Christmas, as well as the ancient holiday of the rebirth of the Sun, which existed long before it, falls in the coldest time of the year in most countries celebrating it. Therefore, it is not surprising that holiday drinks at this time are usually prepared with warming ingredients.
In Europe, this drink is a traditional Christmas punch. It does not have a single recipe, people always tend to do it their own way. The average punch is hot mulled wine based on sweetened wine or ale with spices and sometimes fruits. In Britain and Scandinavia, the Christmas punch often includes stronger alcohol, which has always been popular there.
Southern winemaking countries prepare lighter drinks and more often use fruit. In the past, on big holidays, a lot of people always gathered at the table, so drinks were served in roomy jugs. For example, the punch – the name of the famous French champagne-based Christmas cocktail – translates exactly as a “jug”.
You might think that alcohol must be part of a traditional punch. But this is not so – there are also non-alcoholic recipes, say, a Flemish hot milk drink with strong tea, sugar and spices.
In the modern world traditional recipes are forgotten, but they are giving way to more and more places of author’s imagination. Nowadays, there are countless variations on the theme of Christmas cocktails.
In most countries celebrating Christmas on December 25th, this holiday falls on a cold winter day. Therefore, for Europeans, a Christmas drink is traditionally a hot and warming punch.
However, in each country, the preparation of a Christmas punch has its own characteristics. Choose the one that you like and join the celebration of this most magical holiday!
Christmas Cocktails from UK and Ireland
Mulled wine made from red wine or ale is drunk in the UK and Ireland. Mulled wine from wine is prepared according to the recipe:
- 1 bottle of red wine;
- 2 tablespoons madeira.
Next to taste:
- Sugar;
- Raisins;
- Cinnamon;
- cloves;
- Almonds;
- Sometimes vodka is for lovers of strong drinks.
Mulled wine from ale is cooked in a more intricate way: they bake an orange, after sticking cloves of sticks in it. After that, put the orange in a pan with old ale, cognac, rum and sugar and bring to a boil.
It is interesting that the tradition of drinking mulled wine for Christmas went from the custom, when the hostess dipped a hot poker into the prepared drink, which with hers informed everyone at home that it was time to sit down at the festive table.
Christmas Cocktails from Scotland
In Scotland, the Christmas drink was the sowans, which was solemnly set on the table in a large goblet. It was made from fermented barley, honey and cream were added.
They drank sowance for a reason, and according to a special ritual: they poured it into wooden cups for guests, and different objects were placed at the bottom of each of them.
Christmas Cocktails from Scandinavia
In Scandinavia, they drink glogg or gllegg. It is also cooked in its own way in different countries.
Christmas Cocktail from Sweden
The Swedes prefer to cook glogg according to the following recipe:
- Red wine – 1 bottle;
- Vodka – 60 ml;
- Sugar – 65 grams;
- Cinnamon – 1 stick;
- Clove – 6 sticks;
- Ground ginger – ½ tablespoons;
- Raisins – 100 grams;
- Almond nuts – 100 grams.
All ingredients (except raisins and nuts) are mixed, brought to a boil. Sugar should be completely dissolved. After that, the glogg is insisted for an hour, filtered. Raisins and nuts are put in glasses, a prepared hot drink is poured there and served to guests.
Christmas Cocktail from Norway
Norwegian glogg (also called “grandmother’s decoction”) has its own legend explaining its appearance. A long time ago, during the celebration of the “successful winter hunt” in the house all alcohol ended. And the head of the family had to be content with grandmother’s decoction – a medicinal herbal drink with which Norwegian grandmothers treated their beloved grandchildren.
Later, “grandmother’s decoction” was supplemented with another component – reed vodka, which was acquired by the hostess’s older brother on a sea voyage to the southern countries. In this form, glogg has gained popularity in Norway.
His current recipe includes: hot strong tea, wine, sugar, cloves, cinnamon, lemon juice and orange zest. All this is put in a pan, heated, rum and vodka are added. The drink is kept on fire, not boiling. Serve, of course, hot.
Christmas Cocktail from France
At Christmas, the French drink a cruchon, which translates as “jug”. And, of course, champagne is present in this drink – the national drink of France.
The recipe of the punch (based on the whole company – 12-14 servings):
- Champagne – 2 bottles;
- Cognac – 2 wine glasses;
- 2 oranges and 1 lemon – juice and peel are used;
- Sugar – 75 grams;
- Water – 150 ml.
The peel of lemon and oranges is boiled in water with sugar for about 5 minutes, then it is filtered on ice. Champagne, cognac and orange and lemon juices are poured from above.
Christmas Cocktails from Belgium and Netherlands
Non-alcoholic Christmas punch is also popular in some countries – for example, in Belgium and the Netherlands. Their drink is called slema. It is made from hot milk, strong tea, sugar, cinnamon, lemon peel, saffron, cloves and nutmeg. It’s funny, but in the company for this soft drink is necessarily a glass of vodka.
