31 Winter Cocktails for Cozy Sips and Merry Celebrations
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If your heart desires a margarita when it’s snowing out, we’re not here to tell you it’s off-season. But we hope this list of our best winter cocktails is helpful if you’re planning a holiday gathering or just looking for something to sip in warm-blanket weather. The drinks below are festive enough for a cookie exchange and fun to drink while huddling around a winter bonfire. Some are large-format,batched for a crowd, while others are easy to stir (or shake) up one by one. Whether you’re focusing on drinking down your whiskey collection or looking for Champagne cocktails for a year-end toast, you’ll find plenty of options as you scroll down.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton1/30
French 75
Many of the best winter cocktails have been around awhile, like this fizzy delight, which can be made with either gin or brandy.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert2/30
Classic Whiskey Sour
It's time tobring the whiskey sour back。But was it ever really gone? While you're at it, don't miss theWhiskey Daisyor thisamazing amaro-and-rumversion from our cocktail columnist, Al Sotack. Serve with an orange slice (and agood cherry) on a fancy cocktail pick.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi3/30
Brandy Alexander II
This creamy alternative toeggnoggets an extra dose of rich flavor from crème de cacao.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell4/30
Scotchy Boulevardiers for a Crowd
If you love anegronior recently tried asbagliato(with prosecco!) for the very first time, it's time to start making this wintery relative of those bitter drinks. This version has a touch of scotch in the mix for savory complexity, and it can be made ahead for easy winter entertaining. It's definitely not the season to muddle and fuss over each individual drink. Just pour over ice and garnish each glass with an orange peel before serving.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton5/30
Warm Comfort
Hot cocktailswith tequila are few and far between, but this one is a keeper for sure. The earthy, floral flavor of chamomile soothes the spice of the booze nicely.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton6/30
Fleming Fizz
Think of this gingery drink as an extra-festive take on the popularPenicillincocktail. Instead of a basic simple syrup, this honey syrup uses ginger juice (made in your blender and strained) in the place of water.
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Photo by Shutterstock7/30
Irish Coffee
Warm up with a cozy coffee cocktail, just the way it's served at the Buena Vista Hotel in San Francisco. It's one of the best Irish whiskey cocktail recipes for winter, no question. Some people prefer the whipped cream just softly whipped—you don't need to get out a mixer here.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton8/30
Coquito
This Puerto Rican coconut and rum drink can be garnished with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton9/30
Apples and Oranges
This luscious combination of hot apple cider and Averna is our favorite way to to drink spiked cider in the winter. Sweetened with citrusy Grand Marnier and enriched with salted butter, it's like a caramel apple in a mug. We'd take this over mulled wine any time.
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Photo by Ed Anderson10/30
Up-to-Date Cocktail
If you love Manhattans, stir up thiswhiskeycocktail, made with nutty amontillado sherry, Angostura bitters, and a whisper of Grand Marnier.
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Photo by Denny Culbert11/30
Celery Stalker
This slightly savory, festive drink—like a French 75 but made with lime juice and celery bitters—is just right with holiday appetizers likepickled shrimp,crudités, andhorseradish-spiked goat cheese。这也是不错的早午餐和一些fi治愈sh.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova12/30
Buttered Rum Hot Chocolate
Butter adds velvety texture and comforting flavor to this special-occasion cocktail, a combination of our two favorite winter warmers.
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Photo by David Loftus13/30
Blood Orange–Champagne Ice Cream Float
This citrusy dessert cocktail is a great way to use up any leftover Champagne or sparkling wine.
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Photo by Kelly Puleio14/30
Sneaky Peat
Pairing tangy cranberries with Scotch—plus oolong tea that’s been steeped forever—gives a whisper of smoke and a bitter, malty edge to this delicious large-format punch.
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Photo by Colin Price15/30
White Russian
The right time for a creamy cocktail like the White Russian is right now. If the espresso martini can make a comeback, why not this old favorite? Garnish with a candy cane if you must.
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Photo by Kelly Puleio16/30
Bitter French
This cocktail is a sort of marriage between a French 75 (a classic drink that combines gin, citrus, and Champagne) and a Negroni.
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Photo by Paul H. Christian, Food Styling by Michele Figliuolo17/30
Vieux Carré
We love anold fashioned下一个酒鬼,但有时你娘家姓的d to change up your routine. Named for the French Quarter of New Orleans, this classic cocktail is complex and boozy. It's made with rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, and Bénédictine, an herbal liqueur that's sweetened with a touch of honey.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi18/30
Mike's Milk Punch
If the raw egg in eggnog skeeves you out, opt for this creamybourbon cocktailinstead to kick off your winter festivities. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg for optimal Christmas vibes. Instead of giving your shaker a workout, this one is made frothy in your blender.
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Photo by Alice Gao, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Diana Yen19/30
Champagne Punch with Ginger, Lemon, and Sage
This sparkling punch, with its aromatic mixture of sage, lemon juice, and ginger, is refreshing and light enough to drink all night. It's one of those cold-weather winter drinks that never fails to impress.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell20/30
Raspberry and Thyme Hot Toddy Punch
Serve this festive, warming punch to welcome guests in from the cold or along with dessert at the end of a holiday feast.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell21/30
Classic Dry Martini
There is no wrong season for drinkingmartinis your way, and we do enjoy them year-round, but a crisp gin martini in the winter feels perfect. Chill your coupe or martini glass for a frosty beverage that stays cool until it's gone.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton22/30
Turmeric Hot Toddy
Hot toddiesare nothing if notflexible。This version, made with sherry and a golden-hued turmeric syrup, works well with bourbon, rum, Scotch, mezcal, or gin.
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Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott23/30
Under-the-Mistletoe Punch
This punch recipe easily scales down by half, or even all the way to festive drinks for two.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson24/30
Pomegranate Sangria
This sangria hits just right at Thanksgiving—but the combo of pomegranate, red wine, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, and sparkling pear or apple cider works into the winter, too.
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Teri Lyn Fisher25/30
Bobby Burns
Looking for an excuse to chase away the late-January blahs? Celebrate Burns Night on January 25. This drink—perfect for Scotch lovers—is named for the famed Scottish poet Robert Burns, who wrote "Auld Lang Syne."
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi26/30
Hot White Russian
This warm version of the classic coffee cocktail is especially appealing in winter.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova27/30
Midnight Sparkler Cocktail
With its unique indigo color and effervescent charm, this Champagne cocktail is perfect forNew Year's Eveor any other festive occasion.
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Ditte Isager28/30
Hot-Cocoa Affogato with Peppermint Ice Cream
Rich, chocolaty cocoa is poured over a scoop of peppermint ice cream for a lower-caffeine twist on the Italian espresso and ice cream dessert. Could you add booze? We're not stopping you.
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Tara Striano29/30
Rompope (Mexican Milk, Egg, Spice, and Liquor Punch)
Traditionally served chilled over ice, rompope, a creamy Mexican rum cocktail, can be served warm if you prefer.
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Photo by Travis Rainey, Styling by Joseph De Leo30/30
Simple Hot Cocoa for One
Step one: Make hot cocoa. Step two: Drink it as is, or try adding someChartreuse。It's one of our favorite winter cocktails, as cozy as a fuzzy scarf.
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