Stay Cool with Holiday Cocktails
Get ready to raise the bar with these easy yet impressive holiday cocktails. Each one comes with a zero-proof twist, so everyone can join the party and get into the holiday spirits.
‘Tis the season for great food, loud laughs, and clinking glasses. But let’s be real, sometimes we bite off more than we can chew when trying to juggle snacks, perfect playlists and do our best amateur bartender impression.
These simple recipes for modern takes on classic holiday cocktails are guaranteed to wow your guests without keeping you stuck behind the shaker. Think of it as your shortcut to holiday cheer.
Mint Chocolate Chip After Dinner Cocktail
Satisfy all your guests with this after dinner cocktail that combines dessert and a post-meal coffee.
To make 1 drink: in an ice-filled cocktail shaker combine 20oz (60 mL) of pre-chilled espresso and 1½ oz (45 mL) vodka and shake for 20 seconds. Rim a glass coffee cup with melted white chocolate and drops of green food-colouring. Put a heaping scoop of mint chocolate ice cream in your coffee cup, gently drizzle your vodka-coffee mixture around it and top with whipped cream, mint, and a dusting of cocoa powder.
Zero proof it:
Use chilled hot chocolate instead of vodka for a sweet treat the whole family can enjoy.
Bah Humbug Sour
Make even the Scroogiest of your group grin. Our festive take on a classic sour uses a splash of pomegranate juice and a dash of pumpkin spice that’ll turn any frown upside down.
To make 1 drink: shake together 1½ oz dark rum (45 mL), ¾ oz fresh lemon juice (22 mL), ½ oz pomegranate juice (15 mL), ¾ oz simple syrup (22 mL) ½ teaspoon pumpkin spice (2.5 mL) and optionally 1 raw egg white. Strain your cocktail in a martini glass and be sure to garnish with a skewer of three chocolate balls.
Zero proof it:
Use iced lemon tea instead of rum for a scrumptious mocktail. .
Chocolate Old Fashioned
It’s hard to up the ante on an Old Fashioned - this classic cocktail has been enjoyed for decades and is really enjoyable all year round. We upgraded ours with a chocolatey twist to entice tastebuds and make the holidays feel extra indulgent.
To make 1 drink: To start, pour chocolate syrup in the bottom of your Old Fashioned glass. Use a hand frother to spread the syrup across the insides of the glass. Then add 1 ½ oz (45mL) of your favourite Canadian rye whisky, ¾ oz (22mL) of simple syrup, 5 dashes (5mL) of chocolate bitters and a large ice cube to your glass and give it a stir for 30 seconds. Finally, squeeze some of the orange from an orange wedge to top it off, garnish with said wedge and serve.
Zero Proof It:
Your alcohol-free chocolate lovers can enjoy this luxurious sipper when you use espresso instead of whisky.
Ho-Ho Cosmo
Nothing gets a party started quicker than a Cosmo. To really turn on the festive glam serve up this shimmery concoction and watch as everyone shares in holiday cheer.
To make 1 drink: rim a spritzer glass with glittery red sugar and fill with ice. Pour in 1½ oz (45 mL) gin, 2 oz (60 mL) chery-cranberry juice, and 4 oz (120 mL) blood orange soda. For the Santa hat cut the base off a strawberry—including all the greens—and dip the flat end in whipped cream. Then add a small dollop of the cream to the strawberry top. Secure a mini marshmallow on top of the hat with a toothpick and garnish the cocktail alongside a sprig of fresh mint..
Zero Proof It:
Replace gin with a cooled-down floral hibiscus tea
Mandarita
Can’t get away somewhere tropical to shake off the winter cold this holiday season? Bring the warm vibes to you with this festive take on a Margarita. Bright colours and sweet citrus flavours will transport you to your dream sunny getaway.
To make 1 drink: Fill a spicy salt-rimmed glass with ice. In an ice-filled shaker combine 1½ oz (45 mL) blanco tequila, ¾ oz (22 mL) fresh lemon juice, 2 oz (60 mL) fresh orange juice, and ¾ oz (22 mL) agave syrup then give it a 45 second shake. Strain into your glass and garnish with candied lemon and mandarin on a cocktail skewer.
Zero Proof It:
Substitute instead tequila with chilled chamomile tea
Whiskey Snowball
Although this drink could be mistaken for traditional nog, it's actually a fresh spin on the classic made with coconut and bourbon whiskey. NOTE: Since this drink should be chilled for at least one full hour before serving (and can last in the refrigerator for several days), make it early, put it in the fridge and forget all about it until the guests arrive. Best of all, this can be scaled up for any size get-together.
To make 2 drinks: In a blender on high speed, blend together 3 oz (90 mL) bourbon whiskey, 3 oz (90 mL) condensed milk, 3 oz (90 mL) coconut milk, 2 oz (60 mL) whipping cream and ¼ tsp (1 mL) vanilla until the condensed milk is well combined, about 60 sec. Refrigerate for at least 1 hr, then pour into 2 rocks glasses rimmed with powdered cocoa. Garnish with 2 cinnamon sticks or candy canes.
Zero Proof It:
Use chilled ginger tea instead of bourbon to make this alcohol-free.
Cranberry Ginger Yule Mule
Cocktail trends come and go, but the versatile mule is timeless, thanks to its "good bones," which make it easy to play around with and add new twists, such as this one with cranberries and spiced rum.
To make 1 drink: In a cocktail shaker, muddle together 2 oz (60 mL) spiced rum, ¾ oz (22 mL) fresh lime juice and the leaves from a sprig of mint. Strain into an ice-filled copper mule mug. Top with 5 oz (150 mL) Cranberry flavour ginger ale. Garnish with a mint sprig and skewered candied ginger.
Zero Proof It:
To transform this into a mocktail, swap out the spiced rum for ginger beer and add ½ tsp (2 mL) baking spice to the mint and lime and muddle away.
Rye Affogato
This twist on the Italian affogato-ice cream drowned in coffee-has a lovely hit of caramel, thanks to the rye whisky.
To make 1 drink: Add 1 scoop Panache French Vanilla Ice Cream to a glass goblet. Mix together 3 oz (90 mL) brewed Compliments Winter Blend Coffee and 1½ oz (45 mL) rye whisky. Pour the hot spiked coffee over the ice cream. Break up a piece of Panache Swiss Milk Chocolate into chunks and crush 5 pecans; sprinkle the chocolate and nuts on top.
Zero Proof It:
To make this an alcohol-free drink, stir 1 tbsp (15 mL) caramel or butterscotch syrup into the coffee instead of rye.