Recipes Holidays and Events Recipes Christmas Drinks 20 Essential Christmas Drinks Made Even Better With Booze By Carl Hanson Carl Hanson Carl Hanson is a Senior Editor at Allrecipes who has been writing about food and wine for nearly 20 years. He enjoys creating content that informs, entertains, and assists busy home cooks get nourishing meals on the table for their families. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on October 14, 2020 Close Photo: Allrecipes Make the season a little merrier with eggnog, mulled cider, hot chocolate, and other top-rated holiday drinks. These festive favorites are even tastier with a touch of booze. So once you've served the kids the non-alcoholic versions, add a little Christmas cheer to your own. We've included suggestions for which spirits make the best additions. Read on to get our list of 20 Christmas drinks to put on your holiday sip list. 01 of 20 Frothy Eggnog View Recipe Lillypurrs23 It's a rich, indulgent favorite, and Christmas wouldn't be the same without it. Rum is a classic match, but bourbon and brandy stake their claim, too. Feeling bold? Add a touch of all three. 02 of 20 Amazingly Good Eggnog View Recipe LZKaria "It's taken me several years to perfect this recipe," says NATALIESMOM. "Now everyone asks, 'When are you making the eggnog?' This uses cooked eggs for safety, and you can use more or less rum to taste. It's a bit of work to make, but well worth it. You'll never buy store-bought eggnog again!" 03 of 20 Coquito II View Recipe Colin Rudolph It's the next best thing to Christmas on a tropical island when cream of coconut combines with spices and white rum. "This a traditional Puerto Rican eggnog," says GISELLE73. "I am Crucian-Puerto Rican (from St. Croix, VI) and we enjoy this made with our own Cruzan Rum. So, kick up your feet and enjoy!" Check out our collection of Eggnog Recipes. 04 of 20 Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa View Recipe Buckwheat Queen A classic winter warmer, hot chocolate goes to cozy extremes when you mix in the spirits. There are just so many ways to go with hot chocolate. The short answer: rum, bourbon, and brandy. Or go Irish with a touch of Bailey's — and maybe a drop or two of Irish Whiskey. Liqueurs also work wonders with hot chocolate. Try Grand Marnier, Kahlua, Frangelico, and peppermint schnapps. 05 of 20 Candy Cane Cocoa View Recipe Buckwheat Queen Heat milk with semisweet chocolate and crushed candy canes, garnishing each mug with whipped cream and a small candy cane. 06 of 20 White-Hot Hot Chocolate View Recipe Rodney Douglas "Hot chocolate could warm you up on a cold day, but what about those unmercifully cold sub-zero days? This recipe uses a combination of spices and creamy chocolate to create a smooth drink with a lingering warmth," says Mike. "Garnish with a candy cane or cinnamon stick if desired." 07 of 20 Easy Mexican Hot Chocolate View Recipe Easy Mexican Hot Chocolate | Photo by Buckwheat Queen. Buckwheat Queen Spice up a rich hot chocolate mix with a pinch of chili powder and cinnamon, plus a splash of tequila! Chocolate is a Central American original, so perhaps it's not unusual that hot chocolate would pair so well with tequila and mezcal. Explore our collection of Hot Chocolate Recipes. 08 of 20 Easy Iced Coffee View Recipe bd.weld Gingerbread lattes, peppermint mochas, chocolate lattes — spice up your cup of joe this season. Bailey's (with or without Irish whiskey), Kahlua, and peppermint schnapps are classic companions with coffee. Amaretto, Frangelico, and Grand Marnier are other magical additions. Or try combining Tia Maria and rum. 09 of 20 Gingerbread Coffee View Recipe Tammy Lynn Stir a little molasses and some spices into hot coffee and top with a generous dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cloves. "This drink was inspired by a gingerbread latte I had at a local coffee shop," says Jennifer. 10 of 20 Brown Sugar-Caramel Latte View Recipe House of Aqua "Sometimes coffee is a dessert in itself," says bjergins. "This is one of my favorite morning treats to make a Monday seem less intimidating. You'll need a battery-powered milk frother or it's just not the same." 11 of 20 Abbey's White Chocolate Latte View Recipe Buckwheat Queen "This makes one very large, indulgent latte, and could probably serve two," says Hugatunity. "Enjoy!" Check out our collection of Latte Recipes. 12 of 20 Hot Apple Cider View Recipe Pictured: Hot Apple Cider. France C Nothing alerts the nose to the holidays quite like the aroma of hot spiced cider. You can't go wrong adding a little dark rum to the mix. Bourbon would also pair nicely with a spiced apple drink. Or add a splash of vodka for boozy benefits without altering the flavor profile. 13 of 20 Hot Spiced Cranberry Cider View Recipe Heaven Marie "Make some memories with the aromas of cinnamon, clove, and lemon, mingled with hot apple cranberry cider," says Michele O'Sullivan. "If desired, float a fresh lemon slice in each cup." 14 of 20 Spicy Apple Cider View Recipe Yoly In-season citrus slices brighten up this Spicy Apple Cider and create an eye-catching presentation. Check out our collection of Cider Recipes. 15 of 20 Holiday Mimosa View Recipe Katie S When the mood calls for simple sophistication, you can't beat champagne cocktails. Enjoy these festive champagne and orange juice classics in glasses rimmed with orange liqueur and sugar. "A real treat for the holidays," says SILVREZS. "My family enjoys these on Christmas morning." 16 of 20 Original Champagne Cocktail View Recipe Gina This classic drink dates back to the Civil War era and makes even a less expensive bottle of Champagne taste great with the addition of Angostura bitters and a sugar cube. "Easy," says Cindy D. "Subtle bitters taste balanced by the extra sugar." 17 of 20 Poinsettias View Recipe Tammy Lynn A splash of cranberry juice added to champagne creates a festive holiday cocktail. "This is a nice holiday cocktail," says Kathy Roy Larsen. "We always serve this at our Christmas Eve open house. It has such a nice taste!!" Take a look at our collection of Champagne Cocktail Recipes. 18 of 20 Christmas Wassail View Recipe Shearone Traditionally made with ale, a wassail is also a friendly place for fruit juices and rum. It'll cure what wassail's ya. Many of these recipes call out the spirit of choice, but play around; punch is the perfect playground for booze. Rum, brandy, bourbon, vodka, they can all work Christmas miracles. 19 of 20 Warm and Spicy Autumn Punch View Recipe Hot apple cider is sweetened with pineapple juice and honey and spiced with clove-studded oranges, cinnamon, and nutmeg. And it's not just for autumn. "Make a batch, and your home will have a fragrance that will alert anyone's sense of smell," says Michele O'Sullivan. 20 of 20 Cranberry Wassail View Recipe crowthert "I've been making another wassail recipe for years and didn't think it could be improved upon. This is hands-down fabulous! Everyone really enjoyed the fresh tartness of this cranberry wassail." — greenthumb Check out our Complete Collection of Christmas Drink Recipes The 7 Spirits and Liqueurs You Need to Make Christmas Cocktails Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit