There’s just something so cozy about curling up at a neighborhood restaurant or bar and ordering a cozy winter cocktail to sip on. You can easily recreate this vibe at home by turning on the fireplace, dimming the lights, and whipping up one of these best winter cocktails here.
From easy spiked hot chocolates to hot toddies and a few fun twists on the classics, like a s’mores Old Fashioned or a white chocolate Christmas cocktail, there’s something for everyone. There are so many winter flavors to choose from whether it’s something sweet like chocolate, to spicy flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg and the warming notes of bourbon and more. Cozy up on a cold winter night with one of these winter cocktails.
13 Best Winter Cocktails
Spiked Hot Chocolate
Take your favorite hot chocolate recipe and add a bit of Kahlua, vodka and creme de cocoa. There’s nothing more comforting than cozying up on the couch with a blanket and a good movie and a cup of hot chocolate.
Ingredients
- Your favorite hot cocoa (I used a classic packet with hot water)
- 1 oz Pecan Cathead Vodka (plain works too!)
- 1/2 oz Kahlua
- 1/2 oz of creme de coca
Instructions
Make your favorite hot chocolate recipe, then add in your liquor and mix well. Serve in a mug topped with whipped cream and as sprinkle of cocoa powder.
S’Mores Old Fashioned
If you’re a fan of an Old Fashioned, this is the perfect winter holiday spin. A S’mores Old Fashioned with vanilla simple syrup, chocolate bitters and a toasted marshmallow as a fabulous garnish
Ingredients
- 2 oz of your favorite bourbon
- .5 oz of vanilla simple syrup
- 2 dashes of aromatic bitters
- 2 dashes of chocolate bitters
- Toasted marshmallow for garnish
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a cocktail mixing glass with some ice and stir with a spoon well. You want to get the drink nice and cold. Then pour it over a large ice cube (I love these sphere ice cube molds) into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a toasted marshmallow.
Classic White Russian
A favorite after dinner drink. Skip dessert, and choose a classic White Russian for a winter drink. It’s such a simple cocktail with vodka, Kahlua and a splash of heavy cream. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon too!
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1 oz Kahlua
- 2 oz heavy cream
Instructions
Pour vodka and Kahlua in a glass over ice. Float heavy cream over liquors and garnish with cinnamon stick.
Spiked Pumpkin Spice Latte
Nothing says cozy winter beverage like a pumpkin spice latte. But take it up a notch with a homemade version and a good splash of booze.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz vodka
- 1 oz Kahlua
- 2 oz of the Starbucks copy cat pumpkin spice syrup mixture – my recipe here
- 3 oz of strongly brewed coffee or two shots of espresso
Instructions
For a hot spiked latte, add all ingredients to a glass and stir with a spoon or a small whisk to combine. An immersion mini frother is great for this. Top your pumpkin coffee mixture with steamed milk. Add whipped cream and caramel sauce. You can also make this iced, just add everything to a glass and use a mini handheld frother and add ice.
Espresso Martini
I just love an espresso martini, and I think they make a great after dinner drink this time of year. A coffee cocktail is such a festive drink as I feel like we don’t really drink these all year round. Although maybe the espresso martini is changing that.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Kahlúa Original
- 2 oz Absolut® Vodka – you can also use Altos Tequila for a Mexican Espresso or Jameson Whiskey for an Irish Espresso
- 1 oz Espresso (or any kind of coffee you have on hand!)
- 1/2 oz of simple syrup (adjust to your liking)
- Ice
- Coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
Add all of the ingredients to a shaker and shake vigorously for 90 seconds. Then strain into a couple or martini glass. It should foam at the top which is key! Garnish with a few coffee beans or a sprinkle of cinnamon. Fun fact, espresso martinis should NEVER have dairy in it.
Fig Old Fashioned Cocktail
Figs are a great fall fruit and they add something special to a cocktail like this Old Fashioned. If you can’t find fresh ones, you can used dried ones too.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces of bourbon – you can also use a rye or whiskey if you prefer
- 1-2 black mission figs, halved – remove the stems.
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of maple syrup
Instructions
Add figs, lemon juice, syrup and vinegar to a shaker and muddle. Add your ice and bourbon and then shake like crazy for 90 seconds. Strain into a glass and garnish with a sliced fig. Dried figs work here too, I’d suggest soaking them in some bourbon to soften them!
Apple Jack Martini
I am a sucker for a good apple cider cocktail this time of year. Bonus points if it’s also a warm cocktail. But this one is refreshing with crisp apple cider and spices.
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz of Jack Daniels
- 2 oz of Apple Cider
- Dash of nutmeg
- Dash of clove
- Pinch of brown sugar
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake vigorously for 90 seconds. Strain into a martini glass. I like to rim the glass with turbinado sugar with a blend of the nutmeg, clove and brown sugar sprinkled in.
Mulled Wine
A traditional warm winter cocktail, mulled wine will not only warm your soul but will make your home smell amazing. Make a big batch for guests and let them serve themselves while it sits and warms the home.
Ingredients
- 1 750ml bottle of fruity full bodied red wine
- ¼ cup brandy
- ¼ cup of honey, simple syrup or maple syrup
- 1 orange zested and then juice it use the orange juice
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
Instructions
Add everything to a pot and simmer on low for about 20 minutes, don’t let it boil! Strain and serve in mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and orange slice.
Hot Toddy
If you’re feeling like you’re coming down with a cold, or just getting over one, a hot toddy is so comforting. The honey is great for soothing a sore throat, and lemon has a little vitamin C in it. We can convince ourselves that this is a healthy cocktail for winter when a cold strikes.
Ingredients
- 2 oz of whiskey
- 1 tbsp of honey
- 4-6 oz of hot water
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
Add everything to a mug and stir. Garnish with a lemon slice.
Irish Coffee
An Irish Coffee feels so classic, and it’s really so simple. It’s just Irish Whiskey, I like to use Jameson, with a little sugar and hot coffee. It’s the whipped cream on top that makes this feel really special.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 4-6 oz of hot brewed coffee
- whipped cream
Instructions
Add your whiskey, sugar and coffee to a mug and stir. Top with fresh whipped cream for a decadent winter cocktail.
Cranberry Gin Fizz
Cranberries are always around for the holidays so it’s a great ingredient to use when making cocktails. There are a few variations of this cocktail from super simple with just cranberry juice, lemon or lime juice some gin and simple syrup. But you can also go a bit more elevated and make a cranberry sauce or shrub to use in the drink for a more complex cocktail. This recipe is a great option.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- 2 oz Cranberry juice
- Lemon or lime juice
- 1/2 oz Simple syrup
- Sparkling water
Instructions
Add ingredients to a high ball glass and stir with a spoon. Add ice and garnish with cranberries or a sprig of rosemary.
Blood Orange Margarita
I love a margarita, but a lime margarita in December or January just doesn’t feel right (well, it does, but not entirely, you know?). A great way to switch up your classic margarita is to utilize winter citrus fruits. Bloog orange, clementines and even grapefruit are great too.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz white tequila
- Juice of 2-3 limes
- 1.5 oz juice of blood orange
- 1 tsp honey or agave
- Ice Cubes
Instructions
Add ingredients to a shaker and shake vigorously. Rim a glass with lime juice and salt (or turbinado sugar is a nice touch for winter). Pour your drink into the glass and garnish with a slice of blood orange. Bonus points for drying the blood orange slices for a truly festive feel.
Pomegranate Mint Margarita
Another take on a classic margarita, is to utilize pomegranates. Tart pomegranate juice gives you that margarita tartness we all love. Add a bit of sparkling water to dilute the pomegrante juice as it can be overly tart!
Ingredients
- 2oz Pomegranate Juice
- 1.5 oz of Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
- 3-5 Mint leaves, torn
- 1-2 limes juiced
- Splash of sparkling water
- Ice
Instructions
Add ingredients to a shaker and shake vigorously. Rim a glass with lime juice and salt (or turbinado sugar is a nice touch for winter). Pour your drink into a glass and garnish with mint.
What’s A Good Winter Cocktail?
I think a good winter cocktail should always have something warm and a bit spicy in it. I think of seasonal flavors like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg when it comes to a winter cocktail. But you can also lean into more decadent chocolate options like spiked hot chocolates and chocolate tinis. What do you think makes a good winter cocktail?