Christmas cocktails from USA
In the USA, the recipe for the eggnog Christmas drink came long ago – with the first settlers from the Old World. This drink has a significant difference – it is served cold.
Eggnog prepared according to the recipe:
- Egg yolks – 10 pieces;
- Water – 200 ml;
- Sugar – 300 grams;
- Cognac or brandy – 250 grams;
- Vodka – 100 grams;
- Vanilla – 1 pod.
Sugar needs to be dissolved in warm water and cooled. Yolks are added there and the mass is whipped until smooth. After that, vanilla is put in it. Further: alcohol slowly pours into the mass, while stirring. The drink needs to be cooled.
Another eggnog recipe:
- Egg – 6 pieces;
- Sugar – ¾ cup;
- Milk – 2 glasses;
- Culinary cream – 2 glasses;
- Brandy – 1 glass;
- Rum – ¼ cup;
- Vanilla extract – 1 tablespoon;
- Ground nutmeg – to taste.
Eggs with sugar beat in foam. When the sugar has dissolved, milk and cream are added there, the mass must be well mixed. The pan with the mass is put on a small fire and heated for 20 minutes (without bringing to a boil) until it thickens.
After that, the pan is removed from the stove, rum, brandy are poured into the mass, vanilla extract is added, and mixed thoroughly. Before serving, the drink needs to be cooled in the refrigerator (for 8 hours). Egg-toe is ready! It remains to pour into glasses, sprinkle nutmeg on top.
For children and those who prefer soft drinks, you can offer a punch according to this recipe:
- Orange zest – 3 teaspoons;
- Grated cinnamon – to taste;
- Carnation buds – 3 teaspoons;
- Ground nutmeg – to taste;
- Apple juice – 3 glasses;
- Cinnamon in sticks – 6 pieces.
Mixes orange zest, ground cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. All this is put in gauze (in a double layer) and tied in a knot. Apple juice in a saucepan is placed on the fire, a knot with spices is placed there. Boiled for 20 minutes. After that, the drink is poured hot into small glasses, where to add a stick of cinnamon.
Best Christmas Cocktails Worldwide
Even though we talked about traditional Christmas cocktails worldwide, there are still some drinks that are famous is every country. Here are some examples of them:
The Bee
Ingredients
- Gin – 500 ml;
- Pineapple juice – 1 l;
- Grapefruit juice – 1l;
- Honey – 1 cup.
Serves: 10 servings in glasses
Time: 5 minutes
Steps
- For quick preparation of a honey cocktail with gin, mix all parts in a blender: juices, honey and gin.
- Beat products until foaming.
- Then the cocktail is poured into a jug of ice and brought to the table.
Honey brings homemade cocktail recipes for the New Year a drop of sweet comfort.
Olive Blues
Ingredients
- Good gin – 120 ml;
- Green olives – 6 pieces;
- Blue cheese;
- Juice from olives.
Serves: 2 servings
Time: 5 minutes
Steps
This is one of the most elegant cocktails with exquisite ingredients for two.
- Chill the gin and a pair of martini glasses in the freezer. Pour 60 ml of gin into each glass.
- At the tip of a teaspoon, collect olive juice and drip into a cocktail.
- String olives stuffed with blue cheese on a skewer and dip into glasses, after which the drink can be consumed.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients
- Honey – 1 teaspoon;
- Cinnamon stick;
- Lemon – 1 slice;
- Cloves;
- Boiling water – 60 ml;
- Whiskey – 45 ml;
- Nutmeg (ground) – a pinch.
Serves: 1 serving
Time: 10 minutes
Steps
- In a mug put honey, a cinnamon stick, a lemon with three stuck cloves.
- Pour boiling water and add whiskey.
- A whiskey drink should be infused for at least five minutes, during which the spices will reveal their aroma.
- Sprinkle a pinch of nutmeg on top and serve immediately to the guests hot.
Whiskey Creamy Cocktail
Ingredients
- Cream 20% fat – 250 ml;
- Condensed milk – 1 can;
- Irish whiskey – 400 ml;
- Instant granulated coffee – 1 teaspoon;
- Chocolate syrup – 2 tablespoons;
- Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon;
- Amaretto – 1 teaspoon.
Serves: 16 servings
Time: 10 minutes
Steps
- Mix whiskey, condensed milk, cream, instant coffee, chocolate syrup, vanilla extract in a blender and add a little Amaretto (by the way, you can replace it with a teaspoon of almond essence).
- In a large container, mix the mixture for at least 30 seconds at high speed.
- You can drink the cocktail right away, or you can close it tightly and refrigerate it in the refrigerator.
- In the second case, the beverage is shaken before serving.
P.S. The popular long drink with whiskey has a pleasant creamy taste and a coffee and chocolate with hints of almond and vanilla.
