Although the food often hogs the spotlight, there’s no reason why the drinks can’t take some of the shine this Christmas. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best festive cocktail recipes.

You’ve sorted the food, got your presents and the decorations are in order (hopefully) – the last thing, then, is the cocktails, and you really don’t need award-winning mixology skills to impress.

From spiked eggnogs to mulled cider and festive fizzes, these 10 serves are perfect for a very boozy Christmas.

For more recipes to see you into the New Year, see our roundups from December and November.

Garibaldi

For an alternative to a Buck’s Fizz, this Garibaldi is both easy to make and easy to drink at 10am.

Ingredients:

• 2 Parts Amaro Santoni Bitter Liqueur
• 3 Parts freshly squeezed blood orange juice
• Garnish: Blood orange wedge

Method: Fill a highball glass with ice, add the Santoni and orange juice, and stir to combine. Garnish with a blood orange wedge.

The Mrs Claus Margarita

Matthew McConaughey’s Tequila brand has crafted a festive Margarita that will leave you merry and rosy-cheeked.

Ingredients:

• 58ml Pantalones Organic Blanco Tequila
• 58ml white cranberry juice
• 28ml fresh squeezed lime juice
• 170ml ginger beer
• Ice
• Sugar-rimmed glass

Method: Combine Tequila, cranberry juice and lime juice in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a sugar-rimmed rocks glass with ice. For garnish, top with fresh cranberries, fresh rosemary and lime slices.

Sleigh Ride

Pink and topped with edible glitter, Aviation Gin’s Christmas cocktail calls for a good time.

Ingredients:

• 28ml Peppermint gin
• 142ml Lime juice
• 142ml Mint syrup
• 1 cherry
• Dash of edible glitter

Method: To prepare the cocktail, take a mixing glass and add the first three ingredients. Add ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into the glass and garnish with the cherry and a pinch of edible glitter.

Smokin’ Eggnog

Smokehead brings notes of peat and heavy woodsmoke to the fan-favourite holiday drink.

Ingredients:

• 25ml or 50ml Smokehead Original
• 1tsp sugar
• 1 egg
• 150ml milk
• Garnish: nutmeg and cinnamon stick

Method: Add whisky, sugar, egg and milk to a shaker with ice. Shake for 20 to 30 seconds and strain into a mug. Garnish with grated nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.

Apfel Of My Eye

Andy Walch – Johnnie Walker’s brand ambassador for Switzerland – has created an alpine-esque cocktail that’s akin to an apfelstrudel in drinkable form.

Ingredients:

• 50ml Johnnie Walker Black (infused with 20 raisins – see method below)
• 15ml Vanilla syrup
• 150ml Cloudy apple juice
• 20ml fresh lime juice
• Garnish: cinnamon stick and sliced apple

Method: Infuse your whisky the day before. Add 20 raisins to one 750ml bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label and leave to infuse for at least 12 hours. Remove the raisins before drinking. Gently heat all the ingredients together in a pan until warm. Pour into a metal cup or glass with a handle. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice.

Hot & Mulled Orchard Cider

Show your guests that there are more mulled drinks out there than just wine with this cider-based variation.

Ingredients:

• 25ml Lind & Lime Gin
• 15ml Port of Leith Oloroso Sherry
• 10ml Maple syrup
• 2 dashes Aromatic bitters
• 100ml Medium dry cider

Method: Add all ingredients to a microwave-safe vessel and stir well. Microwave until hot. Transfer to an Irish coffee mug and garnish with a mulled spice tea bag.

Bauble Bubbles

1800 Tequila’s Christmas offering is a classy affair, until you’ve had a few…

Ingredients:

• 35ml 1800 Tequila Silver
• 15ml Lime juice
• 10ml Agave
• Top up with Cava/Prosecco

Method: Shake ingredients together. Serve in a coupette glass and top up with Cava or Prosecco. Garnish with a scoop of pomegranate and rose sorbet, and a mint spring.

Jingle Sour

Achilleas Thanasoudas, co-owner and bartender at Purovōku Project in Thessaloniki, was inspired by the tastes and smells of Christmas when creating this Sour.

Ingredients:

• 50ml Mataroa Gin
• 40ml Pomegranate cordial
• 20ml Almond syrup
• Cinnamon cloves

Method: Shake together in an Old Fashioned glass with an ice cube. Garnish with a homemade almond-vanilla biscuit.

Speediato

This serve requires minimal preparation time and has a high-end taste – perfect for those who don’t want to spend Christmas day fussing over the cocktails.

Ingredients:

• Della Vite Superiore DOCG
• One can of Moth Negroni
• Orange rind

Method: Pour the Negroni into a tumbler over ice. Top up with Prosecco, and garnish with an orange rind.

Cranberry & Ginger Eggnog Fizz

Double Dutch’s spiked eggnog is a smart way to turn leftover Christmas ingredients into a killer cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 50ml Spiced rum
• 15ml Maple syrup
• 75ml Full-fat milk
• Double Dutch Cranberry & Ginger
• 1 Egg yolk
• Garnish: cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise

Method: Put rum, maple syrup and milk in a shaker. Add ice and shake hard for around 15 seconds. Strain immediately into a large tall glass. Pour in Double Dutch Cranberry & Ginger, carefully and slowly at the side of the glass. Keep pouring up to the rim of the glass. Garnish with a couple of star anise and a sprinkling of cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve and enjoy immediately.