6 of the best Christmas Cocktails

Stuck for Christmas cocktail ideas for the festive season? Don’t worry. We’ve put together six of the best Christmas cocktails, which are delicious, simple to make, look fantastic and are all made using The Borders Distillery whisky, gin and vodka. 

Warming and spicy, citrus bright and refreshing, or decadently creamy, there’s a perfect serve for every festive occasion, whether it’s pre-dinner drinks, Christmas party cocktails or a relaxed Christmas Eve tipple by the fireside.

THE WINTER PENICILLIN

Named in honour of Scottish scientist, Sir Alexander Fleming, this whisky cocktail is said to have similar soothing effects to a ‘hot toddy’. While we can’t claim it will cure a cold this festive season, you’re sure to enjoy the zing of this lemony ginger cocktail made with The Long & Short of It blended whisky.

ingredients (serves one)

• 50ml Borders The Long & Short of It Whisky
• 25ml fresh lemon juice
• 10ml honey syrup
• 10ml ginger liqueur

method

1. Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake and strain over cubed ice.
3. Add a piece of crystallised ginger on a cocktail stick as a garnish.

GOLDEN WHISKY SOUR

The Borders Distillery’s take on the traditional whisky sour. Our smooth, sippable Golden Whisky Sour celebrates all things gold. Gold for the season, gold for the grapefruit juice and gold for the colour of our Borders Malt & Rye.

ingredients (serves one)

• 50ml of Borders Malt & Rye Whisky
• 10ml apricot liqueur
• 30ml fresh grapefruit juice
• 5ml sugar syrup
• 15ml beaten egg white

method

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice and shake until well chilled.
3. Strain into a coupe glass.
4. Add a sprig of rosemary as a garnish.

pUFFING PEPPERMINT MARTINI

Made with our very own Puffing Billy Steam Vodka, the Puffing Peppermint Martini is the perfect serve to welcome your Christmas party guests. Like tracks through fresh winter snow, the striking candy cane rim is a standout addition – ready to impress your guests. Puff, puff!

ingredients (serves one)

• 20ml Puffing Billy Steam Vodka
• 30ml Peppermint liqueur (or white crème de menthe)
• 50ml crème de cacao
• 50ml double cream
• Candy cane
• Grenadine

glass preparation

1. Place the candy cane in a clear zip-lock bag. Use a rolling pin or the base of a jar to break it up and empty onto a small plate.
2. On a separate plate, pour a small pool of grenadine and run the rim of a martini glass through it, making sure to coat evenly.

method

1. Pour the peppermint liqueur, vodka, crème de cacao and double cream into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add a handful of ice and shake until cold.
3. Strain into the prepared martini glass.

MISTLETOE MANHATTAN

We always said that our Lower East Side Whisky was at home in a Manhattan, and it is – but now in a festive version. The Mistletoe Manhattan, with a cherry and cranberry twist, is the perfect serve for the classic Christmas drinks party!

ingredients (serves one)

• 60ml Lower East Side Whisky
• 15ml cherry juice
• 15ml cranberry juice
• 15ml sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherries for garnish

method

1. Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled.
2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
3. Garnish with maraschino cherries.

BLACKBERRY GIN FIZZ

Get in the holiday spirit with this delicious yuletide version of a classic Blackberry Gin Fizz cocktail, made with our very own Kerr’s Gin. Top with frozen blackberries for a cool wintery touch.

ingredients (serves one)

• 35ml Kerr’s Gin
• 15ml lemon juice
• 10ml sugar syrup
• Handful of blackberries
• Handful of frozen blackberries
• Soda water

method

1. Muddle gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup with a small handful of blackberries in a glass.
2. Top with soda.
3. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and frozen blackberries.

Spiced Clementine Mulled Whisky

An alternative to the traditional festive mulled wine, you’ll love our Spiced Clementine Mulled Whisky, made with our Clan Fraser Reserve Whisky. This recipe makes enough for six people so it’s perfect for enjoying on Christmas Eve by the fireside with your clan.

ingredients (serves six)

• 200ml of Clan Fraser Reserve Whisky
• 600ml ginger beer
• 150ml clementine juice 
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 5 cloves
• Pinch of allspice
• Clementine slices to garnish

method

1. Tip the ginger beer, clementine juice, honey, cinnamon sticks, cloves and allspice into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over a low heat. 
2. Heat gently for five minutes to warm through.
3. Remove from the heat and stir in the whisky. 
4. Divide between four heatproof glasses or mugs. 
5. Drop in a few clementine slices and serve.

Whichever of our cocktail recipes you decide to try this festive season, we wish you a very Merry Christmas filled with ‘high spirits’, laughter and lots of fun.

From all at The Borders Distillery.

Please enjoy our spirit responsibly. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.