63 Christmas Drinks Brimming With Festive Spirit

As the holidays approach, it’s time to look for the Christmas drinks you’ll be sipping on all season long. Whether you like them chilled or hot, a delicious drink filled with festive flavor is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. During the holiday season, it’s expected that about 60% of Americans consider hosting friends and family, according to a Lending Tree survey. Whether you’re looking for a drink to enjoy while watching Christmas movies or something to serve at a party, there are plenty of Christmas drinks to enjoy. 

Need help deciding what to have during this holiday season? With so many drink options to choose from, it can be difficult to pick. So, if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas drink, we’ve rounded up a selection that will surely get you in the festive spirit. Cold or hot, alcohol or spirit-free, you won’t want to stop sipping on these decadent Christmas drinks.

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• What Are the Most Popular Drinks at Christmas?
• Traditional Christmas Drinks
• Easy Christmas Drinks
• Non-Alcoholic Christmas Drinks
• Starbucks Christmas Drinks
• Adventurous Alcoholic Christmas Drinks

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What Are the Most Popular Drinks at Christmas?

The many flavors associated with the holiday season create delicious drinks. But what are the most popular drinks at Christmas? Eggnog, hot buttered rum and Christmas punches are some of the most popular Christmas drinks in the country. You can learn how to make these and other drinks during mixology classes in Chicago, mixology classes in Jacksonville and mixology classes in New Jersey. Taught by expert local chefs, you can learn the recipes to add festive flavor to your holiday season. 

Fruity flavors like cranberry, apple, pear and pomegranate are common in Christmas drinks. Chocolate is another common ingredient for the sweeter Christmas dreams. And cream is a popular choice for making thick and creamy drinks. Whether it’s a cocktail or mocktail, you can pair it with a variety of Christmas party food for a delicious and festive celebration.

Traditional Christmas Drinks

1. Eggnog

What are the traditional Christmas drinks? Eggnog is one of the most popular traditional holiday drinks, it’s been around since medieval times in England. Though it’s sold pre-made in stores, you can easily make it at home from scratch. And if you want to put a twist on a classic drink, you can make non-alcoholic, spiked and vegan versions.

2. Hot Buttered Rum

Warm, buttery and spicy. What more could you want from a traditional Christmas drink? To make this drink, you make a smooth butter batter that becomes the base of the drink. The rum adds some spice that will warm you from the inside out. It’ll be a decadent addition to a holiday party or to sip on in the evenings.

3. Ponche Navideño 

Ponche Navideño is a traditional Christmas drink from Mexico. It’s fruity, spicy and warm, just like a good Christmas drink should be. Mulled guavas, apples and oranges with cloves, cinnamon and tamarind pods make for an unforgettable drink. If you’re looking for Christmas lunch ideas, you should definitely serve this.

4. Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate needs no introduction. This traditional drink is enjoyed by children and adults throughout the winter and holiday season. A rich and creamy drink made with white, dark or milk chocolate and milk or cream and topped with whipped cream.

5. Tom and Jerry

Warm milk has been a comforting drink for years. A Tom and Jerry takes that drink and elevate it. This Christmas drink has shots of brandy and rum in a warm milk punch. It doesn’t take too much to whip up, so it’s a great option for a party drink or a nightcap.

6. Glögg

Though it might not be the most popular drink, Glögg is a traditional Christmas drink in Scandinavian countries. It’s a drink similar to mulled wine; however, it has cardamom pods, almonds and raisins included in the recipe. This punch will surely warm you from the inside out.

7. Coquito

A decadent drink from Puerto Rico, Coquito is similar to eggnog. It’s made with Puerto Rican rum, coconut cream, evaporated milk and condensed milk. Then, it’s spiced with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla. Sip on this drink as you play party games for Christmas.

8. Poinsettia

Named after the iconic holiday plant, this drink has a pretty red coloring, just like the flowers. It’s a bubbly and fruity drink made with cranberry juice and orange liqueur topped with champagne. It’s a simple drink you can easily put together.

9. Brandy Alexander

This traditional Christmas drink is the perfect drink to relax with this holiday season. Add brandy, crème de cacao and cream to a cocktail shaker before straining it into a glass. This sweet and creamy cocktail will pair well with a holiday dessert.

10. Warm Christmas Punch

Christmas punch is one of the most popular drinks at Christmas time. This warm version puts a little twist on the classic. It’s made by combining apple cider, cranberry juice, pineapple juice and lemon juice in a slow cooker and flavoring it with brown sugar, a cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg, ground ginger and whole star anise.

11. Hot Apple Cider

Hot apple cider is an autumn staple that carries over into the winter. Many people still enjoy this warming drink during the holiday season. You can easily make it at home with apple cider, brown sugar and spices like cloves, nutmeg and allspice.

Easy Christmas Drinks

12. Christmas Mimosa

Searching for Christmas brunch ideas to brighten your holiday meal? Christmas mimosas are the go-to choice. Use pomegranate and cranberry juices as the base and add a bit of sparkling rum when you’re ready to serve. Garnish with cranberries and a rosemary sprig.

13. Eggnog Milkshake

A decadent milkshake for the holiday season? What more could you want? To make this easy Christmas drink, combine homemade or store-bought eggnog in a blender with vanilla ice cream and a dash of milk. Blend it until smooth and serve with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

14. White Cosmo

The classic Cosmopolitan gets a bit of a festive twist. Combine a citrus vodka base with elderflower liqueur and white cranberry juice. It makes a unique frosted white color that’s the perfect winter cocktail. Garnish with skewered sugared cranberries for a pop of color.

15. Christmas Jones

If you’re missing the heat of summer in the dead of winter, the Christmas Jones will bring it back. A blend of strawberries, pineapple, lemon-lime soda and vodka makes this a refreshing cocktail that comes together with ease.

16. Holiday Hopper

This festive green drink is sure to be the talk of your Christmas party. A holiday hopper is a creamy cocktail flavored with the unlikely combination of mint chocolate and melon. Surprisingly, the refreshing mint, sweet melon and rich chocolate work well together.

17. Spiced Sangria

You don’t have to leave sangria for the summer. Make a Christmas version with winter fruits like cranberries, pears and pomegranate. Add warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, then add ginger beer and pear brandy to finish it off.

18. Christmas Mule

Many call the Moscow mule their favorite drink. Now, the Christmas mule might take its place. This easy Christmas drink only requires two ingredients: pear vodka and hot ginger beer. Serve in a glass mug and garnish with a cinnamon stick to allow the flavor to infuse.

19. Rum Eggnog

Eggnog is a classic Christmas drink. A spiked version is a great option for a holiday party. Make a rum eggnog with eggs, nutmeg, simple syrup, rum and port wine. Combine it in a cocktail shaker and you’ll have a homemade eggnog that everyone will be asking the recipe for.

20. Mrs. Claus’ Punch

If Mrs. Claus was relaxing after Christmas, this is what she would drink. The Mrs. Claus punch is a sparkling tequila punch that’s perfect to sip on after the holiday festivities. To make this Christmas drink, you’ll need blanco tequila, pomegranate and cranberry juices and X-rated Fusion Liqueur. Finish it off with a twist of lime to garnish.

21. Christmas Margarita

Margaritas aren’t only for the summer. This Christmas margarita brings festive flavor to a classic drink. Borrow tequila, lime and orange liqueur from the traditional margarita recipe and add coconut and white cranberry juice to make it a new holiday favorite.

22. Spiced Silver Bell

The spiced silver bell is one of the most unique drinks you can enjoy this holiday season. It’s also remarkably easy to create with silver tequila, lime juice, spiced cranberry syrup and ginger beer. It brings a little bit of a festive tropical vibe to a winter day.

23. Cheery Champagne Punch

This Christmas drink is sure to put you in the holiday cheer. To make this punch, add white cranberry strawberry juice, orange vodka and triple sec to a bowl. Mix in frozen strawberries and cranberries. Then, top it off with a bottle of champagne right before serving.

24. Naughty But Nice

The flavors in this drink are nice but the addition of whiskey makes it naughty. Add orange juice, cranberry juice, club soda and ginger syrup with your whiskey into a cocktail shaker. Once it’s combined, pour it into a glass and serve with fresh orange slices.

25. Gingerbread Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate is a wintertime staple. Make this distinctly Christmas version by adding cookie butter, ground ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg to the recipe. Plus, if you’re looking for cute Christmas date ideas, a hot chocolate bar where you craft different hot chocolate flavors would be unforgettable.

26. Angel’s Delight

Angel’s Delight has one of the most unique flavor profiles thanks to the floral flavor of gin. This creamy Christmas cocktail that comes in a pretty pink finish, thanks to a few dashes of grenadine, will be the perfect dessert cocktail for your holiday gathering.

Non-Alcoholic Christmas Drinks

27. Wassail

Wassail is a warm cider-based drink infused with crisp fruit flavors. This drink is simmered with oranges, apples, cinnamon and other spices. Though there is a cocktail version, the non-alcoholic version makes a delicious punch for everyone to enjoy.

28. Berry Berry Sparklers

If you’re looking for a fun work Christmas party ideas, this simple drink is perfect for your celebration. Freeze blueberries, raspberries and strawberries into ice cubes using coconut water or lemonade. Make a punch with honey, lime and lemon juices and seltzer. Add the ice cubes before serving.

29. Horchata

This creamy drink has all the warming spices you’ll want during the winter. It’s rice milk flavored with vanilla, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and almonds. Enjoy this creamy drink while watching our favorite Christmas movies.

30. White Hot Chocolate

A decadent Christmas drink is a white hot chocolate. It uses whole milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract and white chocolate to make a rich drink that’s perfect to sip on as you watch the snow come down.

31.  Pomegranate French Soda

French sodas make great non-alcoholic Christmas drinks. The fruity and creamy drink is refreshing and delicious to sip on. Make a pomegranate simple syrup and combine it with carbonated water then finish it off with a bit of cream.

32. Hot Chocolate Floats

Put a little spin on your favorite hot chocolate for this Christmas drink. Make homemade hot chocolate and let it cool a little. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to a glass and pour the hot chocolate over top. This sweet dessert is sure to be a treat all winter long.

33. Sugar Cookie or Snickerdoodle Milkshake

Infuse the flavors of your favorite cookies into these non-alcoholic Christmas drinks. A vanilla milkshake rimmed with icing and topped with a sugar cookie? A cinnamon milkshake with Snickerdoodle crumbles? Nothing sounds better during the holiday season.

34. Blackberry Virgin Mojito

A virgin mojito is a delicious drink to refresh your palate while hosting Christmas. This drink uses mint simple syrup, mulled fresh blackberries and lime juice. It packs a lot of flavor into one glass.

35. Fizzy Sherbet Punch

Sherbet punches were retro, but they’re making a comeback for holiday gatherings. All you need to do to make this drink is fill a punch bowl with chilled cranberry juice and ginger ale. Then, add in scoops of raspberry sherbet.

36. White Grape and Cranberry Punch

Create a punch by mixing white grape juice, lime juice and seltzer. Garnish with fresh cranberries and mint leaves. This simple recipe will be a hit for both kids and adults at the Christmas party.

37. Affogato

If you’re looking for a Christmas drink that uses coffee, you’ll want to try an affogato. This dessert drink that’s the perfect way to end the night. Pour espresso over vanilla gelato and you’ve got a decadent treat.

38. Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

The crock pot is a great way to make a large batch of hot chocolate. Add cocoa powder, whole milk and heavy cream to a slow cooker then let it cook. This is the perfect way to keep hot chocolate hot until it’s served.

39. Mulled Pomegranate and Cherry Juice

A warm and fruity drink is the perfect way to get through those cold winter nights. Cook pomegranates and cherries on the stove and add mulling spices for tons of flavor. Serve in a glass mug topped with fresh berries.

40. Apple Cider Milkshake

Add a decadent twist to a classic apple cider. Combine vanilla ice cream, cold apple cider and a little bit of milk in a blender. Top it with fresh whipped cream and ground cinnamon for a dessert version of your favorite hot drink.

41. Cranberry Cooler

This drink heavily features the tart winter fruit with cranberry juice concentrate. A little bit of peppermint extract gives it a burst of flavor and the club soda adds some bubbles. It’s a quick and refreshing drink to whip up during the holidays.

42. Apple Nutmeg Mocktail

This apple nutmeg mocktail is inspired by a classic whisky sour. The lemon and grapefruit juices add a bit of tartness along with the orange bitters that balance the sweetness of the apple cider. The eggwhite or vegan eggwhite foam topping adds a little creaminess.

Starbucks Christmas Drinks

43. Caramel Brûlée Latte

The rich flavors of caramel stand out in this Starbucks Christmas drink. It’s comforting and a little sweet, which is exactly what you want from a drink at Christmas. Plus, you can get it hot or iced.

44. Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai

The combination of gingerbread and chai creates a comforting Christmas drink that will fill you with warming spices. Plus, the addition of oat milk creates a creamy and decadent drink that feels like a treat.

45. Peppermint Mocha

There’s nothing more classic than the peppermint mocha from Starbucks during the holiday season. The steamed milk and mocha sauce already make this a delicious drink, by the peppermint syrup and dark chocolate curls make it special for the holidays.

46. Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte

Who doesn’t love a sugar cookie during Christmas? So why not enjoy it in the form of a latte? This Starbucks drink uses sugar cookie flavored syrup to bring a nostalgic and sweet treat to your daily coffee.

47. Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew

The Salted Pecan Crunch foam is a nutty, rich brown butter, spiced flavor that tastes like Christmas time. Top it with Starbucks’ signature cold brew for a decadent addition to your strong coffee.

48. Chestnut Praline Latte

This Starbucks Christmas drink tastes just like the roasted nuts you smell at Christmas time. Caramelized chestnuts and spices and topped with praline crumbs make this one of the most unique drinks you can have during the season.

49. Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Starbucks’ rich hot chocolate is a favorite drink during the winter. But adding a bit of the peppermint syrup makes it ten times better. Peppermint is a staple at Christmas so it only makes sense to combine it with another classic.

Adventurous Alcoholic Christmas Drinks

50. Eggnog Jello Shots

We already know eggnog is a classic drink. So, why not give it an adventurous twist and make jello shots? Combine Rumchata, eggnog and gelatin to make a drink that will be a party hit.

51. Sugarplum Spritz

You’ll definitely have visions of these sugarplums dancing in your head. A sugarplum spritz is a refreshing drink that combines plum vodka, cranberry juice and apricot liquor. Garnished with sugared plums, this sweet drink is bound to be a favorite at a party.

52. Mulled Old Fashioned

Give a classic Old Fashioned the holiday treatment with this mulled version. For this Christmas drink, you’ll make a mulled syrup with red wine, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, nutmeg and an orange. Add the syrup to your prepared Old Fashion and enjoy.

53. Gingerbread Martini

What’s more festive than gingerbread people? Capturing the flavor in a decadent martini. This recipe uses Bailey’s to make a creamy martini flavored with gingerbread syrup and a spice mixture.

54. Mulled Wine

Which popular alcoholic Christmas drink is best served hot? Mulled wine is delicious when served fresh from the stove. Rich red wine simmered with brandy and holiday spices creates the perfect drink to sip on all winter long.

55. White Christmas Mojito

A classic refreshing mojito made creamy for the perfect alcoholic Christmas drink. You’ll still find classic mojito ingredients in this recipe like mint, lime and rum. However, the addition of coconut milk gives it a distinctive flavor and texture.

56. Loaded Spiked Hot Chocolate

Make your favorite drink a cocktail. Start with a hot chocolate base then add your choice of syrups, spices and flavorings before mixing in Bailey’s, Rumchata or whiskey. Finish it off with whipped cream, sprinkles and cookie crumbles.

57. Hot Toddy

If you’re looking for alcoholic Christmas drinks that everyone will love, a hot toddy is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. This drink is made from hot tea, lemon and honey spiked with brandy, whiskey or rum. It’s a warm and comforting drink perfect for Christmas.

58. Peppermint White Russian

The combination of Kahlúa, peppermint Schnapps and vodka make this one of the most delicious Christmas drinks out there. Rim the glass with crushed candy canes to make it even more festive.

59. Cranberry Apple Sangria

This sangria is so easy to make and results in a crisp flavored drink. The warming spices, along with the apples and cranberries, make the perfect holiday flavor. And the addition of the Pinot Grigio adds alcohol without being overwhelmingly strong.

60. Ginger-Cranberry Whiskey Sour

Infuse holiday flavors with cranberry juice and ginger syrup into a classic whiskey sour. Elevated and zesty, this cocktail will be an upscale holiday classic for any gathering.

61. Sugar Cookie Martini

This Christmas drink comes together so easily in a cocktail shaker you’ll be making it all season long. The secret is the amaretto and powdered sugar to give it that sweet sugar cookie flavor.

62. Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini

Who says hot chocolate always has to be hot? This cocktail consists of Baileys, vodka, hot chocolate and ice blended until smooth. Serve in a martini glass with a chocolate rim and mini marshmallow garnish.

63. Vanilla Pear Holiday Punch

Making this drink is straightforward; it’s the flavors that are a little adventurous. Made with pear juice, club soda, vanilla extract and reposado tequila with honey simple syrup for sweetness, this cocktail is refreshing, vibrant and unique.

Flavor and festive cheer fill these Christmas drinks you’ll want to enjoy all season long. Choose classic flavors like apples and cranberries or get inspired by your favorite holiday treats like gingerbread and sugar cookies. This variety of decadent Christmas drinks has a holiday flavor for everyone, so get inspired by this list for parties and gatherings throughout the season. 

For even more ideas for the holidays, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!