Ten RTDs for Christmas

We’ve rounded up 10 ready-to-drink (RTD) festive cocktails that will ensure a celebration without the hassle of measuring, shaking and straining.

‘Tis – nearly – the season to be jolly and, for hardworking bartenders (or anyone who works in spirits), the holiday festivities should be a well-deserved break. But we imagine the last thing you want to do is dust off your shaker on your day off.

From classic concoctions with a festive twist to nostalgic beverages reimagined, we’ve got your Christmas drink options covered. Cheers to simplicity, flavour and the merriest of seasons.

Tayēr + Elementary Christmas cocktail

Tayēr + Elementary always nails the bottled cocktail brief, and its Christmas releases are no exception. Its gift set features three classic cocktails with a festive twist: a Mince Pie Negroni, an Xmas Pudding Sour and a Gingerbread Old Fashioned.

Plus, the cocktails will be on the menu at its bar in London, if you’re looking for somewhere to rest your weary feet while Christmas shopping.

Black Lines Oatnog

If you’re hosting your vegan cousin this year, you might be dreading having to make space in your oven for their beetroot Wellington. Luckily, Black Lines has come up with a drink option to suit all diets: Oatnog.

With winter spices, buttery rum and a velvety rich finish, you’ll forget all about the egg. Plus, for every bottle sold, Black Lines will donate three meals to Londoners through the Felix Project.

These Days Bucks Spritz

Another brand taking something nostalgic and making it modern (and, arguably, better) is These Days. Its take on a Bucks Fizz features orange wine, orange juice, Vault’s orange bitter aperitivo and soda – a much more sophisticated way of starting Christmas Day than your traditional Sunny D concoction.

Warninks Snowball

Not everything nostalgic needs to be modernised, as this RTD option from Warninks shows. Sometimes, the oldies are the goodies!

Admittedly, advocaat is a divisive liqueur, and not everyone will be clamouring for a Snowball. Buying a few canned versions means you can enjoy the creamy, smooth flavour without having a half-empty bottle stuck in your drinks cabinet until next year. Proost (that’s Dutch for ‘cheers’).

VK Chocolate Orange

If you’re feeling more Christmas party than Christmas dinner, alcopop brand VK has a festive option just for you. Its Chocolate Orange flavour is a limited edition, with previous year’s releases selling out before the big day. The brand describes it as a ‘vodka-flavoured take on a classic stocking filler’, though we won’t name the product it’s referring to…

Kocktail Christmas Bundle

Kocktail’s collection of four bottled cocktails will ensure there’s something for everyone in the drinks cabinet this Christmas. The range includes a Gingerbread Espresso Martini, Mince Pie Old Fashioned, Winter Spiced Negroni and Chocolate Orange Whisky Sour. And, with five servings in each bottle, they’ll (probably) last the whole evening.

NIO Christmas Cocktail Gift Box

If you’re the kind of person who does all of your Christmas shopping online, fear not – NIO Cocktails has your back. The company’s premixed cocktails can be posted straight through the letterbox and Need Ice Only (hence the name). This year, the brand has released a cocktail bundle featuring six festive drinks: Spiced Negroni, Winter Sidecar, Apple Rum Punch, Christmas Margarita, Christmas in Manhattan and Snow Daiquiri.

Daylesford Christmas Cocktails

Daylesford Organic is more well-known for its produce and cafe, but it also creates a pretty impressive line of drinks. This year it’s serving up two limited edition Christmas cocktails. The Darling Clementine is made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Cointreau, clementine juice, mandarin, cardamom and fir tree liqueur, while the Cranberry Cherry Margarita blends Tequila, cranberry juice, french kumquat liqueur, cherry bitters and pomegranate vinegar.

Tribini Peppermint Mocha Espresso Martini

They say the key to success is doing one thing really well – and Tribini’s one thing is the Espresso Martini. Although the brand is dedicated to its one cocktail, it has released a Christmas edition: the Peppermint Mocha Espresso Martini. It suggests garnishing your rim with melted dark chocolate, which is sure to impress your guests. Each can contains two servings – though we won’t judge if they’re both for you.

Moth Christmas cocktail crackers

Fed up of cinnamon, chocolate and cranberry? Say goodbye to the Christmas flavours and cleanse your palate with Moth – the RTD brand has released a collection of Christmas crackers with one of its classic cocktails inside. Stick them in a stocking, lay them out on the table for the big day or keep them for yourself. Its Piña Colada won a Master award at The Pre-Mixed & RTD Masters 2023, while the Margarita and the Espresso Martini both won Gold.