Explore the best cocktails for holiday day drinking with sparkling, cozy, and easy seasonal drink recipes everyone loves.
Holiday season doesn’t always mean late-night parties and champagne at midnight—some of the best celebrations happen long before sunset. Whether it’s a cheerful luncheon with friends, a family gathering that starts early, or simply a quiet afternoon wrapped in a blanket, day drinking calls for cocktails that are lighter, festive, and easy to enjoy over conversation. With bright flavors, warm spices, and a touch of holiday sparkle, these drinks add effortless joy to daytime merrymaking.
Here are the best cocktails for holiday day drinking. Each recipe balances flavor with seasonal flair, offering options from bubbly and refreshing to rich, warm, and indulgent.
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Cranberry Mimosa
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3 oz chilled Prosecco or Champagne
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2 oz cranberry juice (100% juice preferred)
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Fresh cranberries & rosemary sprig
- Fill a flute halfway with cranberry juice.
- Top with sparkling wine
- Garnish with cranberries that float like ornaments and a rosemary sprig for aroma and elegance
Boozy Hot Chocolate
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1 cup milk (whole or oat for creaminess)
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2 tbsp high-quality cocoa powder or hot chocolate mix
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1–2 oz Baileys Irish Cream
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Whipped cream & chocolate shavings (optional)
- Warm milk in a saucepan (do not boil).
- Whisk in cocoa until velvety.
- Remove from heat, stir in Baileys,
- pour into a mug. Top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate for extra indulgence
Swap cocoa for a dark chocolate melt and add a splash of Baileys Chocolate Liqueur for deeper flavor. Rich, silky, and perfect for snowy afternoons.
Gingerbread Old Fashioned
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2 oz bourbon
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½ oz gingerbread syrup
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Dash aromatic bitters
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Orange peel & cinnamon stick
- Stir bourbon, syrup, and bitters over ice
- Strain into a rocks glass and garnish
- Savor the slow, smooth, festive perfection
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Peppermint White Russian
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- 1 oz peppermint schnapps
- 1 oz cream or milk
Create
- Pour ingredients over ice and gently stir
- Add crushed candy cane rim for holiday sparkle
Spiced Apple Spritz
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2 oz apple cider
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3 oz Prosecco
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½ oz spiced rum
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Apple slice + cinnamon pinch
- Combine cider and rum over ice
- Top with Prosecco,
- Garnish with a thin apple fan
