10 Christmas Drinks to Get Into the Holiday Spirit

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Classic Winter Drinks and Cocktails

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Do you have a favorite holiday drink? Indulge at home this winter with our festive cocktails. Try these fun and fragrant drinks—from our Ho, Ho, Ho Cocktail to mulled wine, spiced cider, eggnog, a Christmas punch, and more!

10 Christmas Cocktails

1. Traditional Wassail 

For centuries, going back to Anglo-Saxon times, holiday revelers have wished each other, “Wes ha!”—Be Whole!—while sharing this drink. Wassail traditionally contained roasted apples, which would swell up and burst apart in the hot punch.

traditional wassail in a glass
Traditional Wassail 
Photo: Sam Jones/Quinn Brein

2. Light Wassail 

Even children will enjoy this spicy punch, which you can adopt as you wish. Taste as you go, adjusting the sugar to find a mixture you especially like.

3. Mulled Wine 

This creates a delightful aroma. Use burgundy or any other full-bodied wine. 

mulled wine in glass mugs
Mulled Wine 
Photoirina02/shutterstock

4. Cranberry Punch 

Chill all the ingredients before making this colorful holiday punch. If you prefer, use unsweetened cranberry/raspberry juice and sweeten to taste with superfine sugar.

cranberry punch
Cranberry Punch 
Photo: Irina Burakova/Shutterstock

5. Mulled Cider 

Hot cider fills the house with a delicious fragrance. Make it for brunch or just to have throughout a holiday.

mulled cider
Mulled Cider 
Photo: irina02/shutterstock

6. George Washington’s Christmas Eggnog 

We get the word nog from noggin, a small, wooden cup that English tavern owners used for serving drinks. Once you taste homemade eggnog, you’ll never again settle for the variety sold in cartons. 

George Washington's Christmas Eggnog 
George Washington’s Christmas Eggnog 
Photo: irina02/shutterstock

7. Non-Alcoholic Eggnog 

From the chef: “This recipe has been served by my grandmother every Christmas I can remember. I’m spoiled on it now and cannot tolerate commercial eggnog. Enjoy!”

Non-Alcoholic Eggnog 
Non-Alcoholic Eggnog 

8. Ho, Ho, Ho Cocktail

Garnet red in color and filled with bubbles, our festive Ho, Ho, Ho Cocktail fairly shouts “Happy Holidays” from its glass.

Ho, Ho, Ho Cocktail
Ho, Ho, Ho Cocktail
Photo: Sebastien Coell/Shutterstock

9. Christmas Punch

This punch is not only pretty but flavorful as well. A very good nonalcoholic punch. Make plenty—it’ll go fast. 

Christmas Punch
Christmas Punch

10. New Year’s Day Holiday Punch 

If you prefer, substitute ginger ale for the champagne.

New Year's Day Holiday Punch 
New Year’s Day Holiday Punch 

Get more delicious punch recipes for any occasion!

What are your favorite holiday beverages? Tell us in the comments below!

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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