From Christmas Dinners To New Year Toasts, Try These 5 Exclusive Festive Cocktail Recipes

Each cocktail in this curated list is designed to elevate the moment. Every glass promises to bring warmth, sophistication and a touch of indulgence to every celebration this holiday season.

Jingle Buzz

A festive, warm spiced cocktail that captures the spirit of the holidays. White rum is gently aromatised with house-made cranberry cordial and spiced syrup, balanced with fresh lime and finished with a touch of burnt honey for a rich, caramelised depth. The recipe is curated by Head Mixologist, Deepak Sharma, Gladia Brewery & Kitchen.

Ingredients

• 60 ml White rum
• 20 ml Fresh lime juice
• 10 ml House-made cranberry cordial
• 10 ml Spiced syrup
• 1 bar spoon Burnt honey
• Spiced Syrup (as required)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Water
• 1 Cinnamon stick
• 3 Cloves
• 1 Star anise
• 1 small strip of orange peel

Method

Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Add cinnamon, cloves, star anise and orange peel. Simmer for 8–10 minutes until aromatic. Strain, cool and store refrigerated.

For the cocktail

Add white rum, fresh lime juice, cranberry cordial, spiced syrup and burnt honey to a shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled and well-integrated. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick and sugar paper. Enjoy!

Bombay and Berry

A festive gin cocktail that blends bright cranberry notes with zesty lime and a silky foam finish. Elegant and visually striking, this drink is perfect for Christmas dinners and celebratory toasts.

Ingredients

• 50 ml Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 15 ml Cranberry Syrup
• 15 ml Lime Juice
• 10 ml Dry Vermouth
• 1 Egg White (or Vegan Foam)
• For garnish: Fresh berries

Method

Add gin, cranberry syrup, lime juice, dry vermouth, and egg white (or vegan foam) to a shaker without ice and “dry shake” vigorously to emulsify. Add ice and shake again until the mixture is thoroughly chilled. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with fresh berries.

Holiday Highball

Light, refreshing, and sophisticated, this whisky highball pairs the complexity of aged Scotch with the unexpected sweetness of melon, ideal for long evenings and New Year celebrations.

Ingredients

• 50 ml Dewar’s 12 Year Old Whisky
• 15 ml Melon Syrup
• 60 ml Soda Water
• For garnish: Thin slice of melon

Method

Fill a highball glass with large, clean ice cubes. Add the whisky and melon syrup, then top with chilled soda water. Gently stir once from the bottom to combine without losing carbonation. Garnish with a thin, elegant slice of melon.

Mulled Mistletoe

A warm, winter-inspired cocktail that combines aged rum with comforting spice and the heat of ginger. This drink brings a cosy, aromatic atmosphere to any holiday evening.

Ingredients

• 50 ml Bacardi Ocho Rum
• 15 ml Winter Spice Syrup
• 60 ml Hot Ginger Water
• For garnish: Burnt cinnamon stick and orange peel

Method

Pour the rum and winter spice syrup into a brandy snifter or heatproof glass. Top with hot ginger water and stir gently. To finish, express the oils of an orange peel over the glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick – singe the tip for a lingering smoky aroma.

Pomegranate Bliss

A vibrant, fruit-forward cocktail blending vodka with fresh pomegranate, zesty lime and a hint of ginger, finished with elegant garnishes for a refreshing yet indulgent festive sip. This cocktail recipe is curated by mixologist Jaggu (Jagdeesh Lamani), Ouzo Delmar, Varca, Goa.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Vodka⁠
• 15 ml Fresh lime juice
• 10 ml Homemade pomegranate syrup
• 45 ml Fresh pomegranate juice
• ⁠5 ml Fresh ginger juice
• Dehydrated orange
• ⁠Fresh mint
• ⁠Fresh pomegranate seeds

Method

Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add vodka, fresh lime juice, pomegranate syrup, fresh pomegranate juice and ginger juice. Shake well until the mixture is chilled and evenly blended. Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass. Garnish with a dehydrated orange slice, fresh mint and pomegranate seeds.

Festive Brew

A rich and indulgent whisky coffee cocktail designed for cold winter nights. With warming spice notes and a velvety cream finish, it serves as the perfect post-dinner treat.

Ingredients

• 50 ml Teeling Irish Whiskey
• Hot coffee (to fill)
• Okinawa Syrup (to taste)
• For topping: Whipped cream
• For garnish: Grated nutmeg

Method

Add the Irish whiskey and syrup to a pre-warmed Irish coffee mug. Pour in the hot coffee and stir gently. Carefully layer lightly whipped cream over the back of a spoon so it floats on the surface. Finish with a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg.