UPSIZE PH | Holiday Cocktail Concoctions Your Guests Will Surely Love

Nov 27

Nov 27 Holiday Cocktail Concoctions Your Guests Will Surely Love

Nothing says holiday like a good happy hour! But instead of hitting the bars with your friends this season, why not gather everyone in the comfort of your own home and create your own cocktail concoctions your guests will surely love!

We've curated and tried these cool sips for you! Impress them with these fun, fancy drinks and upsize your celebrations.

1. Sandra Lee's Candy Cane Cocktails

foodnetwork.com

  
    INGREDIENTS
    DIRECTIONS
  
✔ 1 shot vanilla rum
      Add all ingredients together in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with candy cane  
  
✔ 1 shot white chocolate liquor (recommended: Godiva or Baileys)
  
    ✔ 1 shot peppermint schnapps
  
    ✔ Candy cane for garnish
  
*Good for one serving

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ 1 shot vanilla rum	Add all ingredients together in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with candy cane
✔ 1 shot white chocolate liquor (recommended: Godiva or Baileys)
✔ 1 shot peppermint schnapps
✔ Candy cane for garnish
*Good for one serving

The Verdict: 8/10 since we're not big fans of very sweet drinks

Perfect for: Partnering with light desserts

2. Apple Brandy Cordials

realsimple.com

  
    INGREDIENTS
    DIRECTIONS
  
✔ ¾ cup brandy
      Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher. Serve over ice. Garnish each glass with apple slices.  
  
✔ ½ cup apple juice
  
    ✔ ⅓ cup Cointreau
  
    ✔ ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  
✔ Apple slices for garnish
*Good for four servings

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ ¾ cup brandy	Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher. Serve over ice. Garnish each glass with apple slices.
✔ ½ cup apple juice
✔ ⅓ cup Cointreau
✔ ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
✔ Apple slices for garnish
*Good for four servings

The Verdict: 10/10 (We're not big fans of very sweet drinks

Perfect for: Welcoming your guests

3. Ina Garten's Mulled Wine

foodnetwork.com

  
    INGREDIENTS
    DIRECTIONS
  
✔ 4 cups apple cider
      Combine the ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs. Add an orange peel to each and serve.  
  
✔ 1 (750 ml) bottle of red wine (recommended: Cabernet Sauvignon)
  

    ✔ ¼ cup honey
  

    ✔ 2 cinammon sticks
  
✔ 1 orange, zested and peeled
✔ 4 whole cloves
✔ 3 star anise
✔ 4 oranges peeled for garnish
*Good for eight servings

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ 4 cups apple cider	Combine the ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs. Add an orange peel to each and serve.
✔ 1 (750 ml) bottle of red wine (recommended: Cabernet Sauvignon)
✔ ¼ cup honey
✔ 2 cinammon sticks
✔ 1 orange, zested and peeled
✔ 4 whole cloves
✔ 3 star anise
✔ 4 oranges peeled for garnish
*Good for eight servings

The Verdict: 9.5/10 - The perfect warm drink!

Perfect for: Accompaniment to meat dishes and breads

4. Inspired Creamsicle Fizz

delish.com

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ sugar	Rim a champagne flute with sugar. Fill cocktail shaker with ice, vanilla vodka, and orange juice. Shake then strain mixture into flute. Top with champagne, Cava, and Prosecco. Garnish with orange slice.
✔ ½ cup ice
✔ 1 shot vanilla vodka
✔ 1 shot orange juice
✔ Champagne
✔ Cava
✔ Prosecco
✔ Orange slices for garnish
*Good for one serving

The Verdict: 9/10 - We feel like a chemist mixing all these ingredients! Feels very pro.

Perfect for: Drinks while chatting over some nice Christmas music.

5. Zare at Fly Trap Inspired Spanish Cobbler

marieclaire.com

  
    INGREDIENTS
    DIRECTIONS
  
✔ orange wheels
      Place 1 orange wheel in the bottom of each glass. Add 1 to 1 ½ sugar syrup and fill ⅔ of the way with crushed ice. Add wine of your choice to each portion and lightly stir. Pack glasses with fruit. Top drinks with lemon rind. Enjoy bites of wine-soaked fruit as you sip!
  
✔ sugar syrup
  
    ✔ crushed ice
  
    ✔ your favorite champagne or wine
  
    ✔ fresh seasonal small fruit (grapes, berries, etc.)
  
    ✔ lemon rind for garnish
  
*Good for one serving

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ orange wheels	Place 1 orange wheel in the bottom of each glass. Add 1 to 1 ½ sugar syrup and fill ⅔ of the way with crushed ice. Add wine of your choice to each portion and lightly stir. Pack glasses with fruit. Top drinks with lemon rind. Enjoy bites of wine-soaked fruit as you sip!
✔ sugar syrup
✔ crushed ice
✔ your favorite champagne or wine
✔ fresh seasonal small fruit (grapes, berries, etc.)
✔ lemon rind for garnish
*Good for one serving

The Verdict: 10/10 - Fun to make and drink! Guaranteed to wow your guests

Perfect for: Wine-infused fruity desserts!

6. Lemony Gin Punch

realsimple.com

  
    INGREDIENTS
    DIRECTIONS
  
✔ ½ cup sugar
      
        In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer. Remove from heat. Stir in the honey and let cool. In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the club soda, lemon juice, and gin. Serve over ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon wedge. 
  
✔ ¼ cup honey
  
    ✔ 1 cup carbonated water
  
    ✔ ¾ cup fresh lemon juice
  
    ✔ ¾ cup gin
  
✔ lemon wedges for garnish
*Good for four servings

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ ½ cup sugar	In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer. Remove from heat. Stir in the honey and let cool. In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the club soda, lemon juice, and gin. Serve over ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon wedge.
✔ ¼ cup honey
✔ 1 cup carbonated water
✔ ¾ cup fresh lemon juice
✔ ¾ cup gin
✔ lemon wedges for garnish
*Good for four servings

The Verdict: 10/10 - Easy to make plus a guaranteed yum!

Perfect for: Happy drinks!

7. White Rum Pineapple

  
    INGREDIENTS
    DIRECTIONS
  
✔ 1 part white rum
      Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher. Serve over ice. Garnish each glass with pineapple slices and straw stirrers.  
  
✔ 1 part pineapple juice
  
    ✔ A handful of ice cubes
  
*Good for several servings

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ 1 part white rum	Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher. Serve over ice. Garnish each glass with pineapple slices and straw stirrers.
✔ 1 part pineapple juice
✔ A handful of ice cubes
*Good for several servings

The Verdict: 10/10 - Try it to know why

Perfect for: Party starters! If you want your guests to start dancing and talking, serve this. It's a summer vibe for the holidays.

8. Inspired by Jamie Boudreau's Naughty or Nice Punch

liquor.com

  
    INGREDIENTS
    DIRECTIONS
  
✔ 2 parts Pinot Noir Wine
      Combine the ingredients in a large bowl. Serve with ice. Garnish each glass with blood orange slices or wheels.  
  
✔ 2 parts Chardonnay Wine
  
    ✔ 1 part Cognac
  
    ✔ 1 part Maraschino liqueur
  
    ✔ 3 parts Ginger ale
  
*Good for several servings

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ 2 parts Pinot Noir Wine	Combine the ingredients in a large bowl. Serve with ice. Garnish each glass with blood orange slices or wheels.
✔ 2 parts Chardonnay Wine
✔ 1 part Cognac
✔ 1 part Maraschino liqueur
✔ 3 parts Ginger ale
*Good for several servings

The Verdict: 9/10 - Ingredients are a little bit on the pricey side but definitely so yummy!

Perfect for: Welcome drinks with a very fancy vibe.

9. Bakeaholic Mama's Winter Sangria

bakeaholicmama.com

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ 1 bottle sweet red wine	Combine the ingredients in a large bowl. Serve with ice. Garnish each glass with rosemary.
✔ 1 bottle sparkling cran-apple cider (or just apple cider is okay)
✔ 2 clementines or mini oranges, sliced thin, peel on
✔ 2 apples, cored and diced
✔ ½ pomegranate arils (if available)
✔ 1 cup cranberries (or any available berries) sliced in half
✔ rosemary to garnish
*Good for several servings

Our verdict: 9/10 - Just cause some of the ingredients can be difficult to source. But definitely a party pick-me-upper

Perfect for: Welcome drinks and pairing with pasta dishes

10. Easy Blender Eggnog

realsimple.com

  
    INGREDIENTS
    DIRECTIONS
  
✔ 2 cups heavy cream
      In a medium saucepan, bring the heavy cream, sugar, and nutmeg just to a simmer. In a blender, blend the eggs on low speed for 1 minute. With the motor running, gradually add the hot cream mixture. Blend until frothy, about 30 seconds more. Add the brandy and blend to combine. Serve warm.  
  
✔ ¼ cup sugar
  
    ✔ ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  
    ✔ 4 large eggs
  
    ✔ ¾ cup brandy
  
    ✔ optional: cinnamon powder
  
*Good for four servings

INGREDIENTS	DIRECTIONS
✔ 2 cups heavy cream	In a medium saucepan, bring the heavy cream, sugar, and nutmeg just to a simmer. In a blender, blend the eggs on low speed for 1 minute. With the motor running, gradually add the hot cream mixture. Blend until frothy, about 30 seconds more. Add the brandy and blend to combine. Serve warm.
✔ ¼ cup sugar
✔ ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
✔ 4 large eggs
✔ ¾ cup brandy
✔ optional: cinnamon powder
*Good for four servings