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A foolproof way to enhance your bar or restaurant during the holiday season is to add Christmas cocktails to the menu. Thanks to the countless ways that mixology experts mix and match flavor profiles, it’s much easier to create festive drinks than dishes. Plus, the high markup on all types of alcohol ensures that by having an attractive and thematic menu, you can maximize profits one last time before the year ends.
Circling back to the many Christmas cocktail recipes one can make, it can be a bit difficult to determine which ones to serve. Luckily, this article should help you narrow down your search. Read on to learn all about Christmas cocktails and five must-try recipes.
What Are Christmas Cocktails?
Christmas cocktails are alcoholic beverages that reflect classic holiday themes. Restaurant and bar staff typically create Christmas cocktails by using colored ingredients and flavors associated with the Christmas season. For many establishments throughout the hospitality industry, Christmas cocktail recipes simply refer to thematic twists on the most popular cocktails you can find anywhere. The room for creativity is endless, and one Christmas cocktail menu can look entirely different at the eatery next door.
It’s also common for bars and food service establishments to serve holiday mocktails. For one, the Christmas drink menu can be served all throughout December–not just on the holiday itself. Drinks are also an easy way to increase the bill for each party. So, by catering to all customers by offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, revenue can be significantly higher during the final month of the year.
The Importance of Restaurants Serving Christmas Cocktail Recipes
Did you know that alcohol has a higher markup than all the other types of inventory you might find in a restaurant? Plus, if there's one time of year when most restaurant reservations are booked, it's during the holidays. So, if you combine these two factors, you will surely have a recipe for optimal profits.
And by creating a menu of limited-edition Christmas cocktails, you'll simultaneously be creating restaurant marketing collateral. It's just one element of the holiday season that you can promote to the public and past customers, as it's a foolproof way to attract new business. But what kinds of drinks can you add to that menu? We'll go over several options in the next section!
5 Best Christmas Cocktails to Serve This Holiday Season
Are you feeling unsure of which Christmas cocktails to add to your drink menu this holiday season? Consider adding the five Christmas cocktail recipes that we’re about to outline below. We’re confident that your customer base will thoroughly enjoy them during the holidays!
1. Peppermint Mocha Martini
Everybody loves a classic peppermint mocha latte during the cold months. So, why not turn it into a classic holiday recipe? The ingredient list is super simple and only includes the following items:
- Peppermint vodka
- Vanilla vodka
- Chocolate liqueur
- Espresso
- Heavy cream
- Crushed peppermint
Begin crafting this Christmas cocktail recipe by lining the rim of a martini glass with crushed peppermint. Then, add equal parts of each of the other ingredients to a cocktail shaker, thoroughly mix them, and pour.
2. Eggnog Martini
Sure, many people turn eggnog into a simple cocktail by adding a splash (or two) of rum. But what about adding just a shot of vanilla vodka to transform this classic into another martini recipe? Check out the ingredients below to learn how to bring this Christmas cocktail recipe to life:
- Eggnog
- Vanilla vodka
- Rum
- Cinnamon
Dampen the edge of the glass and dip it into ground cinnamon. Then, shake all the other ingredients in one-part quantities inside a shaker, pour, and serve.
3. Spiced Old Fashioned
Many Christmas cocktails have bright flavors making them festive. Meanwhile, some require warm spices to turn a classic mixed drink recipe into a festive holiday beverage. The ladder is certainly how the following ingredients can turn a classic old fashioned into a must-try Christmas cocktail:
Many bartenders will opt for lining the edge of a glass with sugar to give the drink a little sparkle. Then, they can garnish the glass with an orange peel and drop a cinnamon stick or two in the drink for added flavor and a seasonal look.
4. Cranberry Moscow Mule
Various beer brands carry ginger beer. Plus, the other ingredients used for this Christmas cocktail recipe are other bar staples. View the short yet complete list of necessary ingredients below:
- Vodka
- Ginger beer
- Cranberry juice
- Lime
- Fresh cranberries
Carefully stir the vodka, cranberry juice, and ginger beer in a copper mug. Garnish the rim with a lime slice and drop some fresh cranberries into the mug for a festive aesthetic.
5. Holiday Sangria
There are endless variations of sangria cocktail recipes. But have you ever thought of them as beverages for Christmas? Check out the ingredients below to discover how to give this Spanish classic a festive twist:
- Red wine
- Spiced rum
- Cranberry juice
- Fresh cranberries
- Cinnamon sticks
The recipe will be mostly wine with just a splash of spiced rum and cranberry juice. Add the fresh cranberries and a cinnamon stick as a cocktail garnish, and you’ll have a holiday-centric sangria to serve by the glass or pitcher.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Cocktails
It can be difficult for anyone with a diverse palate to come up with a relatively limited Christmas cocktail menu. After all, there are so many festive flavors to choose from and pair with one another. Hopefully, the prior information and the upcoming FAQ section will help you make up your mind! Read on for additional insight.
What Are the Most Popular Christmas Cocktails?
The most popular Christmas cocktails include the following beverages:
- Eggnog martini
- Christmas punch
- Candy cane martini
- Peppermint mocha martini
- Cranberry mimosa
- Spiced old fashioned
- Holiday sangria
- Eggnog and rum
- Cranberry Moscow mule
What Drinks Pair With Christmas Dinner?
Wine, beer, winter cocktails, and various soft drinks can pair well with Christmas dinner. While these are the basic options available on almost every restaurant menu, it depends on the dishes you consume. It also depends on the type of drink you choose. For instance, when you compare a prosecco food pairing geared toward seafood dishes vs. the best wine pairings that are catered to beef dishes, they’ll likely look very different.
How Many Christmas Cocktails Should Be On a Holiday Menu?
A minimum of five Christmas cocktails should be sufficient for a holiday menu. That’s enough to offer your customers a variety while keeping things simple for your staff. However, if you have the resources and means to have a more extensive holiday cocktail menu, the more the merrier!
What Alcoholic Beverage Is Most Commonly Consumed During the Christmas Season?
Eggnog is by far the most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage during the Christmas season. Eggnog hits the shelves in grocery stores across the country around the first week of November and is a top-seller until the year comes to a close. Consumers and bartenders alike make eggnog alcoholic by adding rum to it. However, it’s worth noting that eggnog is also one of the best-selling non-alcoholic beverages as well. Many people enjoy drinking it plain or with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
What Is a Christmas Cocktail Party?
A Christmas cocktail party is a festive social gathering during the holiday season that’s slightly upscale. There are a variety of alcoholic beverages available like wine and mixed drinks along with a number of hors d'oeuvres. For a Christmas cocktail party, both the food and drinks will likely consist of thematic and traditional elements. And of course, the attire for a Christmas cocktail party is a bit formal.
Track Bar Inventory This December With BinWise
With a platform like BinWise, it’s never been easier to track and manage bar inventory. And when you have a stretch of time during the year when your beverage offerings differ from what you typically sell, a birdseye view of your entire beverage program and its performance is essential. If this sounds like something that can benefit your business, book a demo with us today!