix, Milk, Kahlúa

    We use milk instead of water for an epic and rich hot chocolate in this Kahlúa hot cocoa that tastes like a boozy mocha.

    Bourbon Eggnog in a crystal glass on white coasters next to a gold spoon and snowman

    Bourbon Eggnog

    Ingredients: Eggnog, Bourbon, Nutmeg

    We’ve included some suggestions for bourbons you can use in this boozy eggnog cocktail, but any kind you enjoy and can pick up from a store near you would be excellent!

    Amaretto Eggnog Cocktail in a gold polka dot glass on a white coaster

    Amaretto Eggnog

    Ingredients: Eggnog, Amaretto Liqueur

    You can make this adult-only eggnog beverage neat or chilled with ice, depending on how cold you want to serve it. Scale the recipe up and combine it in a punch bowl for group serving!

    Eggnog White Russian in a crystal glass garnished with a cinnamon stick

    Eggnog White Russian

    Ingredients: Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur, Vodka, Eggnog

    Garnish this festive twist on the white Russian with whipped cream, nutmeg, cinnamon, and star anise for a treat you’ll enjoy as you warm up by the fireplace this winter. Add a dollop or two of our Eggnog Whipped Cream if you love eggnog!

    RumChata Eggnog Cocktail garnished with whip cream and nutmeg on white coasters

    RumChata Eggnog

    Ingredients: RumChata, Eggnog

    Since decadent treats are the name of the game during the holidays, we love topping this sweet cocktail with whipped cream. However, you can also rim the glass with cinnamon sugar for a lighter version that gives it more of a horchata taste.

    RumChata Hot Chocolate in a glass coffee mug garnished with whipped cream and a gingerbread cookie

    RumChata Hot Chocolate

    Ingredients: RumChata, Hot Chocolate Mix, Milk

    We love this simple recipe because adding a shot or two of this spiced rum cream liqueur quickly turns a run-of-the-mill hot chocolate packet into the perfect wintertime adult hot chocolate.

    cranberry mules in copper mugs with a bowl of cranberries and lime slices

    Cranberry Moscow Mule

    Ingredients: Vodka, Cranberry Juice Cocktail, Fresh Lime Juice, Ginger Beer

    This festive twist on the classic Moscow mule is the perfect fizzy cocktail for any Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering! We love garnishing it with cranberries and a rosemary sprig for a classy look.

    Two red cocktails in tall glasses garnished with maraschino cherries next to a bowl of cherries

    Dirty Shirley Cocktail

    Ingredients: Vodka, Grenadine, Sprite, Maraschino Cherries for Garnish

    The “dirty” part of this Shirley Temple-inspired cocktail’s name comes from the grown-up addition of vodka. We recommend cherry or vanilla vodka if you crave extra flavor.

    Tiramisu Martini pouring from a cocktail shaker into a martini glass with chocolate design.

    Tiramisu Martini

    Ingredients: Malibu Coconut Rum, Irish Cream, Frangelico, Peach Schnapps, Disaronno Amaretto, Butterscotch Schnapps

    This after-dinner cocktail tastes like an Italian tiramisu, in case you want a cocktail and a dessert in one! Each of its six ingredients contains alcohol, making this drink pack a punch.

    chocolate coated glass with deal closer cocktail

    Deal Closer Cocktail

    Ingredients: Vanilla Rum, Amaretto, Baileys Irish Cream, Dark Creme de Cacao, Chocolate Syrup

    This indulgent cocktail drinks like a boozy adult chocolate milkshake! It’s one of our favorites from Alchemy Bar, Carnival Cruises’ premium onboard craft cocktail bar.

    red champagne cocktail garnished with a strawberry next to pink hearts and strawberries

    Strawberry Champagne Cocktail

    Ingredients: Rosé Champagne, Monin Strawberry Simple Syrup, Sliced Strawberries, Ice

    This Strawberry Champagne Cocktail is a lovely alternative when you’ve had your fill of cranberry but want a bubbly drink that looks the part for holiday toasts or winter girls’ nights.

