It's the night before Christmas, and all through your house, every last speaker is playing Christmas carols and at full volume! After you've dried all your glassware with immaculate care, turn to these holiday whiskey recipes for guests that'll soon be there. It won't be long before you find yourself as holly and jolly as the big man himself.
Candy Cane and Rye Hot Chocolate
After a spiked hot chocolate or two, not only will you be warm from the inside out, but you'll be ready for your Christmas carol karaoke session - with or without an audience.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces rye whiskey
- ¾ ounce RumChata peppermint
- Prepared hot chocolate to top off
- Whipped cream and candy cane for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling it with hot water.
- After the mug is warm to the touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, add rye and RumChata peppermint.
- Top off with hot chocolate.
- Garnish with whipped cream and a candy cane.
Christmas Sazerac
Take a flight to the Big Easy, or just do it in spirit since who can afford flying at Christmas time? Stir up a sazerac riff to make your cheeks as rosy as Santa himself.
Ingredients
- ¼ ounce absinthe
- 1½ ounces coffee-infused rye whiskey
- ½ ounce white crème de cacao
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes Peychaud's bitters
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a rocks glass.
- Rinse chilled glass with absinthe, discarding the rest.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, coffee whiskey, white crème de cacao, and bitters.
- Stir to chill.
- Strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon.
Christmas Lights in Manhattan
There's not much better than the sparkle in the eyes of those that you love, be it friends or family, during the Christmas season. Okay, when they're enjoying a drink you lovingly made them, perhaps this Manhattan riff, with a sparkle in their eyes, that's the true gift.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces rye whiskey
- ½ ounce pomegranate liqueur
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- 2-3 dashes toasted almond bitters
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, rye whiskey, pomegranate liqueur, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
Yule Love a Spiced Cranberry Cocktail
You've made your list, you've checked it twice, and you're definitely forgetting something. It's this drink in hand while you finish your online holiday shopping.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces cinnamon whiskey
- ¾ ounce vanilla liqueur
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- Ice
- Orange wheel and thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cinnamon whiskey, vanilla liqueur, and cranberry juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange wheel and thyme sprig.
The Drummer Boy's Espresso Martini
How do you think the drummer boy manages to drum all season long without taking a single break? An espresso martini, of course (he's 21 - we checked). Using rye gives this the perfect bite to balance out the sweeter flavors. No need to roast any chestnuts either since this uses almond liqueur.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces rye whiskey
- ¾ ounce fresh espresso
- ¾ ounce brown crème de cacao
- ½ ounce amaretto liqueur
- Ice
- Three whole coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rye whiskey, fresh espresso, brown crème de cacao, and amaretto liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with three whole coffee beans.
Fireside Irish Coffee
Curl up by the fireside, even if it's just a YouTube video on TV. You can warm your hands on this rye whiskey Irish coffee instead of actual flames.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce rye whiskey
- 1 ounce Irish cream
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- Hot coffee to top off
- Whipped cream for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After the mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, add rye, Irish cream, and cherry liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with hot coffee.
- Garnish with whipped cream.
Brown Sugar Rye Old-Fashioned
Sweeten the holidays with something a little more complex. Turn to a brown sugar old-fashioned that doesn't involve muddling so you can make several ahead of time to quiet anyone with a single sip.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- ¾ ounce brown sugar simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Orange slice and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, rye whiskey, brown sugar simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
Winter Berries Jingle
A boozy, berry cocktail, you don't want to drink these too fast or else your mind will soon be jingling.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce rye whiskey
- ¾ ounce raspberry liqueur
- ½ ounce crème de cassis
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- ½ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rye whiskey, raspberry liqueur, crème de cassis, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a wine glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
Christmas Market Boulevardier
The secret to making the boulevardier spirit bright is probably already in your fridge: cranberry juice! But you don't need to tell others how easy your secret really is.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce rye whiskey
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, rye whiskey, Campari, sweet vermouth, and cranberry juice.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
Holiday Whiskey Fizz
Dress up your whiskey ginger highball this holiday season with a splash of color that perfectly complements the holiday decorations. It'll be a refreshing change from your usual drink.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- 1 ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- Ice
- Ginger ale to top off
- Rosemary sprig and fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, rye whiskey, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
- Top off with ginger ale.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig and fresh cranberries.
Naughty or Nice
The ongoing question of the season, year after year, were you naughty or nice? This cocktail is both. It's tasty, boozy, and one you'll make all Christmas long.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cinnamon whiskey
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce honey liqueur
- 4 ounces cherry juice
- Ice
- Dehydrated orange wheel, fresh cranberries, and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cinnamon whiskey, orange liqueur, honey liqueur, and cherry juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel, fresh cranberries, and a cinnamon stick.
Christmas Dreams
Sink into a pillow of rich chocolate flavors this Christmas, guided by the flavors of rye whiskey to keep it all from becoming overwhelming. That, my friends, is a Christmas miracle.
Ingredients
- Melted chocolate for rim
- 1 ounce chocolate cream liqueur
- ¾ ounce butterscotch liqueur
- ½ ounce rye whiskey
- ½ ounce heavy cream
- Ice
- Chocolate shavings for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, dip the rim of the glass in smooth, melted chocolate.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, chocolate liqueur, butterscotch liqueur, rye whiskey, and heavy cream.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with chocolate shavings.
We Whiskey You a Merry Christmas
Whiskey your loved ones a happy holiday with cocktails all season long. Grab your shaker and glassware and spread holiday cheers after cheers.
