From mulled wine to brandy, these Christmas co*cktails leverage festive classics to help you cosy up thiswinter
Le Magritte bar at The Beaumont's hot toddy
Published: Monday 13th December 2021
- Champagne
Festive cheer MIA? You're in the right place: get yourself a glorious Christmas hamper; head to afestive popup or munch your way through a Christmassy lunch; and get in the mood by buying a fewfoodie Christmas gifts – for loved ones or, ahem, for yourself.
If that's still not done the trick, there's only one thing for it: heading to the bar cart and whipping up a Christmas co*cktail.
From winter warmers to festive twists on the classics, these delicious drinks are a sure-fire way to brighten your spirits.
Whether you're heading out or hunkering down in the run up to the celebration, 'tis the season to make sure you always have a drink in your hand, and this lovely lot will have you feeling very merry indeed...
Le Magritte Bar's festive Mob Toddy co*cktail
The Mob Toddy is a nod to the 1920s, the decade that inspired Le Magritte. Bar manager Antonino Lo Iacono wanted to create a drink that would've been enjoyed by the likes of Hemingway and Fitzgerald
See Also
12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to ImpressRhubarb Gin Recipe - Izy Hossack - Top With Cinnamon20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy WeeknightsBourbon Flip co*cktail Recipe | How to Make the perfect Bourbon FlipMakes 1
Preparation time 5 mins
Ingredients
- 60ml Maker's Mark bourbon
- 15ml Amaro Nonnino
- 15ml maple syrup
- 7.5ml fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves
- 4 citrus peel (tangerine, lemon, orange, grapefruit)
- 4 coffee beans
- 2 drops D.R. Harris Pick-Me-Up Bitter
- Hot water
Method
- Safely put all of the co*cktail ingredients into a teapot and let them infuse for a few minutes.
- Once infused, pour the co*cktail into a vintage port glass.
Pied à Terre's Christmas Flip co*cktail
Velvety and richly spiced, this recipe for a Christmas Flip co*cktail from Michelin-starred Pied à Terre is basically a dessert in itself
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 mins
Ingredients
- 50ml spiced rum (made by infusing a bottle of spiced rum with 1 stick of cinnamon, 1 star anise and 2 cloves)
- 10ml Baileys
- 10ml Tia Maria
- Half an Egg Yolk
- Nutmeg
- 1 Star Anise
Method
- Place the spiced Rum, Tia Maria, Baileys, and egg yolk in a co*cktail shaker. Shake with plenty of cubed ice.
- Strain and serve in a small co*cktail glass. Garnish with the star anise and a grating of nutmeg.
Luca's Cafe Irlandese, an Italian riff on Irish coffee
Italian restaurant Luca is all about putting an Italian spin on British classics. Head bartender Matt Ottley's Christmas co*cktail is a festive, Italian take on an Irish coffee
Anton Rodriguez
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 mins
Cooking time 5 mins
Ingredients
- 30ml Vecchia Romagna (ideally Italian brandy but any brandy will do)
- 10ml demerara sugar syrup
- 120ml coffee
- 100ml double cream
- 10ml Branca Menta
Method
- Start by making your syrup. Add equal amounts of demerara sugar and water (100g each) to a saucepan on a very low heat. Stir until dissolved then allow to cool.
- Next, warm the glass with a little hot water and prepare the coffee (any coffee will do as long as it tastes nice) before combining with the syrup and brandy, giving it a quick stir. Add to your warmed glass.
- Finally, prepare the cream float. In a co*cktail shaker (or a protein shaker if you don’t have a fully equipped bar at home) add the cream and Branca Menta. Give a quick dry shake (without ice) to combine the ingredients and aerate the cream.
- Using the back of a teaspoon positioned above the drink, slowly pour the cream over the back of the spoon, it should float perfectly on top of the coffee.
- Garnish with a mint leaf and enjoy
Mount Gay's Merry Maple Sour
Short, sharp and with just a dash of sweetness, Mount Gay's maple sour is bound to make you feel merry this Christmas
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 mins
Ingredients
- 50ml Mount GayXO
- 30mlfresh lemon juice
- 15mlmaple syrup
- 15mlegg white
Method
- Add all ingredients into shaker.
- Dry shake, then shake with ice.
- Fine strain into chilled coupe.
- Express lemon oils over the surface.
- Garnish with a lemon peel.
Coal Rooms' Fairy Tale of New York Christmas co*cktail
This festive spin on the New York sour replaces whiskey with brandy, and the red wine float with mulled wine
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 mins
Ingredients
- 50ml cognac (Hennessy VS would be ideal)
- 25ml sugar syrup
- 25ml lemon juice
- 15ml mulled wine
- Dried orange wheel, to garnish
Method
- Chill a coupe glass, combine all wet ingredients in a shaker with lots of ice, shake vigorously.
- Double strain into coupe and gently float the mulled wine over the back of a bar spoon onto the top of the co*cktail.
- Garnish with a dried orange wheel and enjoy!
- Recipe
- Champagne
- Liqueur
- Brandy
- Whisky
- Winter
- Sparkling wine