    Red martini with a lemon wedge in a martini glass

    Caribbean Sunset Martini

    Ingredients: Absolut Raspberri, Malibu Coconut Rum, Cranberry Juice, Lime Juice

    Chase away the winter blues with a raspberry, coconut, and cranberry martini that comes in a festive, holiday-appropriate red but tastes like a warm paradise in a martini glass.

    Two Bright green cocktails with cherries in them in martini glasses with a sugared rim.

    Boozy Grinch Cocktail

    Ingredients: Midori Melon Liqueur, Pineapple Juice, Maraschino Cherries

    This neon-green cocktail is inspired by one of the fun libations we enjoyed at the Reno Santa Pub Crawl in 2019. Add a touch of Sprite or 7-Up for a fizzy delight!

    Bacon Manhattan in a martini glass with a slice of bacon for garnish

    Bacon Manhattan Cocktail

    Ingredients: Bacon-Infused Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, Bitters

    Pair this savory, bacon-infused take on the classic Manhattan with an equally hearty holiday feast for a cocktail everyone at the dining table will be buzzing about!

    Bright red martini with a lime wedge in a martini glass on a white napkin

    Pomegranate Breeze Martini

    Ingredients: Absolut Vodka, Monin Pomegranate Syrup, Lemonade, Cranberry Juice

    This Carnival Cruises copycat martini celebrates the pomegranate, another seasonal red fruit enjoyed throughout fall and winter! You can prepare individual servings in martini glasses or whip up a big batch for a holiday punch bowl.

    Red cocktail with lime slices in a tall glass on a green picnic table

    Bama Breeze Cocktail

    Ingredients: Lime, Simple Syrup, Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka, Coconut Rum, Cranberry Juice

    This cranberry, grapefruit, and coconut cocktail has the right balance of sweetness, tartness, holiday cheer, and tropical bliss to hold you over on the winter days you pine for warmer weather.

    Peppermint vodka in a mason jar next to a martini glass with peppermint candies and a silver cocktail shaker

    Peppermint Vodka

    Ingredients: Vodka, Peppermint Candies

    This homemade peppermint vodka is an excellent use of any candy canes lying around at home after wrapping this season’s holiday gifts! We love preparing batches in mason jars for easy DIY holiday gifts.

    Winter Shots

    Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot in a tall shot glass on white coasters surrounded by cereal

    Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot

    Ingredients: RumChata, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Sugar Water, Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

    Serve a tray of these cereal-inspired shooters with your next holiday brunch for a nostalgic yet grown-up treat! They are easy to upsize into cocktails if you want an adult-sized helping.

    Broken Down Golf Cart green shot in a glass on a coaster

    Broken Down Golf Cart Shot

    Ingredients: Amaretto, Midori Melon Liqueur, Lime Juice

    We may be uncertain about how this bright-hued, three-ingredient shot got its name, but we agree it’s a festive green shooter that would look at home on any holiday cocktail spread.

    Green grinch jello shot with red heart on a red drying rack

    Grinch Jello Shots

    Ingredients: Green Jello, Vodka, Water

    Just as the Grinch’s heart grew multiple sizes by the movie's end, you can garnish these party-ready holiday Jello shots to your heart’s delight! We decorated ours with whipped cream, red sugar, and red heart-shaped candies to contrast against the green gelatin.

    Fireball Jello Shot with whipped cream and a red hot candy on a white plate

    Fireball Jello Shots

    Ingredients: Cherry Jello, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Water

    We love decorating these cherry Jello and Fireball party shots with Red Hots candies to pretty them up and add an even more spicy cinnamon kick to help you defrost from the winter weather.

    Red shot surrounded by cherries

    Cherry Bomb Shot

    Ingredients: Grenadine, Cherry Vodka, Red Bull Energy Drink

    The cherry in this ruby-red shooter comes from cherry vodka, while the “bomb” part is from the two ounces of Red Bull. You can adjust the color with grenadine if your cherry vodka is not red.

    RumChata Pudding Shots spread around a bottle of RumChata

    RumChata Pudding Shots

    Ingredients: Milk, RumChata, Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix, Cool Whip

    We used vanilla-flavored instant pudding mix in these pudding shots, but you can use any flavor you think would be yummy with RumChata! Cheesecake, chocolate, banana, and white chocolate would all be excellent options.

    peppermint patty chocolate next to a shot glass filled with peppermint patty shot

    Peppermint Patty Shot

    Ingredients: Creme de Cacao Liqueur, Peppermint Schnapps, Baileys Irish Cream

    If you love York peppermint patties, Andes mints, or any combination of chocolate and mint, you’ll love this Peppermint Patty Shot! You can use dark creme de cacao if you prefer the taste of dark chocolate, but keep in mind that your shot will look slightly darker than ours, as pictured.

    polar bear marshmallows behind a shot glass with clear liquid polar bear shot

    Polar Bear Shot

    Ingredients: White Creme de Cacao, Peppermint Schnapps or White Creme de Menthe

    Like our Peppermint Patty shot, this see-through shot made famous on the sitcom Schitt’s Creek tastes like mint chocolate candy! You can replace the white creme de menthe with green creme de menthe if you prefer a green shot.

    Three Wise Men Shot on a white coaster next to a gold spoon and liquor bottles

    Three Wise Men Shot

    Ingredients: Johnnie Walker Red Label Scotch Whisky, Jim Beam Bourbon, Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

    What do you get when scotch whisky, bourbon, and Tennessee whiskey walk into a bar? This Three Wise Men Shot, of course! You can serve it neat in an old-fashioned glass if you prefer to sip on it than shoot it down, but remember it packs a punch.

    Two red cocktail shots on white coasters.

    Red Snapper Shot

    Ingredients: Crown Royal Canadian Whisky, Amaretto Liqueur, Cranberry Juice

    Contrary to its name, no fish were involved or harmed in making this Canadian whisky, amaretto, and cranberry shot.

     

    Favorite Cocktail Tools

    2 ounce shot glasses - We love these 2 oz shot glasses especially for layered shots.

    Bar Spoon - Bar spoons help to create layers in the cocktail shot. They fit perfectly into the cocktail shot glass. We like how long they are to make it easy to stir drinks.

    Cocktail Shaker – This cocktail shaker comes with a fantastic set of tools to make it easy to shake and strain your winter cocktails.

    Stemless Martini Glasses - These stemless martini glasses are fantastic.

    Martini Glass - We like the look of the classic martini glass

    Jell-O Shot Cups - We suggest using two-ounce Jell-O shot cups.

    OXO angled jiggers - these are our go-to measuring tools for cocktails. They work perfectly for to pour in layers for cocktails.

    Copper Mule Mugs  - Copper Mule Mugs are the classic way to serve Moscow Mules. The copper mugs keep them nice and cold and look amazing.

    Coupe Glass - We love the look of these glasses.

    Depending on the winter drink you may also need a saucepan to boil hot water.

    Great Cocktail Recipe Collections

    2 Ingredient Cocktails - These easy cocktails are made with gin, rum, vodka, and other great spirits.

    Chambord Cocktails - Great cocktail recipes made with delicious Chambord Liqueur.

    Peppermint Schnapps Cocktails - Are you wondering what to make with a bottle of Peppermint Schnapps? Don't worry these easy Peppermint Schnapps Drinks taste amazing

    Moscow Mule Recipes - Try a new variation on the classic Moscow Mule Drink.

    Butterscotch Schnapps Cocktails - No need to be bitter! These Butterscotch Schnapps Cocktails are easy to make and tastes oh so sweet.

    Thanksgiving Cocktails - Check out this great list of easy cocktails perfect for Thanksgiving dinner.

    Check out all of our Cocktail Recipes

    Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

    Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for all of our recipe posts.

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    About Tammilee

    Lifestyle blogger who travels the world and drinks too much Chai tea. Travel blogger, award winning photographer, sunset hunter, Birkenstock girl, bird nerd
    You can find Tammilee on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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