There’s an indisputable magic in the air as the holiday season draws near and the winter cold sets in. It’s a time for gathering with loved ones and basking in the warmth of the season. You can add a festive layer of fun to your celebrations with a cocktail to get into the holiday spirit.

However, we recognize that not everyone, particularly during the busy Christmas season, has the time or desire to take on the role of master mixologist. If you’re one of those people, we highly suggest the Coquito Kit from Candela. It is a quick yet delicious alternative for individuals who like to enjoy the thick, creamy taste of this classic Puerto Rican holiday drink without having to deal with the trouble of finding and measuring individual ingredients.

For those who are ready to test their bartender skills this holiday season, we got you covered! Whether you’re creating a modern take on the traditional margarita or exploring the world of unusual winter-inspired drinks, these cocktail ideas are sure to be the talk of your holiday gatherings. Raise your glass and let the sound of glasses clinking signal the start of a season full of coziness, humor, and, of course, the ideal holiday cheers.

Candela Coquito Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 can, condensed milk
• 1 can, evaporated milk
• 1 can, coconut milk
• 1 can, coconut cream
• 1-2 cups Candela Mamajuana rum

Preparation:

1. Pour the 4 cans (coconut milk, evaporated milk, condensed milk, cream of coconut) into a blender.
2. Blend on low.
3. Spice it up!
4. Add 1.5 cups of Candela Mamajuana and blend.
5. Serve chilled or on the rocks. Enjoy!

Salmiana Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2oz Desolas Mezcal
• 0.25oz Avocado honey
• 20 oz Avocado honey
• 10oz hot water
• 4 cloves
• 2 cardamoms
• 0.8oz toasted coconut flakes
• 2 dashes chocolate bitter
• 2 dashes angostura bitter
• Orange peel for garnish

Preparation:

1. For the avocado honey, crack cloves and cardamom, place in a quart container and add the rest of ingredients.
2. Mix well until water and honey are combined.
3. Let it cool down, strain the syrups through a fine strainer.
4. For the cocktail, Desolas Mezcal is mixed with avocado honey, infused with toasted coconut flakes and a touch of baking spices, dashes of mole and Angostura bitters, all stirred together and served in a rock glass over a large ice cube to preserve dilution.
5. Garnish with an orange peel.

Kraken Eggnog

Ingredients:

• 1 part The Kraken Black Spiced Rum
• 4 parts Eggnog
• Grated Cinnamon
• Grated Nutmeg

Preparation:

1. Combine all ingredients in an eggnog or highball glass and stir.
2. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over the top.

Twist on Tradition

Ingredients:

• 2 parts The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
• 1 parts Fino Sherry
• ¼ parts Olive Brine
• 1 pinch salt

Preparation:

1. Build in mixing glass.
2. Add ice.
3. Stir and strain.

The Glenlivet’s Kilted Coffee

Ingredients:

• 2 parts The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
• 5 parts hot coffee
• 2 parts hot cacao powder mix

Preparation:

1. Heat
2. Whisk finish with The Glenlivet.

Cozy Sol Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2oz Casa Del Sol Añejo
• ¼ oz Agave Nectar
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
• To Garnish – Orange Peel, Brandied Cherry

Preparation:

1. Combine all ingredients in double old fashioned cocktail glass and stir gently
2. Add a large cocktail cube or sphere
3. Add brandied cherry and a twisted orange peel to garnish

Grand Brulot Double Espresso Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Grand Brulot
• 1 oz Espresso
• ½ oz of Amaretto

Preparation:

1. Using a shaker, combine Grand Brulot, coffee and liqueur together.
2. Shake (25 times) vigorously with ice and then strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with a few cracked coffee beans and an orange twist.

Campari Spritz

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Campari
• 3 parts Cinzano Prosecco
• 1 Part Soda Water

Preparation:

1. Pour the Campari, prosecco and soda water directly into an ice-filled wine glass.
2. Garnish with a slice of fresh orange

Easy, Now Party Punch

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces Fraser & Thompson North American Whiskey
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 (750 ml) bottle Prosecco or sparkling wine, chilled
• Arils from 1 pomegranate

Preparation:

1. In a large pitcher, combine Fraser & Thompson, pomegranate juice, orange zest and orange juice.
2. Chill until ready to serve.
3. Just before serving, add ice to the punch bowl and pour over the contents of the pitcher.
4. Top with Prosecco and pomegranate arils. Enjoy!

Winterberry Soda

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
• 3-4 oz Soda Water
• Garnish: Blackberries

Preparation:

1. Build in a chilled Copa glass on ice.
2. Garnish with blackberries. Enjoy!

Apple Cider Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2oz Flecha Azul Anejo Tequila
• 2oz apple cider
• 1oz lime juice
• 1oz Triple sec
• ½oz agave syrup
• Rim
  • 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Preparation:

1. Rim the glass by running a lime wedge over the lip.
2. On a separate shallow plate, combine cinnamon sugar and salt.
3. Dip glass.
4. Fill the glass with ice.
5. In a cocktail shaker, add cocktail ingredients.
6. Shake well.
7. Garnish and serve.

Tequila Vanilla Sour

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Dulce Vida Anejo Tequila
• .5 oz Licor 43
• .5oz Vanilla Liqueur
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• .5oz Agave
• 1oz Egg Whites
• Garnishes: Chocolate Bitters on top

Preparation:

1. In a cocktail shaker, add cocktail ingredients.
2. Shake well.
3. Garnish and serve in coupe glasses

The Warwick Sidecar

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Branson Royal VSOP Cognac
• 1 oz lemon juice
• .5 oz Amaretto liqueur

Preparation:

1. Shake with ice, strain, and add to a coupe glass (with sugar rim)