Orange Sunset
Ingredients
- Vodka – 40 ml;
- Orange liquor – 15 ml;
- Oranges – 2 pcs.;
- Half a lemon;
- Lemon zest;
- Rosemary (twigs);
- Ice
Serves: 1 serving
Time: half an hour
Steps
If you want to make a long drink with vodka, we can offer a New Year’s alcoholic cocktail, the recipe of which is slightly more complicated than the previous ones, but the taste is incomparably richer.
- Squeeze the juice of half a lemon and two oranges, grate the lemon zest on a fine grater.
- Place juice, vodka and liquor in a shaker, shake well.
- Pour the zest into the bottom of the glass, fill with ice in the form of cubes, and pour the mixture from the shaker.
- Before serving, a cocktail is decorated with a sprig of rosemary and an orange slice.
The ingredients are calculated based on the amount in one cocktail. Increase them in proportion to the number of guests.
Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients
- Silver tequila – 45 ml;
- Orange juice – 90 ml;
- Pomegranate syrup – 15 ml;
- Ice cubes – 7 pcs;
- Cocktail cherry.
Serves: 1 serving
Time: 5 minutes
Steps
- Fill a tall glass with ice, pour tequila, then orange juice. Pour grenadine (pomegranate syrup) in the center.
- Stir the contents of the glass with a cocktail spoon until a beautiful gradation of warm colors appears.
- Insert a straw and garnish over the ice with a cocktail cherry.
P.S. The famous tequila longdrink is on the official list of the International Barmen Association.
BMW-based Whiskey
Ingredients
- Baileys liquor – 20 ml;
- Malibu liquor – 20 ml;
- Irish Whiskey – 20 ml.
Serves: 1 serving
Time: 2 minutes
Steps
- Using a bar spoon, create a layered shot: below is Baylis.
- The second layer is Malibu, and above is Irish whiskey.
P.S. The name of the cocktail is an abbreviation of the capital letters of the ingredients.
Royal Shot Vodka-Based
Ingredients
- Vodka – 20 ml;
- Raspberry syrup – 20 ml;
- Raspberries – 1 berry.
Serves: 1 stack
Time: 2 minutes
Preparation
- Raspberries are put in a pile, it is filled then with raspberry syrup.
- A layer of vodka is carefully laid out over a thick syrup with a cocktail spoon.
Tequila Clouds
Ingredients
- Light tequila – 20 ml;
- Light sambuca – 20 ml;
- Absinthe – 10 ml;
- Blue Curacao (liquor) – 3 ml;
- Creamy liquor – 3 ml.
Serves: 1 serving
Time: 5 minutes
Steps
- First we pour sambuca, then tequila.
- It is convenient to use a bartender spoon for the process.
- Using a tube, instill the indicated number of liquors.
- We spread the top layer of absinthe with a spoon.
Absinthe Burning Cognac-Based
Ingredients
- Absinthe – 15 ml;
- Bitter schnapps – 15 ml;
- Blue Curacao – 15 ml;
- Cream – 15 ml.
Serves: 1 serving
Time: 5 minutes
Steps
- All components are mixed in a blender.
- Then they move into a glass and give a minute to separate into layers.
- Afterwards, burn the top layer of absinthe and drink it quickly through the tube.
Honeymoon
Ingredients
- Cognac – 20 ml;
- Honey syrup – 10 ml;
- Coffee liquor – 20 ml;
- Juice from a quarter of lemon.
Serves: 1 serving
Time: 10 minutes
Steps
- Starting from the lower honey layer, place a cognac-based puff pastry.
- Then spread the coffee liqueur, lemon juice and cognac in the described sequence with the barman’s spoon.
Great Expectations with Champagne
Ingredients
- Champagne – 1 bottle;
- Grapefruit juice – 350 ml;
- Grapefruit – 1 pc.;
- Raspberry berries.
Serves: 4 servings
Time: 20 minutes
Steps
- Champagne and juice make excellent flavor combinations.
- To do this, grate the zest of grapefruit on a fine grater.
- Pour 75 ml of grapefruit juice into one glass, and then fill to the top with champagne.
- The cocktail is presented with raspberry berries on a skewer and zest shavings.
Polar Night
Ingredients
- White ice cream – 100 g
- Rum – 25 g
- Champagne – 50 g
- Ice cubes
Serves: 1 serving
Time: 30 minutes
Steps
Here’s a great way to make themed new year champagne cocktails.
- Place ice crumbs pre-crushed on a blender in the triangular glasses for liquor.
- Put two tablespoons of ice cream in each glass.
- Pour rum, and then carefully, adjusting the barman’s spoon, surround the champagne slide with ice cream.
Rays of Glory with a Martini
Ingredients
- Martini – 50 ml
- Cranberry juice – 75 ml
- Orange juice – 75 ml
- Ice
- Cocktail cherry
Serves: 1 serving
Time: 10 minutes
Steps
- Pour the components into the glass one at a time, stir with a thin straw until the “red sun” effect is obtained – a gradual transition of the shades of the warm spectrum from one to another.
- At the end of the process add an ice cube and garnish with a cherry.